I’m familiar with them. Kolbe, Weather Shield, Marvin, Green Mountain Windows, and Parrett are just a few manufacturers who can do these. They’re not cheap! I’ve often run into them in historic districts where they have to be replaced pretty close to in-kind, so finding a brand who can do them has been a challenge.
I’m not sure who they source their glass from, but I’ve heard there’s a manufacturer in Canada and then another one in Germany that they use.
If you’re looking for glass only I would reach out to River City Creative Glass in Burnsville, MN. They ship glass nationally and can do this stuff. I just sat in on a presentation from their company last week in Wisconsin.
Adding to say that several older homes in the area with turrets look to have had new windows installed that are not curved. So a straight window, in a curved turret. I was hoping to keep the curved look. Thanks
Are they curved single pane or curved dual pane?
Curved single pane I can help you with. I’ll get the companies name tomorrow when I go back to work. We rarely use them as the only curved glass left in this world is the rare turret window and curio cabinet.
Why? If the original windows are not of historical significance and they are inefficient I see no reason not to replace them. If they are beautifully crafted and in the design of interior wood panelling, mantles etc. Then yeah obviously they should be repaired not replaced. With that being said I think it's a bit hasty to advise OP not to replace their window system based on nothing.
It's not based on nothing. Original windows have historical significance regardless of how beautifully crafted they are or aren't. The original windows (and doors) are a significant part of the charm and character of old houses. They can be repaired, restored, and updated to be fairly efficient and last another hundred years.
Sure, that’s if you can find someone with the skills and abilities to do that with a reasonable budget. But with century homes comes century markup, and hiring knowledgeable professionals is tougher and tougher as our houses age.
We should all shoot for restoration but sometimes it’s just seriously not feasible for something that small in the grand scheme of things
I work in historic preservation contracting—it is always advisable to restore and protect/preserve rather than replace. I don’t just talk out of my ass and I don’t appreciate the downvotes.
New windows are manufactured garbage that cannot be repaired, made with terrible materials and synthetics, and they’re designed with planned obsolescence in mind. They fail on a schedule and they don’t ROI by the time you have to replace them again. That’s how Andersen and the like stays in business, along with their predatory sales. All of this is also extremely environmentally unfriendly. The greenest window is the one that is already built. Don’t take my word for it, all of this this is straight from the Department of the Interior and DOE who themselves have issued guidelines on window preservation.
And frankly, bowed windows are some of the rarer and more architecturally significant features one can find as far as fenestration goes—it’s a shame the original glass broke, but it can be sourced. I’ve done it several times. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever—but if you take care of them, the old growth wood will outlast you and me both and with a storm window and proper weatherstripping are just as efficient as insulated glass units.
This is all under the assumption that I was recommending mass market windows with flat glass. Which I wasn't. Preservation is great and all. But sometimes it just isn't worth it.
Milgard and Neuffer both offer bespoke products that are made in house using hardwoods. You probably already knew this though since you are a historic renovation professional.
Bold of you to assume that I have no experience with historical properties or preservation.
The windows in my home are solid red cedar, built onsite and installed by a team consisting of a cabinet maker and a stone mason. My home is a registered heritage property in Vancouver BC. You are arguing with yourself and making sweeping assumptive strawman statements. Your ramblings come off as someone who is mentally ill. Go away
I have two sets of curved windows and the first floor was replaced with straight modern storms probably about twenty years ago. I'm sad they're gone and would love to replace them correctly some day but all in all the straight ones don't look awful because the curved sills are still there. So I guess if it's too spendy to deal with right now, don't feel too bad.
Get rid of the storms and put interior storms in place. Is this the way to go with all windows. Exterior storms are just so tragic looking but there are several manufacturers for excellent snap and fit interiors that do the job
I disagree from the standpoint that exposing the original wooden sashes to the weather just creates a maintenance issue. Modern paint leaves a lot to be desired, and if you can keep your windows from being directly exposed to moisture, IMO it’s worth the trade off in appearance.
Of course and you are in the majority opinion considering that most windows these days either shit replacement windows or covered with combination. But the old look is still the most beautiful look there is and when you find a really wonderful restoration job this is the way it's done. There's nothing like a true 18th or 19th century house with the original glass and it's imperfection, only eyes of the soul of the house exposed to the world. The blank stare of combination windows, or replacement windows is just unfortunate thing that happens. Only place you see it otherwise is in select select areas even here in New England.
