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Doors, Windows and Shutters
Doors and windows provide your house with access, light and ventilation. Along with shutters, windows and doors also provide aesthetic and architectural detailing to the structure.

The word "window" may have been derived from "wind hole," the term that described the openings on early structures that provided ventilation from internal fires. The earliest homeowners covered these "wind holes" with fabric or wood, since glass was rare and expensive until later in the 17th century.

When glass became more available, it was first only used in small panes. The size of windowpanes increased through the 18th and 19th centuries because of improvements in technology and a decrease in cost. Windows are usually categorized by the number of lights, or panes of glass, found in each sash. For instance, a six-over-six light, double hung sash window consists of 12 panes.


Anatomy of windows and doors

Window sash failure usually occurs at the joints, where water penetration causes rot and deterioration. Causes include insufficient paint, cracked or missing glazing, cracked glass, joint separation, faulty caulking around the trim, standing water on sills, and sills sloping toward the building.

Shutters are a commonly used architectural element on historic houses, especially here in Charleston where they provided shade from direct sun, as well as protection against intruders and weather events such as hurricanes. The two most common types of shutters are paneled and louvered.

Shutter hardware was hand forged by slaves at local plantation foundries and traded for supplies at the slave market.  The hardware was operational so that shutters could be closed when needed.  Shutter dogs (hold backs)  were used to keep  shutters open.  They came in many designs.  In Charleston, the most popular are S-scroll and shell.  The S-scrolls were hand forged in heavy iron while the shell dogs were made of cast iron after the civil war.  Other patterns included soldier, rat tail, and propeller.  Wrought iron hooks or a slide bolt secured the shutters.  Shutter dogs are installed at the bottom edge of the shutter, placed far enough in to prevent the shutter from rattling.  They are gravity weighted with the heavy end pointing toward the ground.  When rotated sideways, the shutter can be released.

Strap hinges were made of hand wrought iron and commonly came in two lengths: 8 and 11 inch.  There were bends (offsets) in the hinge to accommodate stucco or brick.  Generally wood sided houses did not require offsets.  Pintles are the brackets that mount the hinges to the building.  They also came in custom offsets.

The front door and hardware of a residence and its detailing make up one of the most important architectural statements about a house. Doors on historic houses are overwhelmingly made of wood and consist of pieces of wood joined together in various configurations. Original hardware is generally scarce as modern replacement hardware made homes more secure.

Guidelines To Keep In Mind About Your Doors, Windows And Shutters

  • Replacement doors, windows and shutters that match the originals are generally expensive and need to be custom-made. Thus one should repair existing doors, windows and shutters, retaining as much historic fabric as possible. If the pieces are beyond repair, exact replicas should be installed. Original hardware should be restored and maintained.  Modern deadbolts can be mounted above antique sets to add security when needed.  Contractors with experience in historic restoration will be able to provide this service.

  • If only a few shutters remain on a building, they should be placed on the front façade. Existing shutter hardware should be retained, even if the shutters are missing. Shutters should open and close and be constructed of wood. Shutters that are fixed (do not open and close) or are constructed of synthetic material such as fiberglass or vinyl are not acceptable. If the shutters are missing a few pieces of hardware, often new hand wrought iron  replacements can be added as needed.  If pieces are limited, they too can be placed on the façade of the house.  Shutter hardware should be cleaned and painted with a black rust preventive paint.

  • If window replacements are required, they should match the configuration of the original windows. For example, if the original windows had six-over-six lights, the replacement windows should also.

  • Replacement windows should match the originals in materials (usually wood) and have true divided lights. Simulated divided light windows and windows constructed of synthetic materials such as aluminum and vinyl are not acceptable on historic buildings.

Additional Resources
Preservation Brief #9, "The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows" by John H. Myers

Preservation Brief #13, "The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows" by Sharon Park, AIA

Preservation Brief #33, "The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass" by Neal A. Vogel and Rolf Achilles
Did You Know
In 18th century Charleston, paneled shutters were usually found on the first floor windows, while louvered shutters were located on the floors above.

Windows: In 18th century Charleston, paneled shutters were usually found on the first floor windows, while louvered shutters were located on the floors above.