Sash Window Restoration

Atelier Chroma provides comprehensive wood window restoration throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, combining traditional craftsmanship with conservation-grade methods. Each window is methodically dismantled and stripped to bare wood so its true condition can be addressed at the material level. Deteriorated areas are repaired using compatible epoxies and traditional joinery, sash are re-fit to their openings, and original counterweight systems are restored to proper balance and operation. We incorporate discreet weather-sealing and durable coatings to improve performance while preserving historic character. The goal is not to make the window look new, but to return it to the way it was meant to function — smoothly, reliably, and as a permanent part of the building’s architecture.

Why Restore Original Wood Windows?

Historic wood windows are not simply installed components — they are part of the building’s original construction. In most pre-war buildings they were fabricated from old-growth pine, a slow-grown material with a dense grain structure that modern lumber cannot replicate. This wood is naturally stable and resistant to decay, which is why many of these windows have already lasted a century and can continue to perform for another with proper restoration.

Poor performance is rarely a failure of the window itself, but of maintenance over time. When restored, weather-sealed, and properly balanced, traditional sash windows perform comparably to modern units while remaining fully serviceable. Unlike sealed insulated glass units — which inevitably fail and require replacement — a historic window is a repairable system designed for indefinite life.

Replacement also carries significant material and environmental cost. Removing original fabric sends durable old-growth lumber to landfill and replaces it with products designed around a limited lifespan. Vinyl units in particular are petroleum-based, degrade with exposure, and cannot be meaningfully repaired. Restoration preserves both the building’s material integrity and the embodied energy already invested in it.

From a financial standpoint, replacement is often misunderstood. High-quality historic-appropriate windows are extremely expensive, while lower-cost alternatives begin a predictable cycle of future replacement. Restoration is instead a capital improvement followed by maintenance — the same philosophy applied to masonry, plaster, or millwork in a well-built structure.

Most importantly, original windows define the character and value of a building. Their profiles, depth of shadow, and glass reflection cannot be reproduced by contemporary manufacturing. Restoration allows the building to function properly without sacrificing authenticity — preserving both architectural intent and long-term property value.