RH Restore thinks of window restoration as an art form. Art requires talent and skill that translate to quality. With 20 years of experience, RH’s restorers have unique skills and talents from completing projects all over Chicagoland and even Europe. However, quality is nothing without completeness and consistency. With so many steps in the restoration process, RH makes sure that our customers are pleased with every stage.
-Wood Window
- Window frame replacement
- Lower and upper sash replacement
- Epoxy restoration
- Stripping to bare wood
- Staining and varnishing
- Priming and painting
- Sealing
- Replacing weight ropes or chains
- Replacing broken glass
- Repair glazing/putty
- Addition of double insulated glass if requested
- Addition of sound insulated glass if requested
- Repair or replace window hardware
- Repairing storm windows
- Build custom storm windows
-Metal Window
- Sandblasting
- Replacing broken or rusted parts by welding
- Priming with rust control primer
- Painting or powdercoating
- Repair glazing/putty
- Sealing
-The Restoration Process
To restore old windows to their original appearance and function, RH Restore implements certain steps and procedures. While each project will differ depending on the requirements and goals, here is a general outline of RH Restore’s well developed method in restoring windows.
For wood windows, the first step is removing the window(s) from the actual frame of the house or building. Then, the window is stripped to bare wood if varnished or stained. If it is not varnished or stained then the window will be sanded instead of stripped. After the old paint is stripped or sanded, parts of the window including the lower and upper sash that are rotten or deteriorated are either completely replaced or patched. If patching is required, RH Restore utilizes its own custom mixture of epoxy that is mixed to different viscosities depending on the needs for the window. Our epoxy restoration technique and skills ensures that the window will be properly restored structurally as well as aesthetically. After replacement or restoration, the windows’ weight chains or ropes are either replaced or repaired. The window springs and hardware is also either replaced or repaired at this point. If the window has broken glass it is replaced and if not the existing glass’ glaze is repaired. Upon customer request, at this stage we can also replace the glass with double-insulated or sound-insulated glass. Once replacement or repairs are done, the window is ready to be either painted or stained and varnished.
For metal windows the first step is removing the window(s) from the actual frame of the house or building just as with wood windows. Then, the window is sandblasted to remove old and deteriorated paint. Once sandblasting is complete, parts of the window that are broken or deteriorated are replaced with new parts which will be welded in. After the replacement of parts of the window, the window hardware can be either replaced or polished. If the window has broken glass it is replaced and if not the existing glass’ glaze is repaired. As with wood windows, double-insulated or sound-insulated glass can be installed as well upon request by the customer. After repairs, the window is powdercoated with new paint.