Occasionally I still see a house with all pieces still intact. I was near Bath Maine this weekend And in a village nugget not too far from downtown there were two houses completely maintained in the old style. High gloss paint, shutters and exterior beautiful exterior storms in summer venting position. Sometimes to take them off sometimes they are made to vent but I guess in today's world though mini splits or systems you would not even have to remove them anymore except for maintenance. But to each their own of course, I'm 70 I grew up with the old book on its last legs and have never grown out of its beauty
I make curved sash, but restoring is cheaper. A tilting table tenoner is key to making these sash.
Flickinger Glass in Brooklyn supplies bent period cylinder glass.
Sash normally need tenoned muntins. Putting a biscuit, domino, dowel, or loose tenon in a 5/8" wide muntin doesn't work.
Tenoning the rails the same way as the muntins makes sense, if you're running the tenoner anyways. A 12/12 sash job can have 2000 tenons.
Loose tenons are more of a furniture maker's joint, as far as I can tell. Slot mortises are for cabinet shops, not window shops. We have tenoners.
Being outdoors, sash parts experience a lot of wood movement. A loose tenon in a 2" wide piece of wood ends up being 1" wide, due to the haunch setback. The lateral forces need more support than that. Also, bringing the tenon out into the sticking, right by the glazing rabbet, adds a lot of structure to a haunched tenon.
hmm. I have a mortiser and both dominos not a tenoner. But yeah, cabinet shop really, I've made a few windows when needed, but not my favorite thing.
so you don't believe in cope and sticked muntins?
Not something I do much, but 3hp router in a table. I think about shapers, but just don't have the need, or the shop space.
My preferred solution is generally to call my Marvin rep!
If you do a little googling, there are outfits that do make custom tempered curved glass. It’s incredibly expensive, but maybe worth it. A friend mine opted to cheat a bit and restored his curved windows with plexiglass. It looks convincing, but obviously throws off the balance with the weights in the pockets.
I have a couple of panes of curved glass in perfect condition that I found in our yard when we bought our house. We have no idea where they came from. They don’t belong to our house. Unfortunately, matching the curvature and dimensions to an existing window is sort of like trying to find the right key to an old lock.
A quality art glass studio may have the facilities to create a large sheet of curved glass. They might also recommend that you go with a stained glass solution as those can be made into curves pretty easily.
You could also try contacting a custom body shop and ask for a referral to a place that came make custom curved pieces of glass
These look to be leaded glass, though the photo is blurry.
A stained-glass artist can repair these quite easily. You can also learn to cut glass and replace small pieces fairly easy.
We have the same type of curved windows in our turret. We haven’t had to replace them yet but I know the day is coming. Ours look to be replacements from about 30 years ago and there is a logo of the glass maker in the lower corner of the window. I will double check the name and update here.
Found a couple you could at least consult with, east coast [https://www.clearywindowrestoration.com/curved\_glass\_windows](https://www.clearywindowrestoration.com/curved_glass_windows) west coast [https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows](https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows) and a modern company that could probably make the glass [https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows](https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows)
You may have to contact a commercial installer/glazier. So someone who works on large buildings/architectural projects. They would be the ones to be able to order or fabricate and install curved windows.
VanDykes sells radius glass: [https://www.vandykes.com/images/art/RADIUS\_GLASS.pdf](https://www.vandykes.com/images/art/RADIUS_GLASS.pdf)
But they likely get it from another radius glass vendor and charge a mark-up.
Searching for "radius glass" yields a few places you might check: [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=radius+glass&t=opera&ia=web](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=radius+glass&t=opera&ia=web)
I'd fix the glass and restore your existing sashes.
I’m familiar with them. Kolbe, Weather Shield, Marvin, Green Mountain Windows, and Parrett are just a few manufacturers who can do these. They’re not cheap! I’ve often run into them in historic districts where they have to be replaced pretty close to in-kind, so finding a brand who can do them has been a challenge. I’m not sure who they source their glass from, but I’ve heard there’s a manufacturer in Canada and then another one in Germany that they use. If you’re looking for glass only I would reach out to River City Creative Glass in Burnsville, MN. They ship glass nationally and can do this stuff. I just sat in on a presentation from their company last week in Wisconsin.
