Historic steel windows are all across America. They became popular in big cities to combat the fires that were so common around the turn of the 20th century. Then, from the 1930s until the 1950s, they were a popular choice in residential housing due to the decreasing availability of quality lumber.
Many steel windows sit and deteriorate across the country. While much attention has been paid to restoring traditional wood windows by preservationists, historic steel windows have fallen through the cracks. Well, that is something I would like to remedy here at The Craftsman.
We have put together a comprehensive guide to walk you through the process of how to restore steel windows. I’ll discuss the highlights here in this post to give you a primer on the subject.
If you really want to get down and detailed about working with historic steel windows, you should purchase and download my picture filled e-booklet. It is 12 pages of everything you’ll need to know about restoring steel windows. It includes:
- Materials list
- Detailed photos and breakdowns of each step showing exactly what and how to do it
- How to get old hardware working again
- Time tested techniques we use everyday
Pick up your copy right here!
The Craftsman’s Guide to Restoring Steel Windows
How To Restore Steel Windows
Historic steel windows are best restored in place, though with some effort, they can be removed from their opening and restored in a shop. The process is pretty straight forward and mostly focuses on removing the old glazing and paint down to bare metal before applying fresh coatings.
Step 1 Putty Removal
Old glazing putty on steel windows is often much harder than on historic wood windows. There is also a possibility that it contains asbestos so you should have it tested before large scale removal.
The best way we have found to remove the old putty is using an inexpensive wood chisel and hammer, but be careful of the spring clips that hold the glass in place. Once all the old putty is out, you’re ready for paint removal.
Step 2 Paint Removal
Scraping paint down to bare metal is essential here if you want your new paint to last. Use a ProScraper to remove any old paint. Once the paint is gone, sand the surface smooth and wipe all the sanding dust down with a damp cloth when you’re finished. Then, clean the glass as best you can before proceeding.
Step 3 Pre-treatment & Priming
Treat any rusted areas with a rust treatment like Ospho (this step is fairly complex and is described in more detail in the e-booklet). Then prime all the metal surfaces with a quality metal primer.
Step 4 Glazing
Once the primer is dry, you can proceed to putty glazing. You’ll need a putty designed for use on metal sashes like Sarco Dual-Glaze or DAP 1012. Press the putty into the glazing rabbets and finish the putty with a smooth bevel and clean 90 degree corners.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for painting the putty. Some putty can be be painted right away, while others require a couple weeks to skin over before painting.
Step 5 Finish Paint
Top coat with a quality exterior paint. The paint should be lapped onto the glass about 1/16″ in order to seal the putty. You need to cut in a straight line with your paint brush and let the paint dry naturally in order to create a good seal. I recommend using an oil-based paint whenever painting a metal surface.
Complete all these steps (other than putty glazing) on the inside as well and your historic steel windows should be ready for another 50 years with only minimal maintenance other than regular paint jobs.
For a more in depth explanation of the process you should definitely pick up my e-book The Craftsman’s Guide: Restoring Steel Windows
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance.
I have 6 1940’s casement windows in my ‘garden level’ (basement) condo in Boston. I think i could repair them best by removing the hinge pins, and then doing all the repair work on the metal window (treat the rust, prime and paint it, install thicker glass, and them reattach it with new hinge pins. Maybe I could have them sandblasted and powder coated? Or, is that just a bad idea, and I should I try to repair them in place? I think removing the entire frame would be too much, but 1 of the frames is so rotted away with rust that the frame needs to be replaced somehow.
Any recommendations on weather stripping for these old steel windows? I have 2 basement hopper windows that tip in that are in need of refurbishment and reglazing. A previous homeowner appears to have sprayed foam in between the frame & the sash which I will have to chisel out. I’m guessing due to an air leak.
I’d prefer to fix these windows up and “do it the right way” by adding weather stripping vs more crappy foam. House is late 40’s so I’m not sure what kind, if any weather stripping was used back then.