Historic Windows & Doors: Construction and Repair

Step back in time and learn the art of window and door construction in this immersive 5-day course. This class will guide students through the transformation of Eastern White Pine boards into simple, historically accurate window sash and doors.

Students will learn appropriate historical restoration methods along with window sash repair and reuse. The class will also cover how to install a window sash, using both traditional 19th-century techniques and alternative approaches suited for modern construction.

By the end of the class, students will build a sash window for themselves. Then, everyone will together to build a door for the cabin that will be built in our Hand Tool Timber Framing class in September 2026.

The class will focus on hand tool techniques, showing students how to properly and safely shape window profiles and cut joinery by hand. However, machines will be available for students to use if they prefer.

All tools and wood are supplied, but students may bring their own hand tools if they wish.

By the end of this course, students will have built and installed historically accurate sash and doors, gained essential restoration skills, and deepened their understanding of traditional woodworking techniques used in 19th-century construction.