Somerville’s historic buildings need new windows, according the property’s owners.

By Tiffani M. Westbrook

Preservation Planner Kristy Chase led the monthly Preservation Commission meeting at Somerville City Hall, last Tuesday night. The Historic Preservation Committee representatives are all volunteers from Somerville with various backgrounds and connections to historical preservation.

Seven of the fourteen members attend each meeting to hear proposals from their neighbors who occupy historically significant properties around Somerville. Among the residents submitting proposals to make changes or have work done to their historic properties was an Executive Director of a local nonprofit and a condo owner.

Despite the differences in backgrounds that each of the presenters who sat before the committee had, their requests shared a similarity: windows. If Tuesday’s meeting was an indicator of the most common problem that Somerville residents living in historic properties have then it would definitely have to be living with the drafty but highly durable wood framed windows.

Three out of four owners proposed replacing the wooden framed windows with vinyl. As homeowners tried to justify removing old windows for fancy new replacement windows the committee members reiterated that some of the issues that plague homeowners involve quick fixes, like removing paint that restrict the movement of the window, reattaching the window weights, or putting in a secure storm window.

Chase, acting as the committee secretary, pointed out that, “The aluminum windows last for about twenty years but the wooden windows can last more than one hundred years,” if cared for properly.

The committee was unanimous on all decisions and also agreed that the wooden windows that added to the historic charm could be hard for a novice to handle. During the meeting, several of the committee representatives volunteered information to the owners about the value in restoration of the old wooden mainstays and even speculated about teaching willing carpenters and homeowners how to repair these old windows. That might be just the thing homeowners need to buoy up pleasure in preserving their gems.