A common challenge for historic homeowners is balancing their home's original charm with the rising energy costs of heating and cooling—especially in a house that may not have seen consistent upkeep over the past century. At Blind Eye Restoration, we’re passionate about preserving the integrity and beauty of historic homes, and the good news is—you don’t have to sacrifice energy efficiency to do it!
The "Old houses are drafty" Myth
While our modern building philosophy for fixing drafty spaces loves a knee jerk response of all new windows and doors and furred out walls - people living in the 1800s-1900s weren't just acclimated and used to living in cold spaces. Modern weatherstripping and insulation methods are actually based on the same principles that historic builders used centuries ago—long before synthetic materials became the norm. Many historic homes were designed with built-in efficiency, using features like tight joinery, overlapping wood elements, and interlocking seals to keep out water and drafts.
Unfortunately as time has passed and new systems have developed, those old methods and materials have stopped being taught to new generations. Original wood storm windows and doors that were custom designed to suit these old houses fall into desrepair due to lack of maintenance and often get removed and replaced with cheap modern storms because no one knows better.
What a lot of people may not realize, is that homeowners can still restore and maintain these original systems, which were built to be repaired rather than discarded. Traditional wood storms are still highly effective, and repairing existing storm elements, as well as window and door weatherstripping ensures that the home remains both functional and historically accurate. Not only does this approach preserve the character of a historic home, but it is also a more sustainable and environmentally friendly choice, reducing waste and avoiding the short lifespan of many modern replacements.
Historically appropriate weatherstripping - it exists!
Just because you don’t see it at big-box stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot doesn’t mean historic weatherstripping is obsolete. Patents for metal weatherstripping products date back as early as 1890, proving that this method has stood the test of time.
Benefits of Traditional Weatherstripping:
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- Durability – Typically made from rust-resistant zinc or bronze for longevity.
- Efficiency – Interlocking and spring-bent designs effectively seal air gaps around windows and doors.
- Historically Accurate – Maintains the authenticity of period architecture.
Accurate Weatherstrip is one of the best manufacturers of this traditional product range, and likely carry anything you might need to seal up your original windows and doors.
If you are interested in something a little simpler, adhesive brush weatherstripping and felt weatherseal can also be purchased online (and sometimes I've found it at Ace hardware, who also sometimes carry spring bronze!) and attach it to the invisible edges of window sashes to similarly block air gaps without impeding functionality.
If you're not interested in trying this all out yourself, Blind Eye Restoration has various "tune-up" options in our repetoire that we can offer if your windows and doors look good but just need a little additional help holding out the cold. No full restoration or weeks of boarded up windows, just a few hours of us in your house popping the weatherstrip into place. This is the peak marriage of preservation and efficiency!
Addressing Uninsulated Glass: Storm Windows as a Solution
Windows and doors in historic homes require a two-pronged approach to energy efficiency:
- Preventing air and water infiltration (weatherstripping)
- Adding a secondary insulating barrier (storm windows and doors)
Cold outdoor air in direct contact with single pane glass over warm indoor air causes condensation, frost buildup, and sometimes even water damage. A second pane of glass in a storm window helps regulate temperature differences, reducing heat loss while preventing moisture-related issues.
The advent of double insulated glass was built on the science of this understanding, but the industry still hasn't found a fail-proof method of manufacturing it! Creating yet another "made for the trash" building product that can't be repaired. Mind you, double insulated glass also doesn't fit in standard historic wood window sashes, and often poorly reacts to standard oil glazing products, which was also another great sales tactic for replacement window companies.
Not only does single pane storm window glass not fail, but it can be chosen with the same upgrades that modern windows come with. Low-E glass, double strength or tempered, even plexi or polycarbonate if you want something lighter!
Aren't Storm Windows Ugly? Debunking the Aesthetic Myth
Some homeowners hesitate to install storm windows, fearing they will detract from the home’s aesthetic appeal, and prefer to go straight to replacing their historic primary windows. However, modern replacement windows have the same issue of being mass-produced with no regard for a home’s unique proportions, depth, or materials. In contrast, custom wood storm windows are designed to complement your home's original architecture.
Advantages of Custom Storm Windows Over Replacements:
- Perfect Fit – Designed specifically for your historic windows.
- Authentic Materials – Maintains the look and feel of the original architecture.
- Operational Flexibility – Includes options like interchangeable storm and screen panels.
- Customizable Colors & Finishes – Matches your home’s unique style.
Now if you're in a financial pinch, the cheapest aluminum storms out there are still going to insulate and protect your historic primary sashes for another 100 years just fine. But don't try to tell me you're paying the cost to replace all your historic windows for the sake of efficiency and cost because you dont like the look of storms, when custom storms arent even half the price of replacment windows.
Conclusion
Maintaining the energy efficiency of a historic home does not mean compromising its original beauty. By restoring and properly weatherstripping existing windows and doors, and investing in custom storm solutions, homeowners can enjoy both sustainability and cost savings. At Blind Eye Restoration, we specialize in bringing historic properties back to their former glory while ensuring they remain comfortable and energy-efficient for years to come.
Interested in learning more about maintaining charm along with efficiency? You can check out this huge list of articles on historic window energy efficiency If you're more interested in seeing how attractive and unobtrusive a new custom storm can be, take a look at the gallery of images below of storm windows and doors we've restored and created custom for our customers.