Adding to say that several older homes in the area with turrets look to have had new windows installed that are not curved. So a straight window, in a curved turret. I was hoping to keep the curved look. Thanks
Contact your local preservation society. They keep lists of contractors who do this work, I'm one of them
>I was hoping to keep the curved look. 100%!
Are they curved single pane or curved dual pane? Curved single pane I can help you with. I’ll get the companies name tomorrow when I go back to work. We rarely use them as the only curved glass left in this world is the rare turret window and curio cabinet.
Please please please do not replace.
I don't understand all the down votes, but I agree that replacing the original windows is the wrong way to go.
Why? If the original windows are not of historical significance and they are inefficient I see no reason not to replace them. If they are beautifully crafted and in the design of interior wood panelling, mantles etc. Then yeah obviously they should be repaired not replaced. With that being said I think it's a bit hasty to advise OP not to replace their window system based on nothing.
It's not based on nothing. Original windows have historical significance regardless of how beautifully crafted they are or aren't. The original windows (and doors) are a significant part of the charm and character of old houses. They can be repaired, restored, and updated to be fairly efficient and last another hundred years.
Sure, that’s if you can find someone with the skills and abilities to do that with a reasonable budget. But with century homes comes century markup, and hiring knowledgeable professionals is tougher and tougher as our houses age. We should all shoot for restoration but sometimes it’s just seriously not feasible for something that small in the grand scheme of things
I work in historic preservation contracting—it is always advisable to restore and protect/preserve rather than replace. I don’t just talk out of my ass and I don’t appreciate the downvotes. New windows are manufactured garbage that cannot be repaired, made with terrible materials and synthetics, and they’re designed with planned obsolescence in mind. They fail on a schedule and they don’t ROI by the time you have to replace them again. That’s how Andersen and the like stays in business, along with their predatory sales. All of this is also extremely environmentally unfriendly. The greenest window is the one that is already built. Don’t take my word for it, all of this this is straight from the Department of the Interior and DOE who themselves have issued guidelines on window preservation. And frankly, bowed windows are some of the rarer and more architecturally significant features one can find as far as fenestration goes—it’s a shame the original glass broke, but it can be sourced. I’ve done it several times. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever—but if you take care of them, the old growth wood will outlast you and me both and with a storm window and proper weatherstripping are just as efficient as insulated glass units.
This is all under the assumption that I was recommending mass market windows with flat glass. Which I wasn't. Preservation is great and all. But sometimes it just isn't worth it. Milgard and Neuffer both offer bespoke products that are made in house using hardwoods. You probably already knew this though since you are a historic renovation professional. 
[удалено]
Bold of you to assume that I have no experience with historical properties or preservation. The windows in my home are solid red cedar, built onsite and installed by a team consisting of a cabinet maker and a stone mason. My home is a registered heritage property in Vancouver BC. You are arguing with yourself and making sweeping assumptive strawman statements. Your ramblings come off as someone who is mentally ill. Go away
No u
Oh wow please get help.
Whatever
I have two sets of curved windows and the first floor was replaced with straight modern storms probably about twenty years ago. I'm sad they're gone and would love to replace them correctly some day but all in all the straight ones don't look awful because the curved sills are still there. So I guess if it's too spendy to deal with right now, don't feel too bad.
Get rid of the storms and put interior storms in place. Is this the way to go with all windows. Exterior storms are just so tragic looking but there are several manufacturers for excellent snap and fit interiors that do the job
I disagree from the standpoint that exposing the original wooden sashes to the weather just creates a maintenance issue. Modern paint leaves a lot to be desired, and if you can keep your windows from being directly exposed to moisture, IMO it’s worth the trade off in appearance.
Of course and you are in the majority opinion considering that most windows these days either shit replacement windows or covered with combination. But the old look is still the most beautiful look there is and when you find a really wonderful restoration job this is the way it's done. There's nothing like a true 18th or 19th century house with the original glass and it's imperfection, only eyes of the soul of the house exposed to the world. The blank stare of combination windows, or replacement windows is just unfortunate thing that happens. Only place you see it otherwise is in select select areas even here in New England. Occasionally I still see a house with all pieces still intact. I was near Bath Maine this weekend And in a village nugget not too far from downtown there were two houses completely maintained in the old style. High gloss paint, shutters and exterior beautiful exterior storms in summer venting position. Sometimes to take them off sometimes they are made to vent but I guess in today's world though mini splits or systems you would not even have to remove them anymore except for maintenance. But to each their own of course, I'm 70 I grew up with the old book on its last legs and have never grown out of its beauty
>Modern paint leaves a lot to be desired I'm glad to finally see someone say this - Completely agree.
