Need replacement muntins

4 years ago

I pulled out my first 3 windows yesterday, to develop my reglazing/restoration skills. These came from the attic dormer, so they're the lowest risk and aesthetics matter only from the viewing distance of the front yard at ground level.

Challenge #1: critters have been in the attic at some point, and decided to dine on the sashes. A few toothmarks in the rails and stiles isn't too big of a deal, but a few of the muntins are chewed nearly clear through, not leaving a very good bed for reglazing.

Where can I find replacement muntins? Google led me to Olde Window Restorers, but they stopped taking new orders last May. I can't find anyone else. Any suggestions?

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weedyacres
Original Author

4 years ago

Update: I did finally hear back from Olde Window Restorers, who said they'd cut some custom muntins for me if I shipped them a sample, but it would be a month lead time. And I had communications with Austin Historical, who was looking in the shop for some scraps, but didn't get back to me before Christmas. I also looked on CL and FB but didn't see any close-by options that were large enough to work.

So I bought some screen molding, and resigned myself to gluing up something that would work. As I was setting up my table saw, I glanced in my scrap can and mused, "wouldn't it be nice if I had a piece of scrap that would work for this." I looked at a few of the scraps and one was the sliced-off tongue of a piece of hardwood. The lightbulb went off...this was the profile of the outside of the muntin!

The real muntin has a bit longer base of the T, but for a dormer window, this will work! It was a great Christmas serendipity! I had to trim down the ends to fit into the muntin slots, but I've got me some solid muntins now. :-)

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Comments (11)

Lyndee Lee
4 years ago
Squirrels? We had that probem when squirrels built a nest between the storm and the window in my attic. Fortunately, they only worked in one out of four windows. That was before I started working with epoxy so I rebuilt the missing wood with water putty. I don't have that house any more so don't know how
long the repair lasted.

Since that time, I have switched to epoxy. I have used the Abatron and the JB weld and both of them were OK to work with. Bondo is another choice but I had better luck trying to get even volumes of the other product than trying to get the correct mixing proportions for Bondo. When working with the epoxy, I had best results doing the majority of the shaping when the product was firm but not hard. If you try too early, the fill will pull away from the surface but wait for cure and it takes more effort to sand and shape.

For extremely damaged wood, you could make new with a table saw and router but that takes quite a bit of time and isn't necessary unless you get into high dollar rebuild projects. Attic windows don't get much use or close scrutiny so get them done and move on.
weedyacres thanked Lyndee Lee
weedyacres
Original Author
4 years ago
Maybe squirrels. Maybe raccoons (there was a pretty large entrance hole into the attic through the porch for a few years. What mammals feed on old growth hardwood? There's also some hardened poo in a few areas, so I suppose if I really cared I could play girl scout and ID the poo. :-p

The photo above isn't the worst part, that's the photo I took of the profile so I could see if Menards had something I could use. There are a couple spots where there really is little to no wood left.

I suppose I could hack something together with some flat stock cut and glued into a "T" profile.
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millworkman
4 years ago
A real local lumberyard should be able to help. They used to be able to order them from their moulding suppliers.
weedyacres thanked millworkman
User
4 years ago
If you can't make the profile yourself see if there is a custom carpentry place near you and make sure you order enough in case you need to replace some on other windows.
weedyacres thanked User
Sigrid
4 years ago
If you live near Maine, you coukd try Begala windiw works in, I think, Westbrook, but possibly Gorham.
weedyacres thanked Sigrid
weedyacres
Original Author
4 years ago
I called the only local lumberyard here and they don't have any. :-(

I'm half a continent from Maine. :-(
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
4 years ago
Go to a millwork shop. Have them make them.
PRO
toddinmn
4 years ago
you could cut them out from an another old sash or maybe find a sash the correct size. window installers throw these out all the time and Salvage stores typically have old sashes .
weedyacres thanked toddinmn
weedyacres
Original Author
4 years ago
@toddinmn That's a brilliant idea! Salvage from another window. Of course!
Gargamel
4 years ago
Genius!