How is Minor Repair Carried Out for Steel Window Restoration? Your Important Questions Answered

If you have property with steel windows, whether your structure has existed for hundreds of years or was built in the last few decades, you may already be fully aware of the benefits of your steel windows. Steel windows can be a truly defining feature in a property’s façade, and they can add class and elegance to your property’s lines and overall appearance. But if you have seen signs of corrosion or damage to your steel windows, it may be time to have them restored. Steel window restoration is best done by the experts, of course, but if you are planning to have your steel windows refurbished, it also pays to know what you can expect with the restoration process. So how is minor repair carried out for steel window restoration? Here are the answers to your most important questions.

The process of restoration

If you have enlisted the services of a metal window restoration expert, they will do a survey and assessment of your windows and check the extent of the damage. Most steel windows will suffer from the same issue, which is corrosion. But corrosion can be minor, moderate, or severe, and the level of rust can differ depending on the elevation of the windows, their size and design, and other factors. Some portions may also be more damaged than others, particularly if the portion was significantly exposed to standing water. The restoration experts will also decide whether they have to remove the windows and restore them in their premises or restore and refurbish them on site.

Dealing with minor repairs

Many steel windows, especially relatively newer ones that are a few decades old, may have minor issues requiring minor repair.

• If the steel windows show only minor rusting or corrosion with the paint still in fair condition, window restorers can usually repair it on site. They will check if any lead paint and other harmful materials will have to be removed, and they will remove them accordingly by isolating the working area.
• The workers will then remove any flaking or loose paint whilst also removing the rust buildup. They can do this using hand tools and power tools (as long as the surrounding area is also protected). More experienced restorers can also use a pneumatic needle scaler, and they can use paint strippers when necessary. Once they have cleaned the windows of paint and rust, they will apply a primer that prevents rusting.
• The restorers will also inspect the windows’ hinges, latches, hold-opens, and fasteners along with other hardware, and they will replace any missing fixtures, lubricate the existing hardware, and repair it if needed. In most cases, existing hardware is made from bronze or brass, so workers will remove it and remove the paint and then polish it before they reinstall it.
• If the windows have missing or broken glass, the workers will replace this as well, and they will perform an inspection of the setting compound. Experts will be mindful of the age of the glass when they replace it because glass produced before World War II will have some slight distortion because of the process of manufacturing, which lends a distinctive look that should be preserved and maintained.
• The experts can then finish the painting and provide your windows with better thermal properties when needed.