Written by restoration experts Scott Sidler and Stacy Grinsfelder, this book provides homeowners, preservationists, and contractors with the facts and figures needed to make informed decisions about historic windows. Drawing from scientific studies, industry testing, and real-world experience, the authors demonstrate how historic windows can be maintained, restored, and upgraded to meet or exceed modern energy standards.
Historic windows can last indefinitely with basic maintenance.
Original windows have zero new carbon footprint.
Affordable upgrades outperform costly replacements.
Every year, thousands of historic windows are needlessly discarded—victims of aggressive marketing campaigns from replacement window companies. But what if everything you’ve been told about old windows is wrong?
The Case for Historic Windows reveals the inconvenient truth: a properly maintained historic window can last centuries, while the average replacement window needs to be replaced again after just 15-20 years.
With compelling data, practical advice, and real-world examples, this essential guide challenges the conventional wisdom about window efficiency and gives you the knowledge to make truly informed decisions about your home’s historic windows.
Learn what defines a "historic window" and why their ingenious design and construction allows them to last for generations.
Historic windows can last centuries with proper care, while replacements often fail within 15-20 years due to sealed unit failures.
Each replacement window creates 1,244 pounds of CO₂—an "energy debt" that takes decades to overcome.
Explore key metrics and discover how historic windows can be upgraded to meet modern energy efficiency standards.
Replacement windows take 32 years to pay for themselves—longer than they typically last. Learn the real economics.
Get climate-specific recommendations for both northern and southern regions to improve your historic windows.
Scott is the owner of several companies. Austin Historical, a 40+ person window restoration company that restores and rebuilds historic wood and steel windows across the southeastern US. Austin Enterprises Group that provides e-commerce and content creation solutions for websites in the DIY & Home Improvement niche, and Preservan Orlando, a home rot repair franchise. He has served on the Orlando Historic Preservation Board and Window Preservation Alliance Board. He is a bestselling author of several restoration books and the creative force behind The Craftsman Blog.
Unlike modern replacements, historic windows are repairable, long-lasting, and crafted from superior old-growth wood. Keep the charm of your home while saving the planet.
Energy efficiency comparable to modern windows.
Proven longevity—centuries vs. decades.
Interested in more books?
Old Windows In Depth
Living in the Past
Shudder Sunday: The Book