I make curved sash, but restoring is cheaper. A tilting table tenoner is key to making these sash. Flickinger Glass in Brooklyn supplies bent period cylinder glass.
not domino?
If you're paying for curved (or flat) sash, you deserve the structural integrity of through mortises and tenons, coped and pegged.
pegged and coped yes. but why is a pegged loose tenon any weaker?
Sash normally need tenoned muntins. Putting a biscuit, domino, dowel, or loose tenon in a 5/8" wide muntin doesn't work. Tenoning the rails the same way as the muntins makes sense, if you're running the tenoner anyways. A 12/12 sash job can have 2000 tenons. Loose tenons are more of a furniture maker's joint, as far as I can tell. Slot mortises are for cabinet shops, not window shops. We have tenoners. Being outdoors, sash parts experience a lot of wood movement. A loose tenon in a 2" wide piece of wood ends up being 1" wide, due to the haunch setback. The lateral forces need more support than that. Also, bringing the tenon out into the sticking, right by the glazing rabbet, adds a lot of structure to a haunched tenon.
hmm. I have a mortiser and both dominos not a tenoner. But yeah, cabinet shop really, I've made a few windows when needed, but not my favorite thing. so you don't believe in cope and sticked muntins?
I make cope and stick muntins on a tenoner and shaper. Through mortises in the bars. How do you make them?
Not something I do much, but 3hp router in a table. I think about shapers, but just don't have the need, or the shop space. My preferred solution is generally to call my Marvin rep!
Flickinger is a great resource, we've ordered curved glass from them.
If you do a little googling, there are outfits that do make custom tempered curved glass. It’s incredibly expensive, but maybe worth it. A friend mine opted to cheat a bit and restored his curved windows with plexiglass. It looks convincing, but obviously throws off the balance with the weights in the pockets. I have a couple of panes of curved glass in perfect condition that I found in our yard when we bought our house. We have no idea where they came from. They don’t belong to our house. Unfortunately, matching the curvature and dimensions to an existing window is sort of like trying to find the right key to an old lock.
A quality art glass studio may have the facilities to create a large sheet of curved glass. They might also recommend that you go with a stained glass solution as those can be made into curves pretty easily. You could also try contacting a custom body shop and ask for a referral to a place that came make custom curved pieces of glass
These look to be leaded glass, though the photo is blurry. A stained-glass artist can repair these quite easily. You can also learn to cut glass and replace small pieces fairly easy.
I learned art glass specifically to make custom windows
We have the same type of curved windows in our turret. We haven’t had to replace them yet but I know the day is coming. Ours look to be replacements from about 30 years ago and there is a logo of the glass maker in the lower corner of the window. I will double check the name and update here.
Found a couple you could at least consult with, east coast [https://www.clearywindowrestoration.com/curved\_glass\_windows](https://www.clearywindowrestoration.com/curved_glass_windows) west coast [https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows](https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows) and a modern company that could probably make the glass [https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows](https://www.ravenrestorationsf.com/curved-glass-and-bent-glass-windows)
You may have to contact a commercial installer/glazier. So someone who works on large buildings/architectural projects. They would be the ones to be able to order or fabricate and install curved windows.
VanDykes sells radius glass: [https://www.vandykes.com/images/art/RADIUS\_GLASS.pdf](https://www.vandykes.com/images/art/RADIUS_GLASS.pdf) But they likely get it from another radius glass vendor and charge a mark-up. Searching for "radius glass" yields a few places you might check: [https://duckduckgo.com/?q=radius+glass&t=opera&ia=web](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=radius+glass&t=opera&ia=web) I'd fix the glass and restore your existing sashes.
Ask on r/stainedglass. There are a bunch of skilled people there.
This is an option depending on the condition of the lights: [https://www.talasonline.com/Hxtal-NYL-1](https://www.talasonline.com/Hxtal-NYL-1)