Bagala Window Works

The Greenest Building – A New Report from the Preservation Green Lab

Ann — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:52:11 +0000

If you care about preserving historic building and about the environment, here’s some good reading. It’s a new report from the Preservation Green Lab that examines the environmental benefits of building reuse compared with demolition and rebuilding. The conclusion?

When comparing buildings of equivalent size and function, building reuse almost always offers environmental savings over demolition and new construction.

Not that we needed another excuse at BWW to continue lavishing historic windows with TLC, but it’s nice to see laid out so nicely what we’ve always known: Saving historic buildings and protecting the environment go hand in hand.

For more about the report, visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s report page.

The Steam Stripper on This Old House

Ann — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:42:14 +0000

Our colleague, Alison Hardy, and her window restoration team at Window Woman of New England are featured on this season of This Old House. Episode 6 includes an excellent view of what window restoration really looks like in the shop. Making an appearance with Alison’s team? The Steam Steam Stripper!

Watch it here.

The Greenest Building (is the one that’s already there)

Ann — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:05:45 +0000

This is one of the most important reasons that we do what we do:

Geneva, IL Preservation Commission Guide to Windows

Ann — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:39:58 +0000

If you’re trying to decide whether to repair or replace your windows, the Geneva, Illinois Historic Preservation Commission’s Guide to Windows has some great ideas for you to consider, especially concerning energy efficiency. Here’s an excerpt about the carbon footprint of restored windows:

An important aspect of sustainability and energy efficiency is reduction of the carbon footprint. If it is feasible to repair older wood windows, is it sustainable to throw them out and replace them with a new product? Removing and disposing a repairable material, manufacturing a new product, and using fossil fuels to transport the product to the site all contribute to the production of green house gas emissions. The inherent “embodied energy” which is lost when disposing of repairable windows should be considered when evaluating window replacement as a way to improve energy efficiency. While replacement offers one solution, the total impact of replacing windows on the environment may outweigh the perceived benefits.

Bagala Window Works Open House

Ann — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:48:18 +0000

You’re invited to Bagala Window Works’ Open House!

Learn how Bagala Window Works can help save your historic windows and make them more energy efficient, with options for all budgets. Two windows or 200 windows! Tour our shop with skilled craftsmen and see windows in all phases of restoration. We’ll have refreshments and answer all your questions about window restoration. Click here for more information.

The Healy Asylum, Lewison, Maine

Ann — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:56:07 +0000

The Healy Asylum in Lewiston, Maine.

Bagala Window works is restoring original window sash as part of the transformation of this former children’s orphanage into 32 affordable elderly apartment units. The building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979 and will be rehabilitated, in part, with tax credit equity from Historic Tax Credit (HTC) programs. All restoration work is being performed under the guidance of National Park Service standards.

Our Latest Project

Ann — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:56:59 +0000

National Window Preservation Summit

Ann — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:49:52 +0000

Bagala Window Works attended the National Window Preservation Summit in Kentucky from July 26-28. The Summit was sponsored by the Preservation Trades Network, the Window Preservation Standards Collaborative (WPSC) and the Kentucky Heritage Council. As an advisor, Marc Bagala assisted the WPSC in planning national standards for window restoration and weatherization. Learn more about the national window standards here.

Window Restoration 101

BigAttic — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:03:44 +0000

Stripping A Sash with the Steam Stripper

Ann — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:53:18 +0000