Why Windows on Traditional homes matter so much!

[@renuing]

Truly love how this series is evolving and that you are turning it into teaching moments. Really learning a lot that can be applied to many different situations rather than just the one you are demonstrating. Showing your changes is one thing, but adding in the explanation of why is gold. Thank you so much for sharing this information so freely, we really, really appreciate it.

[@BrentHull]

Welcome! Thx.

[@АлексейМаринчев-м1з]

Brent, English is not my mother tongue . Therefore, it is a great benefit for me to listen to your explanations. You manage to translate very specific and academic architectural things into basic terms perceptible by everyone. 👍 Your manner of presentation is very clear and convincing. Thanks 🤝

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks so much.

[@a97chrjo]

I would love to see a video on how a perfect transition from chair rail to window and from the window to the cornish. Thanks for sharing. I really love your videos.

[@BrentHull]

Ok, thanks.

[@tc9148]

Stunning changes, rationale so well explained!

[@BrentHull]

Thx for watching.

[@ivonekowalczyk5823]

Wow, Brent. Your changes are so much better. Makes sense and beauty! Thanks for teaching us. We are fixing an old Greek Revival house in Concord NH and it's been remodeled already, and we don't have a huge budget, but as we go, because of your information, we can make smart choices.

[@BrentHull]

So glad to hear it. Good luck.

[@nyshanelson2252]

This is such important information. Thank you for sharing!

[@BrentHull]

Glad it was helpful! It matters.

[@pcatful]

All awesome as usual. So true about that railing! When you talk about the column height to base rule of thumb, I think you are talking about the shaft diameter at the base? There could be confusion. One problem we face is bedroom windows that are double hung have to end up large for emergency egress codes. Need to use the smallest conforming window we can get in order to look right. The openings size is partly for a fireman and tank to get in. Can't argue with safety rules, but what often happens is a fireman comes with an axe, and suddenly that opening is twice as big. 😊 Another thing people have to consider for new houses though is second story window openings can't be less than 24" off the floor.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx.

[@ltandrepants]

love the shutter dogs! They are all over New Orleans!

[@BrentHull]

Nice. THx.

[@bonniehyden962]

Ooohhh! You just gave me some exciting ideas for my little shotgun house! 😊

[@BrentHull]

Nice! Thx.

[@ComputerGuitarVideos]

I have seen shutters on new houses that look like they would not fully cover the window if they were functional. They looked silly. Proper sized ones looked good.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Always look at the shutter size, look for hinges, and shutter dogs 3 easy ways to spot fakes.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, that is a mistake. Thx.

[@lmtliam]

A video on window spacing might also be useful. In this example the spacing between windows on each floor looks like the width of a window, which works. Once it goes above twice the width of a window, I find there's too much wall relative to the windows, even though some Georgian houses were designed that way, and had great expanses between each window.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Good idea.

[@cborecky]

McMansion Hell flashbacks incoming

[@sharonvik2068]

I really like the revised window placement and the louvered shutters on the upper floor. I encountered shutters like this in Italy. When deployed, the shutters formed a triangle with its point away from the building. This allowed for excellent solar control, as well as vertical and horizontal air flow. A wonderful experience in the space and the shutter hardware was magnificent. What is a good proportion guideline for the horizontal distance between the corner of a room and a window? For the ratios of total window area to the total floor area and the total wall area of a space?

[@BrentHull]

Thanks and good question. It will depend and vary by period and style.

[@ikust007]

Merci beaucoup

[@BrentHull]

You're welcome.

[@michaelbissen1946]

Great info, Brent ❤

[@BrentHull]

Thx!

[@incognitotorpedo42]

My God, if these changes had been made before the house was built, if would have saved a TON of money.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed! Thx

[@paulmanley4811]

In Charleston, South Carolina, the historic homes dating to 1780 and before, the windows go to the floor level and frequently, the second floor windows are the same height and size as the first floor windows. Other than to allow as much ventilation as possible due to the heat in summer, what is the reason for this?

[@BrentHull]

I found those windows more common on Greek Revival and Victorian houses. Those are built from 1820's to 1890s. 1780's is early for that. Maybe they were "remodeled" later. In the south they are more common to allow for more air movement on hot days. Thx.

[@D0J0P]

That's really cool. Are we gonna see the final result?

[@BrentHull]

Waiting on the client, more to come.

[@YSLRD]

My 1932 bungalo has windows about 18 inches from the floor, 14 inches from the ceiling.

[@BrentHull]

Hmm, that sounds odd. especially for a bungalow in 1932.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

I’ve seen exterior double hung windows with a panel below the window perhaps 8”-12” inches in height. I’ve only seen them on the front of a house. I assume it is to increase the vertical “visual effect” of the window while keeping the size of the window smaller but don’t know if they are correct or not.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, I believe you are right. Thx.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Brent, can the bottom of the window extend lower than the chair rail? I’m considering triple hung windows on my house (I think they look very classy, but would like your input on triple hung windows) The only way I can imagine having them fit on the front of the house would be to go lower than the chair rail. Addendum: I looked it up and it is called a “floor to ceiling window”. Can these work or do they violate too many rules???

[@BrentHull]

There isn't a great historic precedent for triple hung windows. Typically these were made into triple hung because of size. I typically see these on civic buildings and churches, not on houses. In the Greek Revival period they had walk out windows that sometimes had panels that opened below. Good luck.

[@mikecorbett4987]

I really appreciate your instruction Brent and trying to learn your techniques but am wondering about tall windows on my 1868 italianate. Second floor. The windows are literally 8" from the floor. No plaster between the baseboard and the sill. In fact the sill sits on the baseboard. No apron. It looks great and is original but doesnt fit your design suggestions.

[@BrentHull]

That's ok on Victorian or Greek Revival houses. Its the Traditional and colonial revival forms where this happens. Thx.

[@cborecky]

What is the effect on interior lighting of having windows higher versus lower? Also, what is the light effect of tall and narrow windows (e.g. Victorian) versus high and wide (e.g. Ranch). Seems to me like ranch houses are inherently dim and full of shadows, while Victorians feel like a greenhouse. Some of this is ceiling height and some of it is the proportion of wall space occupied by windows. But to me nothing affects the feel of a house quite like natural light coming in from multiple angles. Part of the "charm" of older houses may be not feeling like one is living in a dungeon. I wonder if the tall and narrow proportions of Victorian windows had something to do with it. The zig zag exterior walls of many modern snout houses seem like an (expensive) attempt to install at least 2 windows into most rooms that cast light from multiple directions to eradicate shadows and dark spots. A 2/1 Craftsman would not have this problem because it is small enough that each room except maybe the bathroom and dining room has 2 exterior walls, and so these are known for great natural light.

[@BrentHull]

You are asking a great question but i would need to do a video to handle all of those examples. Light is supremely important. Thx.

[@broederbond60]

I would like to see the invoice for all these corrections.

[@BrentHull]

ok

[@gregpendrey6711]

👍

[@BrentHull]

👍

[@brucebenson9651]

let's git rid of McManations! I can't not see them anymore. Thanks for the Master Class on how to fix them.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

@@brucebenson9651 Good luck! I think they are here to stay. If you can have a “ big house” it supersedes all else: design, construction, functionality etc.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

@@brucebenson9651 Modern day “vernacular house”

[@robertbamford8266]

Sure do improve it!

[@BrentHull]

THx.