I am fixing up a brick rowhouse. All the exterior walls are structural brick - 2 layers of brick then plaster (no studs or insualtion). At some point a few windows had the counterweights replaced with spring-loaded inserts and they weren't done so well. That wall gets the most exposure to sun and wind. The frames are rotted out and the sashes (double-hung) sometimes fall into the room and also have some rotting.
I'm curious if it is unreasonable for me to take the original frame out completely down to the brick and install a new/replacement window from there. Would I attach some 1x6 or something with Tapcon screws to the brick to provide something to screw the window to? or should I leave as much of the original frame as I can?
I haven't taken the windows out yet and am weighing my options between repairing whats there, sash replacements, and completely new frames. I realize it is quite desirable to keep the originals (historically, aesthetically) however this project is more of a rehabilitation rather than a restoration. Also, I can see light around the outside of the frame at places and the inside has already been a bit mutilated through the house's many owners.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for your time,
-Jeff Easter
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