Wolseley · Armstrong's Point
Windows for Wolseley's century-old homes
In Wolseley, the windows run on a calendar. Storms go on in the fall, screens go in once spring frost is done, and the wood sash in between does the rest. Most houses here went up between 1905 and 1930, the era of sash and storms, and where those still hang they reward care. We connect you with independent local pros who repair sash, refit storms and replace glass in older houses.
At a glance
- Built
- Mostly 1905–1930; nearly all before 1961
- Housing
- Detached houses, with a good number of low-rise apartment blocks
- Common jobs
- Sash repair, storm windows, porch screens, storm doors
- Heritage
- Wolseley: no district. Armstrong's Point: a heritage permit may be required
Wolseley's housing: built 1905–1930 and still standing
Nearly every home in Wolseley was built in 1960 or earlier, most of them in the quarter-century before 1930. That age shows in the windows in plain ways. Houses this old have settled on the clay, so few openings are still square, and a window made to standard sizes rarely drops in cleanly. Wood painted for a century can be sound underneath or soft at the sill. Neither is a reason to worry; a pro who works on older houses expects both and checks before quoting.
Wood sash and storm windows: the fall and spring routine
A wood window with a storm is a two-layer system. The inner sash opens and closes; the storm keeps the wind off it and holds still air in between. When the storm is loose or cracked, the inner glass gets cold enough to frost on the room side, and it's the storm that needs attention.
Plastic film taped on every November works, but it's a yearly job. The longer-lasting fixes:
- Refit or reglaze the storm, or order new storms made to fit. See storm windows.
- Repair the sash: new putty, a new pane, freed-up cords, new weatherstripping.
- Replace the window when the frame is soft through.
Sealed units and glass in later replacement windows
Houses this old have usually had some windows replaced over the decades, and those later windows have sealed units: two or three panes sealed together around the edge. When the seal fails, fog or haze sits between the panes and won't wipe off, a different problem from frost on an old sash. A failed unit can usually be replaced on its own; the foggy sealed unit page compares the fixes.
Two rebate points before you choose: the Efficiency Manitoba rebate doesn't pay for glass-only work, and it excludes porches and sunrooms, so an enclosed front porch won't qualify either way. Check the program page for current rules.
Armstrong's Point: heritage permits for window work
Wolseley itself isn't a heritage district. Its neighbour Armstrong's Point, known as The Gates, is. Its houses were built between 1880 and 1920, and it became a Heritage Conservation District in April 2019. Owners need a heritage permit before certain work inside the district, and the district plan sets out which. The City's heritage staff can tell you whether your window job is covered (City of Winnipeg: Armstrong's Point).
Check before you order anything, because new windows are made to measure and hard to return. If you plan to repair the original sash, say so on the request.
Porches, screens and storm doors
Older houses often have an enclosed front porch, and its sash, screens and storm door take the weather first.
- Screen repair: torn porch and window screens rescreened, wood-framed ones included.
- Storm doors: closers, sweeps and glass-to-screen swaps, or a new door fitted to an out-of-square frame.
- Door glass: a cracked pane in a front door or storm door insert.
- Sunporch sash: sashes that stick, rattle or have lost their putty.
Wolseley window questions
Can original wood windows in Wolseley be repaired?
Usually, yes. Most problems in an old wood window are in parts that can be fixed: dried-out putty, a cracked pane, a sticking sash, worn weatherstripping or a sill that needs a patch. Soft wood right through the frame is where replacement starts to make sense. A pro who does sash repair can tell you which you have.
My house is in Armstrong's Point. What should I check before changing windows?
Check whether the work needs a heritage permit. Armstrong's Point is a Heritage Conservation District, and owners need a permit before the kinds of work its district plan lists. Ask the City's heritage staff before ordering new windows or removing old ones, and photograph the windows as they are. The pro can help you describe the work you have in mind.
Can you still buy storm windows for an old Wolseley house?
Yes. Storm windows are still made, and a pro can order them to fit an existing opening, which matters in a house where no two windows are quite the same size. Old wood storms can often be reglazed and refitted instead. Our storm windows page compares the choices.
Can the glass in an old wood storm window be replaced?
Yes, and it's one of the smaller jobs a glass pro does. The broken pane comes out, the old putty is cleaned off, and new glass is set and puttied or held with stops. Do it before winter, because a cracked storm lets the inner sash get cold enough to frost. Ask whether the pro prefers you bring the storm in or works on site.
Is plastic over the windows every winter the only option?
No. Plastic film cuts drafts and costs little, but it's a yearly chore and keeps the window shut until spring. A tight storm does the same job without the tape, and repairing the sash and weatherstripping stops drafts at the source. Where the frame is failing, a new window may be the better long-term answer. The pro we match you with can compare these for your house.