Replacement Windows for Brick Homes

Brick homes are cooler in the summer months and retain heat in the winter to a greater degree than other home designs. While wood-frame homes usually offer easy window replacement, brick homes pose a set of unique problems. Replacing windows in a brick home is not an impossible task, but several factors must be considered before jumping into the project.

"Standard-size windows" is a term used to denote the height and width of windows most commonly used in home construction, but standard sizes vary from decade to decade. Since most homes were not constructed in large developments until the 1940s, a greater possibility exists that replacement windows will need to be custom-made for homes built before that time. All large window companies---including Peachtree, Andersen, Milgard, Jeld-Wen Inc., Marvin, Monarch (formerly Hurd), Pella and PGT---build custom windows.

Homes constructed in tracts or groupings (such as row houses) will have similar windows. Even before the age of large-scale commercial manufacturing processes, it was still easier for carpenters to reproduce dozens of windows in the same size, as opposed to measuring and making a unique set of windows for each house. If your tract or street has similar houses, consult with your neighbors to determine if any of the other homeowners are interested in restoring or replacing their windows. Ordering larger quantities of the same window reduces the cost per window.

Some brick homes feature windows that are not currently used in construction due to their impractical design or extremely large loss of heat or cooled air. Louvered windows are among the designs that fall into this category. Rather than attempting to order custom louvers, or to locate a current louvered design, consult an architect or exterior designer to suggest possible replacement options.

Replacing windows in a brick structure presents a number of framing issues. Quality framing poses a problem to window replacement, since the frame is usually embedded in the bricks surrounding the window. Unless the exterior of home is to be resurfaced with brick facing, try to avoid any removal or chipping of the old brickwork. If the window is framed in wood, there are fewer problems in selecting windows and adapting the frames to hold standard-size windows. Avoid enclosing a portion of a large window in order to use a smaller standard window, because this technique usually draws attention away from the house and to the replacement windows.

The best option to match window style and architectural design is the custom window replacement. However, this remodeling choice is also the most expensive. If the home is a cultural landmark or was designed by an important architect (even a local firm), consider seeking an estimate for custom replacement windows. If the home has significant history, ordering custom windows may help the home retain its historical and monetary value.