Town of Essex, Ontario
Essex Centre, Harrow and Colchester: window and glass help
The Town of Essex, Ontario has older houses than any other town in the County. Most went up before 1981, a good share before 1961, so a window here may be a wood original or an early replacement showing its age. Either way, there's often something worth saving, and we connect you with an independent local pro who does that work. Send your postal code, and we'll check who covers your street before anyone makes a promise.
At a glance
- Housing
- Mostly pre-1981, with a good share before 1961
- Town
- Essex Centre, Harrow, Colchester and McGregor, joined in 1999
- Common jobs
- Wood sash repair, early replacements, storefront glass
- Coverage
- Longer drives to Harrow and Colchester; we check postal codes. All areas
An older town than most of the County
The Town of Essex took its present shape on 1 April 1999, when Essex Centre, Harrow, Colchester and McGregor came together. The census bears it out: the Town has more pre-1961 housing than any other County town.
That means two kinds of window. Some houses still have wood sash, often with storms over them. Others were replaced along the way, and if yours went in during the 1980s or 90s, those units are now the likeliest to have blown seals and tired hardware.
Wood sash, storm windows and early replacements
A wood sash that sticks, rattles or has lost its putty needs a repair, not a verdict. Putty can be redone, panes replaced, cords restrung; a pro who does sash and hardware repair can quote it.
Storm windows are the old sash's partner, adding a layer against wind and rain while the original keeps working. Even Windsor's own heritage plan for Sandwich favours refinishing an original window and adding a storm over a vinyl replacement.
If the wood can't hold glass anymore, or you'd rather be done with upkeep, replacement is reasonable. The replacement windows page sets out the options.
Main-street glass in Essex Centre and Harrow
If you run a shop on the main street in Essex Centre or Harrow, a cracked display window can't wait long. Clear people away from it, take pictures for the insurer, and have it boarded or temporarily glazed; the permanent glass is cut to order. A pro who does storefront glass can quote both steps. The City of Windsor's façade grants are for Windsor's own main streets, not the Town of Essex.
Lakeside places near Colchester harbour
Colchester harbour and a stretch of the Lake Erie shore are part of the Town of Essex. If yours is a lakeside place shut for the winter, the spring list is predictable: a torn screen, a stiff patio door, a porch to rescreen before the bugs arrive. Small jobs, and welcome.
Harrow and Colchester are a longer drive than Essex Centre, so we look up your postal code before promising a call. If none of the pros we work with goes that far, we let you know that too. Near the line with Amherstburg or Lakeshore, the postal code still tells us who's closest.
Permits come from the Town of Essex
The Town of Essex issues its own building permits; the City of Windsor's rules don't reach this far. Call the Town's building department about a like-for-like replacement before you book, and plan on a permit if an opening gets bigger or moves. On an older house, ask too whether the property is designated before changing street-facing windows.
Essex, Harrow and Colchester questions
Can old wood windows in the Town of Essex be repaired?
Most can. Loose putty, cracked panes, broken sash cords and sashes painted shut are each a repair, and a storm window over a restored sash suits an older house well. Replace instead when the wood can't hold glass or hardware securely. Get both prices in writing, and read our guide to repairing or replacing before deciding.
Will a pro come out to Harrow or Colchester for a small job?
It depends on the pro and the week, so we check instead of guessing. Send your postal code, the job and a photo. A single pane or torn screen is a fair request, and bundling it with other small jobs can make the drive easier to schedule. If your street is beyond everyone we work with, you'll hear that from us.
Do storm windows help an old Essex house?
They can. An outside storm adds a second layer over the old sash, which cuts drafts and keeps rain off the wood while leaving the original window in place. Old aluminium storms can often be reglazed or given new inserts, so ask whether yours are worth fixing first.
Does the Town of Essex require permits for window replacement?
Ask the Town of Essex's building department before work starts, since it issues its own permits. Swapping like for like tends to be simpler than enlarging an opening or cutting in a doorway, both structural and likely to need a permit. On an older house, ask whether it's designated, and settle who pulls the permit, you or the pro.
My shop window in Essex Centre cracked. Does the whole storefront need replacing?
Usually not. A cracked display pane can normally be replaced in its existing frame, and a damaged shop door can often be reglazed. Commercial glass is usually tempered or laminated and made to measure, so expect a temporary cover while it's made. A pro who handles broken window glass and storefronts can quote both steps.