Storms for old sash
Storm windows for old sash, and the heritage permit that covers them
A storm window is a second window hung over the main one, usually outside. On an older Hamilton house, it's what gets single-pane wood sash through a long run of freezing nights and windy weeks. Storms crack and rattle, and nearly all of it can be fixed. We connect you with independent local pros who repair, reglaze and supply storms, one of several old-window services we match. Before you hang new ones, read the permit rule below; it catches people out.
- Repairs and new storms, inside or out
- Glass cut to fit old storm frames
- Hamilton's storm permit rule, explained
The basics
What a storm window does and doesn't do
What it does
Adds a second layer of glass with still air between, cutting drafts and noise. It keeps rain and ice off the sash and its putty, so the original lasts.
What it doesn't do
It won't fix a rotten sash or a broken cord; that's wood window repair. A storm fitted too tight can trap damp air against the sash.
Types
Exterior, interior and removable panels
Storms are still made, and pros build them to any size. Three kinds:
Exterior wood storms
A wood frame with one pane, hung each fall and swapped for screens in spring. Right for an older façade; needs paint and putty.
Aluminum triple-tracks
Two glass panels and a screen in tracks, so you open for air without taking anything down. Rollers and latches can usually be replaced.
Interior panels
Glass or acrylic panels that seal inside the opening. Nothing changes outside. Acrylic is cut to size; see plexiglass.
Storm repair
Replacing the glass in an existing storm
People often assume nobody fixes storms anymore. Local glass pros still do, and it's routine.
Take the storm down
Storms are light enough to come off the wall, which keeps the job simple.
Cut new glass to the frame
Old frames are rarely square, so each opening is measured. The pane goes in with putty and points, or a spline in aluminum. It's the same work as other custom glass.
Fix the rest while it's apart
Loose corners, soft wood, worn weatherstrip or a missing latch, before it goes back up.
Hamilton's permit rule
Heritage districts: even removable storms need a Heritage Permit
On a designated property, or anywhere in a heritage conservation district, the City's Heritage Permit list covers installing windows and doors and names temporary/removable storm windows and doors outright. So hanging new storms, even ones that come down each spring, needs a Heritage Permit first.
There's no fee, and the City's heritage windows guidance recommends storms. The review looks at how they'll appear on the house, so have photos and details ready. Repairing storms you already have usually needs no permit. Check the Heritage Permits page or our heritage district guide. Storm doors fall under the same rule; see screen and storm doors.
What affects the quote
What changes the price
Storm work is quoted window by window. What moves it:
- Repairing your storms, or ordering new ones
- Wood, aluminum or interior panels; glass or acrylic
- Sizes, and how many need their own measurement
- Upper-floor windows and ladder access
- Hanging and seasonal swaps, if you want them done
Say how many windows, and whether the house is designated.
Fog in the gap
Condensation between the storm and the main window
Fog or frost between the storm and the sash means warm, damp house air is leaking into the gap and meeting cold storm glass. The fix is on the inside: better weatherstrip on the main sash.
The storm should be the looser of the two. If paint has sealed its small drain gaps at the bottom rail, open them. Fog inside a sealed double-pane unit is a different problem; see foggy windows.
Buying used
Second-hand storms: fit, glass and the permit
Owners of old Hamilton houses hunt online classifieds for used wood storms. Measure each opening at the top, middle and bottom first, and check for cracked panes and soft wood.
A slightly oversized storm can often be trimmed, and missing panes can be cut new. On a designated house or in a heritage district, the Heritage Permit covers salvaged storms just the same.
Questions
Storm window questions
Explore your options
Related window work
The pros we work with repair and fit storms on older houses, including Durand, Westdale, Downtown Hamilton, Dundas and Waterdown.
Tell us how many storms you need
Say how many windows, whether you're fixing storms or adding new ones, and whether the house is designated. We'll send it to a local pro who does storm work, and they'll follow up with a quote.