It is cozy to live in an old house with original details (old doors, windows, floor, staircase). It feels so warm and welcoming. Well warm... let me think about it 90 year old windows with one glazing? Not really very warm when it is -10 outside and you get ice decorations inside your windows.....
Well... we had to do something about it. The obvious thought is to change the windows altogether: a bit pricey but it should solve the problem. Then you collect more information and you get to know that (1) the quality of old wood-made windows is unmatched by the modern industrial production; (2) the original "blown" glasses have a cultural value and should be kept because they give character to the whole house. OK then, how about restoring the windows? Not easy to find somebody in the neighborhood: the only one I could find was this guy who offered a full restoration which was however not necessary. Then I kept searching and I got in touch with Fortidsminneforeningen (Norwegian cultural heritage protection association) who suggested I could try out a new solution called Optoglas. You want to know how it worked? Stay tuned.... :)
Tromsø is the largest town in Northern Norway, and it is located almost as far north as the tip Alaska. Many Norwegians and some well disguised foreigners are so insane to live up here. Some of them -- the craziest of all -- decide to buy a "Verneverdig Hus" which is an old protected house. More than house-owners they become house-sitters ending up caring for their precious home more than anything else. I'm one of them...
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