River Heights · Crescentwood
River Heights and Crescentwood window service
In a house this age, it's common to find two generations of window in one room: an original wood sash on one wall and a sealed-unit replacement from the 1990s on the next. Each wears out in its own way. We connect you with independent local pros who can keep the old sash working, swap a fogged unit in the newer window, or quote a careful replacement, and who know that part of Crescentwood is now a heritage district.
At a glance
- Built
- Mostly between the wars; North River Heights almost entirely before 1961
- Owners
- Overwhelmingly owner-occupied houses
- Heritage
- Crescentwood-Enderton Park district, approved 2023: check with the City
- Common jobs
- Sash repair, fogged sealed units, storefront glass on Corydon
Homes built between the wars
River Heights joined the city in 1882 but filled in mostly after the First World War, so its streets are lined with interwar houses in stucco, brick and wood. Crescentwood is a little older. C. H. Enderton laid it out from 1904, and many of its houses were built before the First World War. Along Wellington Crescent, most homes also predate 1961.
Nearly every North River Heights household owns its home, so window decisions here tend to be long-term ones: whether a sash is worth restoring, whether a fogged unit is worth swapping, or whether it's time for new windows. That's how the two-generation houses came about, one sensible decision at a time, and it's how the pro we connect you with will approach yours.
Crescentwood-Enderton Park: what the 2023 heritage district means for windows
City Council approved the Crescentwood-Enderton Park Heritage Conservation District in March 2023, Winnipeg's second after Armstrong's Point. Inside the district, a heritage permit may be required for exterior work, and the district plan sets out which work. We can't tell you what the plan allows for your windows, and nobody should guess. Before ordering new windows or changing an opening, contact the City's heritage staff (City of Winnipeg: Crescentwood-Enderton Park).
Two habits make that easier: photograph the windows as they are now, and tell the pro on your request that the house is in the district. Outside the district, a house on the City's list of historical resources can also need a heritage permit (City of Winnipeg: heritage permits).
Repairing wood windows vs replacing
An old wood window deserves a proper look before anyone quotes a replacement. Putty, glass, cords and weatherstripping can all be renewed, and a sash that rattles or sticks often just needs adjusting. With a tight storm outside, the pair can hold its own through a cold snap. See sash repair for what the work involves.
Replacement makes sense when the frame is soft, when the sash has been patched past saving, or when you want triple pane and the Efficiency Manitoba rebate, which only pays for complete ENERGY STAR triple-pane windows. Settled houses rarely have square openings, so ask any pro how they'll fit a new window to yours and whether the interior trim stays. Our replacement windows page covers what else to ask.
Fogged sealed units in replacement windows
The newer windows in these houses often date from a round of replacements in the 1990s and 2000s, and their sealed units are reaching the age when seals let go. The sign is fog, streaks or a milky haze between the panes that won't wipe off. That's different from frost on the room side of an old sash in January, which is indoor humidity meeting cold glass.
One fogged unit doesn't mean the whole window, or the whole house, is due. A new glass unit can usually be made to size and set into the existing frame. The foggy sealed unit page lays out all three fixes, from a new unit to a new window.
Corydon Avenue shops and storefronts
Corydon Avenue, known as Winnipeg's Little Italy, is one of the city's busier restaurant and nightlife strips. Its shopfronts need the same attention as any: cracked display glass, an entrance door that won't latch in the cold, or a pane broken overnight. We connect businesses with pros who do storefront glass and board-ups, so a shop can be secured first and reglazed properly once the glass is made.
River Heights and Crescentwood questions
Is my Crescentwood house affected by the heritage district?
Only if it sits inside the Crescentwood-Enderton Park boundary, which doesn't cover every Crescentwood street. Inside it, a heritage permit may be required for some exterior work, and the district plan says which. The City's page shows the boundary, and its heritage staff can answer for your address before you order or remove windows. A house on the City's list of historical resources can need a permit wherever it is.
Can I keep my original windows and still stay warm?
Often, yes. Much of the chill from an old wood window comes from drafts around the sash and a single layer of glass. New weatherstripping, fresh putty and a storm window that fits tightly deal with both. You may still see some room-side frost on the coldest nights if the air indoors is humid. A pro who does sash repair can tell you whether your windows are good candidates.
Can one fogged sealed unit be replaced in a 1990s window?
Yes. If the frame and sash are sound, the pro measures the glass unit, orders a new one made to size and sets it into the existing window. The frame, trim and hardware stay. It won't earn a rebate, because Efficiency Manitoba excludes glass-only replacements, but it's usually the simpler fix for a single unit. Our rebate guide explains the trade-off.
Who handles glass for Corydon Avenue storefronts?
Independent commercial glass pros, and we can connect you with one. Tell us what broke, the rough size, whether it's a door or a fixed pane, and whether it needs securing now. The pro can board up or cover the opening first, then come back to install the finished glass. See storefront glass repair for what to do right after a break.