Original Announcement:

Repair – Don’t Replace – Historic Windows

Workshop Offers Instruction in Preserving Windows

Historic Landmarks Foundation and Crawford County Historical and Genealogical Society host a free workshop on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, for people who want to restore their old windows or are on the fence about replacing originals with new ones. The workshop runs from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Proctor House, 7037 East State Road 64, Marengo, Indiana.

Original windows from historic buildings get sent to landfills every day. The architectural character they represent is lost forever. The window replacement industry spends millions to convince people to throw out old peeling, leaking windows in favor of shiny new vinyl versions. The waste of material and character are unnecessary, according to Indiana Landmarks.

In the workshop, historic window expert Jack Patchin will demonstrate how efforts to save and repair historic windows can pay off. Participants will learn:

Why restored historic wood windows are superior to replacement windows.
How to use the basic tools to restore, repair, and maintain historic wood windows.
How to repair sashes with epoxy, repair the rope and weight system, and replace and glaze panes.
How storm windows add to energy savings with better results than vinyl replacements.

Instructor Jack P. Patchin of Ol’ House Experts in Madison , Indiana , has over 30 years experience in construction and restoration. Patchin has restored wood windows for homes, barns, and outbuildings. He served nine years on the maintenance crew of Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin estate, and has presented workshops and seminars for local preservation organizations and at community colleges.