Re-View was hired to restore 1,087 steel windows in this 15-story occupied building. Performing window restoration in an occupied courthouse presents many challenges especially with the security and efficiency that is required for judges and court personnel. Re-View created a master schedule to organize the restoration around the work being performed in the offices and courtrooms.
The Re-View field carpenters removed all sash from the building and installed temporary enclosures to provide security and weather protection. The temporary enclosures were plywood with a 4 foot square plastic view lite to allow daylight into the interior spaces. We painted the plywood on the exterior to blend with the limestone exterior to keep the building looking crisp.
Window restoration continued with the Re-View craftsmen removing all finishes on the steel sash by blasting with a media that provided the proper surface preparation for the finishes. We made repairs to the sash by using specially formulated epoxies to fill pits. Deteriorated sections were replaced with window replica parts and compromised joints were welded. The sash received primer, intermediate coat that are designed to provide outstanding adhesion and eliminate potential rust. The final coat of fluoropolymer paint has UV inhibitors to provide a finish that will avoid fading and chalking over time. We re-glazed the sash with a laminated Low E glass to provide superior energy efficiency, sound transmission, and solar heat gain control.
Our field window restoration crew restored the frames in place and applied the same three-step finish. We then installed the restored sash into their respective locations with new weather stripping to make them more air and water tight. Decorative metal grilles and spandrel panels were also restored and refinished.
The resulting window restoration work will enable the windows at the Jackson County Courthouse to last another 100 years.
History of the Jackson County Courthouse – Kansas City
The County had ignored the condition of its windows for many decades and finally had to dedicate funds to the window restoration to prevent serious problems to the building. The existing windows are what is commonly referred to as a butterfly casement, where the two casement sash are hinged together and operate like butterfly wings. They were a design made popular by the Browne Window Company many years ago.
