Replacement windows for old houses.
Three things decide a window order on an old house: whether the old window can be repaired, what size the opening really is, and whether the paint is lead. Check them before you pick a line.
D.W. Ross supplies windows; the contractor doing the work installs them. If you don't have an installer, we can recommend one from our list of trusted contractors.
The house, a photo of each side and the opening sizes. Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Three checks.
Can it be repaired? The National Park Service's brief on historic wooden windows starts with a window-by-window evaluation, and it names moisture as the primary cause of decay. If the sash is past saving, the same brief says new sash can go into the existing frame. We sell windows, so read their advice before you take ours.
What size is the opening? Older houses rarely have stock-size openings. Some vinyl lines come in standard sizes only, and others are built to order for each opening.
Is the paint lead? On housing built before 1978, EPA says window replacement is always covered by its renovation rule, whatever the square footage.
Which window fits which old house.
A rental or a rehab
Rental-grade vinyl, where the opening matches a standard size.
Rental property windowsOdd sizes
Silver Line 1200 and 8600 double-hungs, built to the quarter inch for the opening.
Custom-size vinyl windowsA historic look on a vinyl budget
Vinyl matched from a Sherwin-Williams number. One real job is a Roycroft Red exterior with a white interior, on a house where true historic windows priced out.
Two-tone and custom-color vinylWood on the inside
Sierra Pacific aluminum-clad wood, with aluminum outside and wood inside. D.W. Ross is a Sierra Pacific dealer.
Sierra Pacific windowsArched openings
Sierra Pacific makes radius-top units in aluminum-clad wood.
Old steel windows
Thermally broken aluminum, in project, fixed and hung styles.
Steel window replacement
Where these facts come from.
Rules change. Check with the agency before you order.
- National Park Service: Preservation Brief 9: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows, retrieved November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, retrieved November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, retrieved November 2, 2026.
- Cleveland Landmarks Commission, City of Cleveland: Residential Window Repair and Replacement Guide: Designated Landmarks and Historic/Landmark Districts, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Tell us which windows face the street.
Send a photo of each side of the house and a width and height for each opening. Say which windows face the street and whether the house is in a historic district. Rough sizes are enough to start.
Questions buyers ask
Should I replace the original windows in an old house?
Look at each one first. The National Park Service's brief on historic wooden windows calls for a unit-by-unit evaluation, and the federal rehabilitation standards it cites call for repairing and retaining original features wherever possible. Replacement is the next step when a window can't be saved.
Can I put vinyl windows in an old house?
Yes, unless local rules say otherwise. Cleveland's Landmarks guide says standard vinyl is not typically considered appropriate in its designated districts. Other towns set their own rules, so check before you order.
Do stock-size windows fit old houses?
Often not. Older houses rarely have stock-size openings. The Silver Line 1200 and 8600 double-hungs are built to the quarter inch, so nobody has to rebuild the opening around a stock size.
Do I need exact measurements to get a quote?
No. Rough sizes for each opening start the quote. A photo of each side of the house helps.
Is lead paint a problem when replacing old windows?
It can be. On housing built before 1978, EPA says window replacement is always covered by its renovation rule, whatever the square footage. Ask your contractor to show you the firm's EPA lead-safe paperwork.
Do you install the windows?
No. We supply them; the contractor doing the work installs them. If you don't have an installer, we can recommend one from our list of trusted contractors.
Send the openings.
A photo of each side, a width and height for each opening, and the street address.
(216) 631-8080Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. 3195 West 63rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44102.