32 used & new from $4.30

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

See all product images
See 1 customer image

Tell the Publisher! I�d like to read this book on Kindle Don�t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Working Windows: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows (Paperback)

~ (Author)

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.

4 new from $29.99 28 used from $4.30

Formats		Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Paperback Available from these sellers. Published August 31, 1998	Paperback	--	$29.99	$4.30
	See # more paperbacks
	Show fewer paperbacks

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Working Windows, 3rd: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows

by Terry Meany

4.7 out of 5 stars (3) $11.53

Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes

by George Nash

5.0 out of 5 stars (23) $21.12

How to Repair Old Windows [VHS]

VHS ~ Andrew G. Coviello

3.0 out of 5 stars (2) $6.99

Repairing Old and Historic Windows: A Manual for Architects and Homeowners

by New York Landmarks Conservancy

$23.45

The Old-House Journal Compendium

by Clem Labine

5.0 out of 5 stars (3) $14.93

› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the late 20th century, in spite of the renewed interest in historical renovation, preserving resources, and a strong do-it-yourself tradition developing among homeowners, the art of maintaining and repairing wood windows has somehow fallen by the wayside. Few modern home-repair books include more than a cursory look at wood window repairs and restoration, offering sketchy information at best. A whole generation of people have been raised not knowing that the upper sash in a double-hung wood window is supposed to open just like the lower sash to allow one to easily wash windows inside and out without going outside, or that properly working double-hung windows permit one to adjust home ventilation by allowing warm air to escape out the upper sash and cool air to enter through the lower.

In Meany's book, individual sections are devoted to the operation, care, and repair of double-hung wood windows, casement and awning windows, fixed windows, and other more unusual windows like pivoting and leaded glass windows, along with chapters on weather stripping, repainting, refinishing, and working with different kinds of window moldings. This definitive book on wood window repair and restoration is now offered in a new edition with excellent detail, helpful diagrams, simple and clear instructions, and a good bit of Meany's wry humor to make it a lively read. It is an absolutely indispensable part of any wood-window-owning do-it-yourselfer's home library. --Mark A. Hetts

Review

"The best guide on the subject.". --Seatle Times/Post Intelligencer

"Meany has put together the definitive book on wood window repair and restoration. . . [it is] written with excellent detail, helpful diagrams, simple and clear instructions, and a good bit of Meany's wry humor to make it a lively read. It is an absolutely indispensable part of any wood-window-owning do-it-yourselfer's home library." -- Amazon.com

"Whether you simply need to eliminate drafts or want to tackle complex stripping, author Meany is sure to steer you in the right direction. Remember, the windows really are the eyes of your home." --Timber Homes Illustrated

"Assuming you have a reason to repair old, single-pane windows instead of replacing them with insulated glass windows, Terence Meany's Working Windows. . . could come in handy. Meany, who calls himself Mr. Window, has some neat tricks up his sleeve. . . . "--Journal of Light Construction

"Working Windows leaves the subject of window design and installation to other authors, and instead concentrates on something more basic to homeowners: getting the windows you already have to work properly for what they were designed and installed to do."--Woodshop News

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Paperback: 136 pages
Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155821707X
ISBN-13: 978-1558217072
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 7 ounces

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #571,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#47 in Books > Home & Garden > Interior Design > Windows
#51 in Books > Home & Garden > Sustainable Living > Energy Efficiency

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Terry Meany Page

Look Inside This Book

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	52% buy Working Windows, 3rd: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows 4.7 out of 5 stars (3) $11.53
	26% buy the item featured on this page: Working Windows: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows 4.3 out of 5 stars (13)
	9% buy Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes 5.0 out of 5 stars (23) $21.12
	5% buy Renovation: Completely Revised and Updated 4.5 out of 5 stars (30) $26.37

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

historic windows(1)

window renovation(1)

window restoration(1)

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Working Windows Works, April 2, 2001

By	D. Smith "desmith@aol.com" (Jefferson, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

... It arrived on Friday, and was an easy read, with lots of diagrams and helpful hints. On Sunday I attacked a 73 year old double hung window which had been painted shut for decades, and everything I encountered was just as described in the book. By the end of the day, the window had been reassembled and both sashes now function properly. My total out of pocket cost was less than $20, including enough materials to do several other windows. To make this review a "5" the author should include a reference list of where to find those "hard to find" parts (including internet URL's).

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great primer for restoring gorgeous old windows, January 8, 2004

By	houseinprogress (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

A great primer that convinced us to restore our classic six light double-hung windows instead of replacing them. So why would someone want to restore old windows instead of just replacing them?

A) They're gorgeous, practical works of art...the eyes of the house. Our windows are "six-light prairie style, double hung" windows. They're one of the typical syles for bungalows in the Midwest, and are a big part of what make our house the thing we love.

B) When restored properly, they will be weathertight as well as beautiful. (They are NOT maintenance free, however. If you are looking for maintenance free, restoration may not be for you.)

