Window repair in Society Hill and Old City

These two neighborhoods hold some of the oldest brick townhouses in Philadelphia, and the windows on them are usually part of the story.

What the buildings are like

Society Hill is known for Georgian and Federal brick townhouses from the 1700s and early 1800s, and much of it was restored in the decades after the mid-twentieth century. Old City, to the north and west, mixes similar townhouses with former warehouse and commercial buildings that have been converted to homes.

On the townhouses, tall wood double-hung windows with small panes, often six over six, are an important part of the street. On warehouse conversions the windows are often larger steel or wood units set in heavy masonry.

Rules that shape repair here

Historic districts: Society Hill and Old City are both historic districts on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, so exterior work visible from the street goes through the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
Repair is the easier path: Because the Commission generally favors keeping original windows, repair of sash, glazing and sills is usually the lighter lift compared with replacement.
Lead and age: Most buildings here predate 1978. Plan for lead-safe work practices from a certified firm when the repair disturbs old paint.

Typical repair jobs

Re-cording sash that have not moved in years.
Splicing in new wood where rain has rotted a sill or bottom rail.
Re-glazing old panes while keeping the muntin profile.
Adding interior storm windows so the facade is not changed.

Before you call anyone

Look at the street side of the building and ask whether anyone has already replaced a few windows. If they have, there may be a record in the property file. An installer used to historic work will ask about it before quoting.

Official local sources

These outside pages are worth a look before you hire anyone for work in Society Hill and Old City.

Nearby areas

South Philadelphia

Block-long brick rows, shared walls and old sash.

Northern Liberties and Fishtown

Former mill neighborhoods with brick rows and new infill.

Guides that go with this page

Sticking and painted-shut sash

Freeing sash, replacing sash cords and balances, and ending the rattle.

Rot, glass and glazing

What can be patched, what must be rebuilt, and how glass is reset.

Storm windows and weatherstripping

Comfort upgrades that leave the original sash in place.

Questions people ask

Do I need Historical Commission approval to repair windows in Society Hill?

Repair that keeps the original materials and look is treated differently from replacement, but the Commission reviews exterior work on properties on the Philadelphia Register. Confirm before work starts.

Can I add storm windows in a historic district?

Interior storm windows do not change the facade. Exterior storms may be reviewed, so check first.

Are the old windows in these buildings single-pane?

Often yes. Many have been re-glazed over the years, and some have been replaced by earlier owners, so condition varies by building.