Window Workshop with Mara Saxer, Mac Watson, and Jacob Sisneros

October 17
Morning information session: 10-12:30 - $25 (AIA members 2.5 LU/HSW)
Afternoon demonstration: 1-3pm - $100

Instructors

Join us on October 17 for a Window repair workshop at HSFF’s El Zaguan. This workshop is to introduce homeowners/students to the basic window repairs for historic windows. AIA students will receive credit for the morning lecture.

HSFF intends to offer guidance to homeowners/students for wood restoration as it pertains to the repairing of rotted or damaged windows and frames. This workshop will help students identify types of wood rot such as, dry rot, soft rot, and water rot. The workshop will cover techniques required to safely remove damaged wood, assess wood replacement, and demonstrate the use of epoxy/resin, and wood dutchman to replace damaged wood. We will familiarize homeowners/students with the basics of paint restoration for exposed and exterior wooden windows and frames. The workshop will cover the basics for safely removing and identifying old paint, lead testing, preparing bare wood, selecting and applying new primer and paint, and or paint stain.

Previous woodworking or restoration experience is not required, absolute beginners are welcome, but a desire and willingness to dive into physical work is needed. Participants should expect to bend, reach, stand on stepladders, walk up and down stairs, and use a variety of hand tools, but reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate all levels and abilities. Safe working practices and use of protective gear when needed will be taught as an integral part of the workshop.

The project goal is to empower homeowners in personal home repair. Each workshop will be documented with still photographs and videos. The videos will be hosted on the City of Santa Fe’s website and HSFF’s website along with the list of tools and equipment needed, and step-by-step instructions for documentation, removal, scraping/clean up, sanding, repair, glazing, painting, and reinstallation/weatherstripping of windows, and other skills.

This programming is partially funded by a Certified Local Government grant from the State of New Mexico through the City of Santa Fe.

SCHEDULE

Morning Information and Educational Session (10am to 12:30pm) with two 15-minute breaks

Speakers – Mac Watson, Jacob Sisneros, and Mara Saxer

Sessions will or may include:

Why we do window rehab; City regulations for window repairs, types of windows and window anatomy, dangers of lead-paint, striping and neutralizing, areas of window failure, creating a rehab plan, environmental issues,

What are the rules relating to windows in the Historic Districts?

When is replacement allowed?

What are the requirements for replacement windows?

This lecture series will include a questions-and-discussion session. 

Afternoon Session (1pm to 3pm)

The hands-on afternoon session will include glass replacement, removing glass, and removing glazing; followed by prepping sash, back-putty sash, installing glass with glazing points and re- glazing; curing time for glazing compound and final re-painting. Students and instructors will assist with clean up.

HSFF will provide water and a few bagged snacks. Participants should bring their own snacks and drinks. If participants sign up to be at the afternoon session please bring your own lunch to eat before the afternoon session. Please bring sunscreen, hats, and appropriate clothes and shoes for the weather. The morning session will be inside and the afternoon session is currently planned for outside.

Cost for morning session $25

Cost for afternoon session $100

Scholarships and financial assistance for homeowners in need are available. Please email info@historicsantafe.org with your short statement of need that may include financial issues, window repair needs at your home, etc. The goal is to provide a resource for those homeowners who need this information. This day provides guided repairs with experts and much of the resources will be available online in the upcoming weeks.

Images courtesy of Mara Saxer

Mara Saxer is the former Preservation Projects & Programs Manager at Historic Santa Fe Foundation. Currently she manages her own building restoration and consulting company, in addition to being a stained glass artist and recycled mixed-media jeweler. Prior to returning to her hometown of Santa Fe, she specialized in window and door restoration in New England, and between the two regions she has accumulated 16+ years of preservation and restoration expertise. She received her Masters of Architecture and Certificate of Preservation Studies from Tulane University.

Alan ‘Mac’ Watson, a Santa Fe native, received an AB in English Literature from Dartmouth College and an MA and a PhD from the University of New Mexico. He taught English and directed the graduate program in English at Montana State University for several years before the lure of returning to Santa Fe became too strong to resist. Since 1975 he has worked in architectural conservation as a licensed contractor and principal of Watson Conserves, LLC. The firm was de-commissioned in 2016, and Watson is now a full-time volunteer. He has volunteered for Cornerstones Community Partnerships for many years and was on the Cornerstones staff as program manager for Northern New Mexico from 1998-2002. He is a former chair of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation Board and has been a director of the Old Santa Fe Association and of Santa Fe New Music. He was appointed by Governor Richardson to the state's Cultural Properties Review Committee and served for two years as Chairman. He resigned his recent current HSFF Board Chairmanship expired in June 2019, after leading the Foundation to a very rigorous plan for its future.

Jacob Sisneros is a 15th generation native New Mexican, Jacob is our current HSSF Preservation Specialist and Programs Manager. Jacob holds a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and has studied Architecture at the University of New Mexico. Sisneros was a member of the inaugural Art & Design Faculty at the New Mexico School for the Arts and taught at the school for over a decade. Jacob's works span the disciplines of Art, Architecture, and Education, and is currently focused on restoring his 100yr old adobe home.