This is currently being discussed a few post down. I would restore or go with a pocket Window.

Restore. Those are old growth wood windows that have another centuries worth of life if properly maintained. Get interior or exterior storms installed once the windows are finished. Cheaper than new windows and better for the house.

Restore, for the exact reasons listed by Hallett!

Restore - don't decrease the value of the house by replacing them. Good resource is John Leeke http://historichomeworks.com/

If you replace the windows you lower the value of the house. Do what Halley suggests

Please in the 21 century there is no way you should need to use storm windows and all the hassle that entails. Get a good sealed unit to replace the old windows and that is done often and IMo a well sealed window in no way lowers the value of a home. You get these to mimic the old windows and yes it will be a bit more money but IMO well spent not to mention the money saved on heating.

I went to a seminar at this guy's shop. Very nice.

If your bills fell below the most efficient house compared to your size there are 3 answers. The most efficient house you compared was not that efficient , you put in triple paned storm windows, or you are lying.

I am all for restoring windows but there are a lot of pitfalls and the costs can easily approach and exceed new windows. From my experience most people would prefer a new window, so in many cases I don’t think that it will hurt resale value one bit. The only tome I restore windows is when they are on historic list. In about 95% of them de cases they would prefer new windows bit they are not allowed to.

Uh, can't you read, she has graphs! lol. What kind of company sends you graphs every month to prove how much energy your restored windows save? I'm sure that they are beautiful if they were done well, but I'd agree with toddman that the energy efficiency will not equal new windows, nor will the operation, ease of cleaning, etc. Restore away, nothing wrong with that as long as you value the original character above all else and don't delude yourself into believing that they are very efficient.

Amazing how many people want to sugar coat this. Typically it is people who have never restored a window or someone who has restored there windows over the last 10 years and puts zero value on there time and fails to mention cost of materials. and storm windows. ”Restoring“ is relatively vague term when it comes to windows and all the details , mostly the expensive ones are left out . How much does one think it would cost to strip a window down, remove. All glazing, install zinc weather stripping , repair rot, rerope, take care of all the deteriorated lead paint in the frame , repair any rotted wood , replace the broken glass that was there and from working on the window, wait 2 months for glazing to dry before you can repaint , and deal with the lead storm that work creates, then add the cost of quality storm window to mask the poor performance of a rope and pulley system. They don’t ever mention this on Restoration sites . They tell you How easy it is, how much you will save if your willing to take a few hours per window if your own worthless time. They make comparisons to new windows using data that is outdated on modern windows and using data that is best case scenario on old windows.

I will agree with your last statement.

Your articles leave out the critical details and they would make sense until you figure the cost of rehabbing the windows send upgrades. Sure these windows will ”last” 200 years but the reality is most have failed many years ago and are not going on 200 year maintenance schedules. For rehab work I am not a fan of nylon pile and the best performance gains will come from a quality storm Masking the poor performance of a rope and pulley system.

For those that just adore the idea of trashing good/great windows - please go buy and only work with new homes and leave the old homes to those that do love them.

I appreciate everyone's input. I would love to restore them however the local restoration companies charge anywhere from 1400-1750 per window for restoration. New / replacement windows that I'm considering are Windsor, Marvin, and possibly Loewen for the Kitchen. I understand the need to replace with a high value window were I to do that. I also understand the cost-effectiveness of DIYing the window restoration. However, I have neither the time nor savvy to take on restoring them myself.

"I understand the need to replace with a high value window were I to do that."

Stick with the Marvin or the Loewen then if those are the options you are considering.

If you don’t restore your windows, please save them for a future owner who may want to reuse them. Original windows do carry a great deal of significance to those who care about historic homes. Someone ripped the historic windows out of the 200 year old house we purchased, and we would have dearly loved to put them back in as the replacement windows they installed caused significant damage to our home, but they threw them away.

You can also look into what they call sash pac's if your frames are in good shape. Sash pac with good Low E glass and a new storm window would certain be an marked improvement performance wise.

just replaced some historic windows with sash kits. $600 installed , prefinished, wells and blindstops enclosed in aluminum coil, existing storms not replaced.