Among the various problems that homeowners with older homes report are wood windows that are deteriorating, difficult to operate, sweating or just plain drafty.

Whereas the windows usually can be repaired, it often solves only one or perhaps two of the problems. The only sure way to solve all of the problems is to replace the window with a new, more modern one.

While the wood windows can be replaced with aluminum or vinyl ones, our recommendation would be to replace them with new wood windows. This will maintain the architectural integrity of the home and will be energy-efficient.

Our preference for wood windows are those with a factory-coated exterior or an aluminum or vinyl-clad exterior and an unfinished interior. The factory-painted or clad exterior makes the wood windows virtually maintenance-free while the unfinished interior allows for the desired painted or stained finish.

Insulated or thermal-pane glass will help to minimize condensation and improve energy efficiency. As a bonus, many major manufacturers of wood windows offer tinted, treated or low-E glass, all of which are designed to make the windows energy-efficient.

Having grown up in a home with double-hung wood windows, we can attest to what a difficult task it is to clean them especially the ones with numerous little panes or those located on the second story.

Thanks to tilt-down and removable windows and applied or snap-on grids, window cleaning is not nearly as difficult as it once was.