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Board approves fiberglass-composite samples for secondary elevations, requires wood on front facades
Summary
The board approved replacement window sashes at 44 North Braddock Street for side, secondary and rear elevations using the presented fiberglass-composite sample, required wood replacements on primary front elevations, and directed staff to consider amending guidelines to allow fiberglass composite windows on lower-visibility elevations.
The Winchester Board of Architectural Review on Oct. 3 approved window sash replacements at 44 North Braddock Street for secondary and rear elevations using a fiberglass-composite sample and required that front-facing (primary) windows be replaced in-kind with wood.
City staff presented guidance from the National Trust standards noting that replacement windows on secondary elevations with limited visibility may use substitute materials if they match size, configuration and general characteristics of historic windows. Staff said the proposed fiberglass-composite sash meets the intent of the guidelines for lower-visibility elevations.
Several board members said the sample appeared to meet the guideline intent and suggested the board consider amending its local guidelines to explicitly include fiberglass composite replacement windows for secondary elevations. One member noted that primary elevations facing the street should still use traditional wood windows to maintain historic character on the most visible facades.
A motion to approve BAR 24-645 with the presented windows for side, secondary and rear elevations and to require all-wood replacements on the front street-facing windows carried by voice vote. The board discussed adding a guideline-amendment item to a future agenda so members can review language to explicitly allow fiberglass composite windows for lower-visibility elevations.
The motion leaves intact the board’s long-standing preference for wood on primary elevations while allowing the sample material on less-visible sides and rear, a compromise board members said would help with affordability and durability concerns without altering the street-facing historic character.
