Window replacement costs in Lakeland

Most of the old wood windows in Lakeland's historic districts came in by train. The city's design guidelines say some were made locally or on site for the oldest houses, but most arrived by rail along with the lumber and other ready-made parts of the house.

The guidelines spell out what counts as fixable. Broken glass, meeting rails that don't line up, broken cords, missing hardware, a rotted sill or frame, and rails and stiles that need patching are all on the repairable list. Replacement may be considered when 50 percent or more of a window's parts would have to be rebuilt, and new sashes can be built to fit the original frame.

Some windows get a pass. Jalousie, awning and aluminum single-hung windows that aren't historic can be replaced with windows typical of the house's style. Original steel casements are the hard case. The guidelines discourage replacing them because a compatible substitute generally isn't available.

On the city's permit page, exterior renovations in a historic district need the Historic Preservation Board's approval before you apply for a building permit. The guidelines also send owners to the city's historic preservation website for window restoration grant resources.