Historic Resources Committee

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Restoration of metal casement windows

  • 1.  Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-25-2015 03:03 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Historic Resources Committee .
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    Colleagues-

    We are undertaking facade restoration in a 1926 apartment building in Washington, DC.  There are two window openings with original Hope's metal casement windows.  We are looking for a specialty contractor to evaluate, price, and repair the windows.  Does anyone know any candidates for this task in our area?

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    Michael Steiner AIA
    Malesardi Steiner Keyes McCommons Architects
    Chevy Chase MD
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 2.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-26-2015 05:34 PM
    John Seekircher is the only guy I know who repairs steel casements.  He is in New York but very good.  He fixed all of the windows in my 1928 house.
    http://www.seekirchersteelwindow.com/about/

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    George Bryant
    Philadelphia PA
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 3.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-27-2015 06:03 PM
    Consider contacting Arthur Femenella as well; ajf@femenellaassociates.com.  Femenella & Associates is best-known for stained glass and wood window restoration, but Arthur is a good resource for restoration of steel windows as well; see his recent white paper.
    www.femenellaassociates.com 

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    Jack Glassman AIA, LEED AP
    Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype
    Boston, MA
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 4.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-27-2015 07:49 PM
    We are currently working with Re-View Historic Window and Door Replacement of Kansas City, Missouri, on the Minnesota State Capitol Building in Saint Paul, designed by Cass Gilbert and completed in 1905.  They have restored 28 pairs of the original wood French Doors, and have nearly completed the installation of 240 double-hung wood replacement windows to match the 1905 white pine windows that were discarded in the early 1970's in favor of 'modern' aluminum, now deteriorated.  Re-View has done a wonderful job in both the fabrication and installation of the new windows and the restoration of the existing wood frames and weight pockets.  It is my understanding that they have also done a number of steel and bronze window restorations and replacements around the country.  Their website is very informative.  If the project is large enough they would probably be interested, and would undoubtedly do a very good job. 

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    Timothy Gideon Carlson AIA
    Hammel, Green & Abrahamson, Inc.
    Minneapolis MN
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 5.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-30-2015 06:16 PM

    Timothy-

    Thanks for the referral.  However, I suspect that  this project is too small to catch their interest.  It is two 9'-0" wide openings, with four casement windows in each.  For some reason, they are the only metal casement windows in a 53-unit historic apartment building.  It must have been some custom work done at the time the building was constructed in 1926.
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    Michael Steiner AIA
    Malesardi Steiner Keyes McCommons Architects
    Chevy Chase MD
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 6.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-31-2015 05:30 PM
    Turner Restoration from Detroit is very good at restoring both metal and wood windows. Art Femenella from New Jersey is another very qualified and capable firm that can do the work. I do not know their availability, however.

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    Ilene Tyler FAIA
    Owner
    Ilene R Tyler, LLC
    Ann Arbor MI
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 7.  RE:Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 04-01-2015 06:39 AM
    We know 2 excellent companies in the NY City area, which is surely close enough to DC area. You can reach me at my office later afternoon today to get the phone #s. I recall one shop is called Seekircher and is located in Westchester county just north of NYC.
    You can also look them up online. Almost every 20s to 40s prewar apartment building in NY had steel casements and there still plenty in use.
    Of course we also have stringent landmarks regulations covering a wide swath of the City which slows down the rate by which they are replaced in historic districts.
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    Ivan Brice AIA
    Firm Owner/Architect
    Ivan Brice Architecture
    New York NY
    212 274 0056
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 8.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-26-2015 05:42 PM
    Michael,
    John Seekircher in NY is the go-to person for repair of steel-frame windows. He repaired the windows at Fallllingwater and at many other historic buildings. This is their website: http://www.seekirchersteelwindow.com/
    You will find their contact information there.
    Good luck with your project.
    Regards,
    Angel

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    Angel Ayon AIA, LEED AP
    Principal
    AYON Studio Architecture and Preservation
    New York NY
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 9.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-27-2015 06:59 PM
    Angel-

    Thanks you very much for the information.  Several other members have also referred me to Seekircher, adn we have now established a dialog with him.

    Sincerely,

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    Michael Steiner AIA
    Malesardi Steiner Keyes McCommons Architects
    Chevy Chase MD
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 10.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-27-2015 02:14 PM

    This is a new contractor we just discovered that does window rehab including metal windows...also is a GC that will also do small projects like siding replacement and cornice repair.  My staff has been impressed with the amount of knowledge he has about historic fabric as well as building systems. 

    Historic Innovations Construction

     David Black

     202-468-3091

     www.histroicic.com

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    Al Cox, FAIA
    Historic Preservation Manager
    City of Alexandria
    Alexandria VA
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 11.  RE: Restoration of metal casement windows

    Posted 03-30-2015 06:18 PM

    Thanks for the referral.  This looks like a good option for us.

    Sincerely,
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    Michael Steiner AIA
    Malesardi Steiner Keyes McCommons Architects
    Chevy Chase MD
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West