C) It will cost us less to restore these windows than to replace them with a vinyl clad wood window. This is based on the number of windows we have and the shape that they are in.

If those benefits are interesting to you, you need this book. Meany has written a fun book useful for the do-it-yourself'er as well as those wanting to learn about how window restoration works. With years of experience, Terence brings wisdom and humor (and some nice diagrams) to his writing. He gives beginners a realistic preview of what you're likely to encounter. Those with experience might find the book a bit basic but will appreciate the breadth of his experience and his recommendations on how to handle a few unusual challenges.

This winter, we have toasty warm, restored and WORKING windows :)

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Guide for 'Permanent' Windows, March 14, 2006

By	Paul Brazelton (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Working Windows, Revised and Updated Edition: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows (Paperback)

Everyone who's owned an old house has gone through it - after being barraged by literature from window manufacturers, energy companies and design mags, you start thinking about putting in new replacement windows. It makes sense, right? Spend the money now, and reaps the dividends in energy savings with those smart, vinyl clad future-proof windows.

Some of us continue to read past this, and we learn more beyond the hype. Those old double-hung sashes that have been keeping out the rain and wind for a century would be replaced with sashes that will last a few decades at most - replacements that often cannot be painted or even repaired when their exotic caulks inevitably fail. Replacments that nullify the architectural integrity of your older home. Replacements manufactured with materials that have a profound negative environmental impact.

So, what to do? You're tired of the breezes through your home, the condensation and frost in the winter, the windows you can't even open, the money you can see wafting out of doors every time the heat or AC kicks in. Can you repair these ancient windows, make them work like new - maybe even work *better* than new?

Working Windows is the answer to that last question, and answers with an emphatic "YES!". Aside from windows rotting clear off of their frames, this book will help you recover, restore and improve your existing windows. From fixing problems with rot and warping to sealing out the weather to pointing and glazing, this book covers everything. Want to make your own storm windows? It's got it. How about screens? Sure thing.

The market for restoring older windows is a bit on the fringe, so finding the parts can be tricky, and in this revised version even that's taken care of: there are addresses and URLs for just about every tool and material mentioned. If you just want to open those painted-shut sashes for free, that's covered, but if you're looking for high end architecturally-sound storm windows, that's covered, too.

My only complaint with the book is that some of the illustrations are cryptic. Perhaps in the third edition some full color, detailed images can help walk us through window restoration.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 13 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is a Treasure
I finally got around to putting this book to use on my 100 year old Victorian and I cannot overstate how valuable it has been to me. Read more

Published 2 months ago by stevedee

5.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal book, for the right consumer
This is one of my favorite books in my DIY collection, which is considerable. But it's not for everyone, as you might guess by reading the few negative reviews that people have... Read more

Published on August 20, 2006 by toughcrowd

5.0 out of 5 stars Got Wood Windows?? Then this book is a lifesaver !
Several months ago we bought a 1910 two story with THIRTY double hung windows in it. None were working, all were painted shut inside and out AND to add insult to injury were also... Read more

Published on May 28, 2006 by LEO OROURKE

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide for Restoring Windows
My husband and I decided to restore the double hung windows in our 70-year old house, and this book has been a great guide. Read more

Published on February 22, 2006 by C. Brown

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the bible of wooden window repair!
The revised and updated edition of Working Windows probably has twice the information of the original book, which was already the best book on the subject. Read more

Published on August 4, 2005 by Jane Powell

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers I couldn't find elsewhere
I've been annoyed for years by books on doors and windows that were pretty much exclusively about NEW doors and windows. Old windows? Can't fix 'em with a touch of paint? Read more

Published on June 5, 2005 by Simon St.Laurent

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting
An important part of window DIY is the glazing. I was surprised to see the author's very brief comments on the subject and recommended having glazing done by a hardware store or... Read more

Published on November 24, 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide for DIY
I have recently purchased an older home that has a number of double-hung windows that need sash cords replaced and some minor repairs. Read more

Published on July 26, 2002 by Jason M Mitton

2.0 out of 5 stars Window repair review-one persons opinion
I found the book to be very general and basic. Most of the information I already knew. There are methods of retrofitting old windows I have seen on home type programs that... Read more

Published on May 29, 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Save Our Windows
Mr. Meaney combines straightforward, grounded explanations with the right amount of humor to keep this work from becoming just another "how-to" text. Read more

Published on September 12, 2000 by onbauman

› See all 13 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
crafts Is anyone on Etsy.com (PART III)? i would like to see your stuff!	210	9 minutes ago
woodworking Work Bench for non power tools	15	1 hour ago
interior design What is your favorite color to decorate with and why?	43	13 hours ago
crafts arts and craft group	2489	1 day ago
crafts Do you have a crafty website? Please share!	135	2 days ago
interior design Home Design to minimize housework-- Is anyone interested in this?	16	3 days ago
woodworking Mini / Midi Lathes	4	12 days ago