Creating Curb Appeal: New Jersey Row Houses and Replacement Windows

Your house has personality. And if you’re fortunate enough to own a New Jersey row house originally built in the early to mid-nineteenth century, you have a treasure indeed. Undertaking a major renovation – like replacment windows and doors in an older attached house– is one that takes careful thought and planning. Designing windows and doors that reflect your home’s personality is a smart financial decision, especially if you plan to sell your home at some point down the road.

Most likely you’ve invested much more than money in your home. You’ve likely spent your valuable time lovingly maintaining and decorating your home. Many homeowners who fall in love with “typical” New Jersey row houses – tall, skinny structures with more charm and personality than expansive floor plans – want to keep the unique period features while adding a few modern conveniences and design elements to make them more comfortable and energy-efficient.

Before Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey design consultants recommend specific home improvement products – like replacement windows and doors – for your home, we’ll ask lots of questions to get a better feel for your neighborhood, your design goals, and your expectations for framing your view of the world where you live.

Capturing Your Home’s Roots

One of the first questions we ask customers who own a historic home is “How much historical detail do you want to preserve?”

Many New Jersey row houses have historic roots that date back to the Civil War era (or before) and often what you see on the interior surfaces is not necessarily what you get. More than one “new row house homeowner” has discovered period wainscoting and intricately patterned lincrusta or agalypta wall coverings perfectly protected behind 1970’s wood paneling or sheet rock complements of 20th century remodeling.

When restoring your row house to its original condition is important to you, choosing window styles that complement interior structural curves and embellishments on the wall coverings – if intact. This is essential to staying true to historical roots as well as identifying modern conveniences that won’t create decorating chaos and discord.

Revitalizing Your Home’s Curb Appealing Without Redefining Its Personality

We’ll also ask you about your neighborhood. Some neighborhoods still have the original atmosphere with most homes having similar front facing features. Others have evolved over the years into an eclectic mix of old and new styles commingled into a comfortable, if ill-defined community.

Since our replacement windows are precision crafted to fit the opening of your existing windows are removed, you can match the same architectural details you have, but you aren’t limited to replacing old windows with the same style. You could replace a picture window with a baby-bow to add a reading nook or replace traditional double-hung windows with space-saving sliders, using grilles to duplicate the original design. It’s up to you; but it’s good to know you have options.

Choosing Replacement Windows for Your New Jersey Row House

More often than not, the best replacement windows for your row house will closely resemble the original style. Updating your home with energy-efficient windows to eliminate drafty corners and better manage power bills will add value and comfort to your home.

Keep these tips in mind when considering window options.

1. Proportions. Row houses were designed for economy and efficiency. Keeping replacement windows proportionately accurate will complement the original architectural features.
2. Adding grilles. Adding between-the-pane Colonial style grilles makes cleaning easier and adds period design features to more traditional first-floor bow or bay windows. You can also use grilles to create a multi-pane effect that closely mimics the original windows with many individual lites of glass.
3. Paint color. Although there are dozens of color combinations and finishes available with Renewal by Andersen replacement window options, paint color is less important than choosing the right glass type and framing material.

Consider window shape, proportions and accessories before you tackle the finishing touches like paint colors. In case you’re wondering, some of the most popular colors in the antebellum decorating pallet are still available today. These include rich tans, brown hues, smoky olive greens and coral reds.

Have More Questions About Replacement Windows for Your Row House? Call Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey

We understand you might still have a few unanswered questions about how to choose the right replacement windows for your New Jersey home. Our professional window design consultants have tips to help you consider various style and construction details. Give us a call at (866) 609-5033 for a free, in-home design consultation or fill out the form on this page and we’ll get right back to you.

Just enter your contact information in the form on this page or pick up the phone and dial (866) 609-5033 to schedule a personal consultation.

Check out this post for more information on replacement windows for different home architectural styles.