Own A Century-Old House & Want To Replace The Windows? You Need A Structural Engineer

Windows in century-old homes have a charming character that can be elegant and venerable, but they can also present a host of problems for new homeowners. One of the biggest concerns about windows in older homes is that they are often quite drafty. Many new homeowners of older homes often put window installation on their to-do lists, especially after their first winter living in the home. However, there are a few things to understand about windows in old houses. Here's what they are. 

Atypical Sizes of Older Windows 

Older windows were not mass produced like they are today. The windows in older houses were made specifically for the houses in which they were installed. This may mean additional expenses will need to be covered for the window installation crew to be able to fill your order to replace the windows if the existing windows are atypical sizes. 

While it seems like it would be easy enough to make the window openings larger, it's actually more difficult because the installers need to keep in mind that exterior walls are load bearing. Sometimes, replacement windows in older homes are a bit smaller than the ones they replace due to the difficult task of removing wall studs. 

Balloon Framing in Older Houses 

Homes built a century ago were built with balloon framing. What this means is that the entire exterior wall framing runs continuously from the very bottom to the very top. The floors were secured to the long wall studs. In today's framing, one level is built at a time, with flooring framing being installed directly on top of the first-floor wall studs and the second-floor wall studs being installed directly to the floor framing. In an older home with balloon framing, cutting into an exterior wall stud to create a larger window opening may severely reduce the structural integrity of that wall.

However, none of this means it's impossible to install larger windows. What it does mean, though, is that you will need to consult with a structural engineer to find out whether or not doing so would be dangerous or not and how to satisfy the building code authorities should you decide on installing larger windows. Be sure to ask the structural engineer for a write-up on what the window installation crew will need to do in order to install the windows safely and within building codes.  

For more information, contact your local window professionals.