Original windows were meant to last.
Don't Replace History. Restore It.
When you need window repair or historic window restoration in Charleston, SC, it rarely starts with a major failure. A piece of glazing putty begins to crack or fall away. A pane of wavy glass develops a crack. A window starts to rattle, leak, or refuse to open. Before long, you’re left wondering whether the entire window needs to be replaced.
In many cases, it doesn’t.
Original wood windows were built to last for generations. With the right repairs—including broken glass replacement, window reglazing, wood sash repair, and traditional restoration techniques—they can continue serving your home for decades while preserving the craftsmanship that makes historic Charleston homes so distinctive.
Lost Art Found is a boutique restoration studio serving Charleston and the Lowcountry, led by Jason Petitpain and backed by more than 30 years of combined hands-on experience in historic glass restoration, window repair, and architectural preservation. We specialize in repairing and restoring original wood windows using authentic restoration glass, traditional linseed oil glazing putty, and historically appropriate methods—not modern shortcuts that compromise your home’s character.
Whether your window has cracked glass, failing glazing, wood rot, or simply needs careful restoration, we’ll evaluate its condition, explain your options, and recommend the most respectful repair without pressure.
Historic Window Reglazing
When old glazing putty begins to crack, pull away, darken, or fall out, your window is no longer properly protected. Glazing is what helps secure the glass in place and seal the window against moisture, drafts, and weather. In Charleston’s heat, humidity, and coastal conditions, failing window glazing can quickly lead to bigger problems if it is ignored.
Lost Art Found provides historic window reglazing for original wood windows throughout Charleston and the Lowcountry. We remove deteriorated glazing carefully, evaluate the condition of the glass and sash, and apply traditional glazing materials in a way that respects the age and character of the window.
This is not the same as a quick caulk-and-paint repair. Proper window reglazing requires patience, clean preparation, and an understanding of how historic wood windows were originally built. When done correctly, reglazing helps protect the window, preserve the original glass when possible, and extend the life of the entire sash.
If your glazing is cracked, loose, missing, blackened, or falling out, the window may not need to be replaced. It may simply need careful historic window restoration.
Broken or Cracked Window Glass
A cracked pane of glass can make an entire window feel vulnerable, especially in an older home where the glass may be original, wavy, or difficult to match. Whether the damage came from age, impact, settling, or failing glazing, broken window glass should be repaired with care—not rushed through with a generic replacement.
Lost Art Found provides broken glass replacement and window repair for historic and character-defining windows in Charleston, SC. Whenever possible, we work to preserve the surrounding sash, glazing profile, and architectural character of the window. If the original glass cannot be saved, we can help source appropriate restoration glass or wavy glass so the repair blends naturally with the rest of the home.
This matters because modern flat glass can look out of place in an older window. The wrong replacement may technically “fix” the broken pane, but it can change the look and feel of the entire opening.
If you have cracked glass, broken glass, or a damaged pane in an original wood window, we will assess the condition, explain the repair options, and recommend the most respectful solution for your home.
Wavy Glass & Restoration Glass
One of the most beautiful features of a historic window is the glass itself. Old wavy glass catches light differently. It has movement, texture, and subtle imperfections that modern glass often lacks. In Charleston’s historic homes, that glass is not just functional—it is part of the home’s architectural character.
Lost Art Found specializes in historic window restoration using restoration glass and wavy glass when a pane needs to be replaced. Our goal is not simply to fill an opening with new glass. Our goal is to protect the visual integrity of the window so the repair feels natural, appropriate, and connected to the age of the home.
For many homeowners, the concern is simple: “Will the new glass match?” That is exactly why historic glass repair requires a specialist. A standard glass company may replace the pane quickly, but the result can look too new, too flat, or noticeably different from the surrounding windows.
Whether you need one cracked pane replaced or multiple windows restored, we can help preserve the look of your original wood windows with materials and methods that honor the history of the home.
Wood Sash Repair & Window Restoration
Historic windows were made to be repaired. Unlike many modern replacement windows, original wood windows were built from individual parts that can often be restored, reglazed, repainted, and brought back into service. When a sash begins to soften, separate, stick, rattle, or show signs of wood rot, replacement is not always the only answer.
Lost Art Found provides wood sash repair and historic window restoration for Charleston homes where preserving original materials matters. We evaluate the condition of the sash, glass, glazing, and surrounding frame to determine what can be saved and what needs careful repair.
A damaged sash can cause more than cosmetic problems. It may allow water intrusion, drafts, movement in the glass, or additional deterioration over time. Addressing these issues early can help protect both the window and the surrounding structure.
