CHELSEA: Preservation Chelsea to offer free window restoration workshop

Preservation Chelsea will be hosting and co-sponsoring a Free Wood Window Restoration Workshop in downtown Chelsea 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 19 that will give homeowners the skills necessary to restore their own windows, or the knowledge to hire the right contractor to do the work for them.

The eight-hour workshop will be taught by window restoration specialist Robin Adair, who has been restoring windows for the past six years in Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Window restoration has been gaining momentum as a viable alternative to replacing windows for several reasons, workshop organizer and Preservation Chelsea member Tom Girard stated. It allows homeowners to do a large portion of the work themselves and save money in the process. Furthermore, restoration is a far more sustainable approach than replacement windows. The old growth timber used to make the 90-plus year old windows in my home cant be found today, and if properly cared for, will last another 90-plus years.

Finally, with proper sealing and suitable storm windows with Low-E glass, old windows can be as energy efficient as new windows.

Adair will cover how to properly disassemble double hung windows, replace sash cords, replace glass, install weather-stripping and seals in key locations to stop drafts, and most importantly, how to put it all back together again.

Hell touch on his design for an easy to use wooden storm window as well.

Unfortunately, since this is only an eight-hour session, we wont be able to go through the details of storm windows. Ive covered that in a two-week workshop thats geared toward contractors, but well focus on double hung window restoration in this homeowner-focused workshop.

Fortunately, Girard said, Tom Clemons at Chelsea Village Hardware was willing to hold the workshop on the second floor, where they have a few second floor windows that fit the bill old double hung windows with sash cords that need some attention.

I think its an ideal location in that we can show participants exactly where they can find the supplies they need to do the job right you can find most of it right on the shelves of the store, Girard said.

Advance registration is required. The workshop is limited to a class size of 12, so participants are advised to apply early for the workshop. Continued...

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CHELSEA: Preservation Chelsea to offer free window restoration workshop