Blog – Bach Woodcraft

Weatherization Of Period Wood Windows

Posted on March 6, 2019October 18, 2022 by Kin Schildbach

1. Introduction

How much home energy use goes toward the heat loss/gain through the windows in your home? According to the Dept of Energy, windows are responsible for 25%-30% of your thermostat related energy consumption.

In the 70’s and to this day, the insulated glass replacement window has become the mainstream solution to update old single pane wooden sash. However, with recent advances in glazing technology and a growing awareness toward natural resource conservation, many home renovators have sought an alternative path to window replacement by way of refurbishing and weatherizing existing antique windows in good repair or replicating wooden sash in severe decay.

As the preservation vs replacement debate continues, this introduction and a series of articles (coming soon) are intended to help educate you on various options toward increasing the energy efficiency of your traditional wood windows. Whether your concerns relate to cost, esthetics, feasibility or historic guidelines; alternative topics will be covered to assist in making informed decisions that match your objectives.

Air Infiltration

An important concept to grasp in window energy efficiency is the difference between air infiltration and radiant heat loss/gain of the window unit. Infiltration occurs when air leaks in around the cracks between movable or fixed window components and is usually addressed with weatherstrip or caulking. In addition, infiltration can occur between the window and wall framing if insulation is either missing or improperly installed.

Radiant Heat Loss/Gain

Radiant heat loss/gain is another effect on the comfort level felt near a window as cold temps and solar radiation are transmitted through the glazing and frame. On cold winter days when the inside glass temperature is driven below 50 degrees, it can cause drafts by drawing the cooled air down toward the floor. The cold glass also causes us to feel colder by radiating our body heat toward the glass. In summer months, solar radiation has the opposite effect of overheating interior environs.

In technical terms, the rate of heat loss is measured in by the U-factor where the better the insulating properties of the glazing and frame, the lower the factor. Solar radiation related to window performance is measured by the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window (both directly & radiated inward). Expressed as a number between 0 an 1, the lower the coefficient the lower the solar heat transmitted.

Assessing Your Windows

So, how do we keep our treasured sash in place while feeling more comfortable and lowering our heating bills? The first step is to assess what type of sash are in your home and their present condition. The next article, Refurbishing Existing Sash will delve into just that.

Highlighting Antique Glass with Zinc

Posted on May 21, 2018December 4, 2018 by Kin Schildbach

This mahogany study cabinetry project included antique glass and zinc came rather than lead. The zinc is made of sheet metal folded on itself rather than solid as with lead came. Being hollow and rigid, the material lends itself to straight line geometry, although special bending tools can be utilized to incorporate gentle pattern curves.

Shutter Restoration

Posted on May 21, 2018December 4, 2018 by Kin Schildbach

Bach Woodcraft restores historic shutters that are sound enough to be repaired. When replacement is the only option, we will replicate your existing shutters to an authentic match of the original.

Traditional Handcrafted Railings

Posted on May 21, 2018March 7, 2019 by Kin Schildbach

The traditional art of creating handcrafted volutes, landing wreaths and curved sweeping railing is inherent to the standard of craftsmanship at Bach Woodcraft.

Handrail sections and transitions are cut from solid wood and squared into blanks prior to profiling. The custom profile of choice is created via shaper, router and hand carving. The final step in fabrication involves close attention to detail sanding for a smooth flow in the feel of the rail.

With 38 yrs of experience in this craft, the process of conceptualizing and creating these curves & sweeps have become second nature to me. Even though each layout can be calculated mathematically, I rely primarily on my artistic interpretation to develop fluent results.

Whether installed upon wood balusters or decorative metal, this traditional method of hand railing will enhance any balustrade with a look of simple elegance.

Company Background (& Family Legacy)

Posted on May 19, 2018November 30, 2018 by Kin Schildbach

In 1928, Edward M. Schildbach, embarked on his life long career as a master stair builder in New York City. Over the next fifty years, my grandfather became well regarded by architects and builders for his high level of craftsmanship in the trade. His achievement caught my attention by age 18 and I asked to work in his shop during the summer of 1975. The following year would be our nation’s bi-centennial celebration and my grandfather was busy replicating the original staircases in the Upper Hourglass Hallway for Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda Building at UVA which were destroyed by fire in 1895. This was a rare opportunity to participate in reviving one of our national architectural treasures and I became captivated with the prospect of carrying on this very special family legacy.

Upon graduating from college in 1980, I opened my woodworking shop in Maine which specialized in the craft of architectural wood stairs and handrails. My grandfather had retired in 1978 and he would serve as my mentor over the next five years on my path in becoming the next generation of master stair builders. Focusing upon the region of Metro NYC and Fairfield County in CT, I developed a dedicated clientele of high profile architects and builders. My expertise expanded over the ensuing years to encompass fine architectural millwork which was also held to the highest level of design standards and craftsmanship.

With the turn of the 21st century came the introduction of automation, online supply chains and varying economic instability which all contributed to challenges for the traditional craftsman in a custom building environment. With the desire to maintain my practice of handcrafted woodwork, I recognized it was time for a renaissance in my business model. In 2006, I made the commitment to center on historic districts around Boston, Portsmouth and Southern Maine. My primary focus would be millwork preservation while continuing on a limited basis to provide traditional handcrafted stairs, railings and period millwork to my most loyal clientele. My background as a hands on woodworker has proven to be a natural transition into preservation and replication projects in historic woodwork.