Window Care

Wood is an adaptable material, and with proper care your wooden windows will last a lifetime. The following maintenance tips will help keep your windows in good working order.

Do:

Perform an annual exterior inspection of your home’s windows, particularly those facing south and west.
Remove and replace loose or cracked putty (glazing compound), prime and repaint these sections in a light color where possible.
Locate drafts by using a candle flame on a windy day. Add weather-stripping to drafty areas. This is the single most important energy conservation measure you can take.
Wipe condensation that forms on the bottom rail of the sash during the winter months.
Rub the jamb channels of double-hung windows with a cake of paraffin wax to keep them sliding freely. This should be done annually or as required.
Seal any portions of jambs that are unpainted with sealer or linseed oil.
Ensure that the bottom faces (the parts that close against the window sills) of all sashes are sealed with both primer and exterior finish paint.
Check that exterior paint on window frames “kisses the glass” by a good 1/16″ (the width of a pencil lead).

Don’t:

Ever paint the moving parts of a window or those parts touched by a moving part.
Touch fresh glazing compound (putty), it is soft and will remain so for several months.