Our approach is careful and preservation-minded. We do not believe every old window should be discarded simply because it needs attention. With the right window repair techniques, many original wood windows can continue to function beautifully while maintaining the craftsmanship, proportions, and historic character that make them worth saving
Leaking, Drafty, or Sticking Windows
Not every window problem begins with broken glass. Sometimes the first sign is a draft. Other times it is a window that sticks, rattles, leaks during storms, or refuses to stay open. In historic Charleston homes, these issues are often symptoms of aging glazing, worn sash components, paint buildup, wood movement, or years of exposure to coastal humidity.
Lost Art Found provides residential window repair and historic window restoration for original wood windows that need more than a surface-level fix. We look at the whole window—not just the obvious problem—to understand why it is leaking, sticking, rattling, or failing.
A drafty or difficult window does not automatically mean it needs to be replaced. In many cases, careful window repair, reglazing, sash work, and restoration techniques can improve function while preserving the original materials that give the home its character.
This is especially important in older homes, where modern replacement windows may alter the appearance of the facade or remove craftsmanship that cannot easily be recreated. If your windows feel loose, leaky, swollen, or unreliable, we can help determine whether restoration is a better path than replacement.
Types of Window Damage We Repair
Lost Art Found addresses the full range of historic window damage, from cracked glass and failing glazing to sash deterioration and weather-related wear. The most common issues we see include:
Failing Glazing Putty – When window glazing cracks, darkens, pulls away, or falls out, the glass can become loose and vulnerable to moisture. We provide careful window reglazing using traditional methods suited for historic wood windows.
Leaking or Drafty Windows – Leaks, rattles, and drafts are often signs of failing glazing, worn sash components, or gaps caused by age and coastal humidity. We assess the whole window to determine what is actually causing the problem.
Wood Sash Damage – Soft wood, separation, sticking, or early wood rot does not always mean replacement is required. Many original wood windows can be repaired and stabilized.
Missing or Mismatched Glass – Poor past repairs can leave historic windows looking uneven or out of place. We prioritize glass replacement that respects the window’s original appearance.
The right window repair depends on what is failing. That’s why every historic window restoration project begins with careful assessment, not assumptio
To Repair or Replace - That is the Question
When an old window starts leaking, rattling, sticking, or showing signs of rot, replacement can feel like the obvious next step. But in many Charleston homes, original wood windows were built to be repaired—not discarded. With the right historic window restoration, a damaged window can often be reglazed, stabilized, and brought back into service while preserving the character that makes the home special.
Modern replacement windows may solve one problem, but they can create another: they often change the proportions, materials, glass texture, and historic appearance of the home. Once original wood windows are removed, that craftsmanship is difficult—or impossible—to get back.
Lost Art Found takes a preservation-minded approach to window repair. We look closely at the glass, glazing, sash, frame, and surrounding conditions before recommending repair or replacement. In many cases, targeted work such as window reglazing, broken glass replacement, wood sash repair, or restoration glass installation can extend the life of the window without sacrificing its historic integrity.
Replacement has its place, but it should not be the first assumption. If your goal is to preserve historic windows, protect original materials, and maintain the architectural soul of your home, repair is often the better place to start.
Historic Window Repair for Homes in Charleston and Beyond
Charleston homes face conditions that are not gentle on old windows. Heat, humidity, salt air, heavy rain, and seasonal storms can all affect original wood windows over time. Glazing putty can dry out or fail. Wood sashes can swell, soften, or separate. Glass can loosen, crack, or begin to rattle in the frame. In historic and Lowcountry homes, these issues require more than a standard window repair.
Lost Art Found provides historic window restoration in Charleston, SC with the architecture, climate, and character of the area in mind. We understand that Charleston historic homes often have original wood windows, wavy glass, traditional glazing profiles, and details that should be preserved whenever possible.
A quick replacement may close the opening, but it can also change the look, proportions, and historic integrity of the home. Our approach to Charleston window repair is different. We evaluate the window carefully, identify what is failing, and recommend restoration methods that respect the original materials.
Whether your home is in downtown Charleston, the Old Village, West Ashley, James Island, or elsewhere in the Lowcountry, we help protect the windows that help define the home. The goal is simple: restore function, preserve character, and keep historic windows working beautifully for years to come.
Keep the Character. Stop the Damage.
If your historic windows are cracked, leaking, rattling, sticking, or losing glazing putty, the best time to act is before the damage spreads. What starts as a small window repair can become a larger restoration if moisture reaches the sash, glass loosens in the frame, or wood deterioration continues.
Original wood windows were built to be maintained. With the right assessment, many historic windows can be reglazed, repaired, and restored without replacing the materials that give your home its character.
If you want historic window restoration done with care…and done right…reach out to Lost Art Found for a consultation. We’ll help you understand what your window needs, what can be preserved, and what it will take to restore function without compromising the original design