There is good news for Villagers who need to replace their windows this summer.
The Columbus Historic Preservation Office, after extensive research, has established a list of pre-approved, clad replacement windows for use within all historic districts in the city.
Why is that good news you ask? Historic windows are a prominent feature of a historic residence.
They are an identifying component of architectural style and maintain a critical role in preserving the historic integrity of German Village.
They are also a significant investment when the time comes to replace them, one that requires careful thought and planning as well as expertise in installation.
Original historic windows remain throughout the district.
They are generally comprised of old-growth wood, wood that has a dense cellular structure because of compressed growth rings.
This high-quality wood, when maintained properly, has an extraordinarily long lifespan.
Until now, district property owners have been required to use all-wood replacement windows.
What has been discovered over time is that the new-growth wood used in replacement windows is of inferior quality and possesses a lifespan significantly shorter than old-growth wood windows.
Some homeowners have found themselves having to replace their replacement windows in just 15 to 20 years.
This poses a significant financial burden on owners and has resulted in ongoing deterioration rather than the necessary replacement.
For those reasons, it is now possible to replace your deteriorated wood windows with clad windows from the HPO Pre-Approved Clad List, available on our website.
Clad windows will provide homeowners with the reassurance of longer lifespan while also meeting the design requirements of the district.
There is also now a pre-approved list of wood replacement windows at german village.com.
Remember, it is always best to maintain and repair existing historic windows. Repairing and re-glazing is the preference.
The German Village Historic District Guidelines speak to this in detail beginning on page 62. You can view the guidelines online at germanvillage.com/preservation/german-village-guidelines.
When windows have deteriorated such that repair is no longer feasible, as determined by Historic Preservation Office staff review, the homeowner can apply for a certificate of appropriateness to replace the windows.
If a phased replacement is planned to ease expenses, it is recommended the owner complete replacement of all windows on any given facade at the same time.
Do you have questions? Call the German Village Historic Preservation Advocate office at 614-221-8888.
German Village historic-preservation advocate Nancy Kotting submitted the Village Notebook column.