Restoring heritage windows
Discover how Parks Canada restores heritage windows to conserve history and support a greener future.
Original wood windows
You can find heritage buildings at many Parks Canada national historic sites, from Province House and Green Gables in Prince Edward Island, to The Fortifications of Quebec City in Quebec, to the frontier buildings in Dawson City in the Yukon.
Original wood windows are a shared feature of Parks Canada’s heritage buildings. Some of these windows still have the original glass that was installed over a hundred years ago! Parks Canada takes great care to conserve and restore these heritage windows. They are an important part of the culture and history of these historic places.
Why Parks Canada restores heritage windows
Parks Canada restores wood windows for 2 main reasons:
Heritage value
Heritage windows help tell the story of Canada’s past. Parks Canada restores wood windows to conserve these heritage places for present and future generations.
Environmental sustainability
The most sustainable window is the one that is already built. Over their entire lifecycle, heritage wood windows out-perform modern windows in many categories. These include lifespan, energy performance, repairability, cost, sustainability, and carbon footprint.
Heritage restoration team
Reduce, reuse, recycle. Canadians are committed to a more sustainable future and so is Parks Canada.
Caring for heritage buildings is an important part of this commitment. As wood windows age, their condition can decline. If left too long, damage can spread to the rest of the building. Rot from water infiltration and destruction from pest access are two common issues.
Parks Canada employs a team of skilled craftpeople who specialize in repairing and restoring heritage buildings at national parks and national historic sites.
These craftpeople use simple hand tools to restore heritage wood windows. They use putty knives, paint scrapers, and handheld glass cutters.
They reuse as much of the window’s original material as possible to reduce construction waste.
Partners in conserving Canada’s heritage
Demand for skilled tradespeople is on the rise. Partnering with local trade schools is helping Parks Canada build expertise in the heritage trades.
In 2019, students from Holland College’s Heritage Retrofit Carpentry program in Prince Edward Island left their mark on an important piece of Canada’s history. As part of their coursework, the students assisted in the restoration of heritage wood windows at Province House National Historic Site.
Take an inside look at this collaboration in the video below.
Heritage wood windows are often a key component of a building's historical character and architectural significance. Restoring heritage wood windows plays a vital role in preserving the building’s character, promoting sustainability, and preserving the original craftsmanship and materials.
Restoring windows is environmentally sustainable
Around the world—including in Canada—old wood windows are often replaced with modern vinyl ones. This is usually because people think modern windows perform better. But contrary to popular belief, a restored wood window is more sustainable.
Heritage wood windows
- energy efficient (when properly functioning)
- low lifetime carbon footprint
- repairable
- cost-effective long term
- low waste
- DIY friendly
Modern vinyl windows
- energy efficient
- higher lifetime carbon footprint
- not repairable
- less cost-effective long term
- more waste
- less DIY friendly
Conserving heritage for a sustainable future
Historic windows can last for over a century if they are maintained properly.
The original windows at Province House National Historic Site are approximately 175 years old! Conserving historic buildings at national historic sites helps Canadians experience an original piece of their history in person.
Next time you visit a national historic site or a national park, try to guess how old the windows are!
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