Windows in older homes around Kitchener's Victoria Park deserve a gentler method than a newer house does. Here is what makes heritage windows different, how water and pressure should be handled, and what to tell any cleaner before the first ladder goes up.
In This Article
What makes older windows different
Many of the older homes in the neighbourhood have their original wood-framed windows, and those windows behave differently from modern sealed units.
- The glass. Older panes can be thinner and more fragile, and they often have gentle waves or tiny bubbles, called seeds. That distortion is part of the glass. Scrubbing will not remove it.
- Glazing putty. Wood sashes hold the glass with a soft compound that dries and cracks over the decades. Water can seep behind cracked putty and into the wood.
- Painted finishes. Old paint layers may contain lead. Avoid dry scraping and sanding near them, wet-clean instead and keep children and pets away while you work.
- Sashes and hardware. Some sashes are painted shut or run on cords and weights that should not be stressed.
- Storm windows and screens. Wood or aluminum storms add a second layer of glass to every opening.
Water and pressure: go gentle
Never aim a pressure washer at glass or sashes on a heritage home. A jet that would only rinse a modern window can lift old paint, chase putty out of its channel and push water into wall cavities.
Check the putty before any heavy washing. Press a fingertip along the edge of each pane. Putty that is crumbling, missing or pulling away from the glass is an open door for water, and it is worth having a glazier reseal it before the sashes take a soaking.
Method matters as much as pressure. Pure-water poles use a lot of water, and on windows with failing putty or gaps around the sash that water can find its way inside. Tell the cleaner about any known weak spots. Hand washing with a damp sleeve and a squeegee gives more control, and it lets a cleaner keep water off the wood.
Indoors, use a small amount of water on a well-wrung cloth, protect plaster, wallpaper and old floors with drop cloths, and dry sills straight away. Bare wood that stays damp swells, and painted wood blisters.
Streaky glass no matter what you try?
We clean interior and exterior glass to a streak-free finish for homes across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge & Guelph. Free, no-obligation quotes, ready within 1 business day.
Storms, screens and seasonal sashes
Older houses often carry removable storm windows, which turn one window into two panes and four faces of glass to clean. A common routine is to take the storms off in spring, clean and repair them, then refit them in fall. Check the hardware first, because old latches and hangers are easy to bend and hard to replace.
Storms and screens on upper floors usually mean ladders, and ladders on old houses need care. Tall, narrow windows and steep rooflines change where a ladder can stand, and soft ground, porch roofs and gardens all limit the choices. Read ladder safety for exterior home maintenance before you consider doing it yourself.
Special glass: leaded, stained and wavy
- Leaded and stained panels. The lead strips holding the pieces are soft. Use a soft brush or a slightly damp cloth, no pressure and no abrasives. If any panel bows, cracks or shows loose pieces, ask a stained-glass specialist before you touch it.
- Painted or etched decorative glass. The decoration may sit on the surface and flake or lift. Test in a tiny area, or leave it.
- Wavy or seedy glass. Wash it as you would any pane, gently, and accept the ripples as character.
Heritage status, and what cleaning is and is not
Cleaning is maintenance. It does not alter a building. Replacing windows, changing their look or removing original materials on a designated property is different, and usually needs approval. If you are unsure whether your home is listed or designated, check with City of Kitchener heritage staff before you plan any change beyond cleaning.
Tell any company you hire about the age of the windows, the storms and the paint, and ask how it will adapt. D&D Home Services serves Kitchener, and quotes are free and confirmed in writing before work begins. Window cleaning starts from $125 for typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes, and older homes with many small panes usually take more time, which the written quote will reflect. See window cleaning and the Kitchener page for details.
Key Takeaways
- Older windows have fragile glass, cracked putty, old paint and storms, so they need a gentler method than modern sealed units.
- Never pressure-wash heritage windows, and tell the cleaner about failing putty or gaps before any water is used.
- Leaded, stained and painted decorative glass calls for soft brushes, damp cloths and often a specialist.
- Cleaning is maintenance, but changing windows on a designated home usually needs approval from the city.
Sources & References
Request a home-service quote
Select the service you need and describe the work area and access.