We had a wonderful experience working with Oak Brothers to restore basically all the windows in our turn-of-the-century Victorian house in Chicago. We picked Oak Brothers because they are among the few left who do this kind of work and they are artists of this craft. These days many people choose to get rid of beautiful original windows in favor of new windows. We didn't want to do that because we know the original windows are much better quality and built to last much longer than such new windows, not to mention that they look better, and they just needed to be restored. Oak Brothers is a small team that is in high demand, so there was a significant lead time for our project, but we decided it was worth the wait because we felt no one else in the Chicagoland area could match their expertise, skill, and attention to detail. Oak Brothers restored the main double-hung windows around the house as well as our basement casement windows and several art glass windows. Besides restoring their structure and function (plus installing upgraded weather-seals), they did a meticulous job of removing the paint on both the windows themselves and the window jambs. They stained and varnished everything to match the rest of our newly refinished woodwork. They also replaced rotted window sills, transformed fixed into operable windows, and arranged to have our stained-glass windows cleaned and re-cemented. We never knew how dirty the stained-glass window at the top of our first-floor stairwell were before they were cleaned. Oak Brothers paid as much attention to aesthetics as they did to structural and functional issues. For example, Jeff worked patiently with us to get all the window hardware re-plated so it matches the original copper patina we found on the few sash pulls that still had the original finish. He then went the extra mile to source screws and finishing washers that match the patina on the hardware. The end result is that the windows are a perfect aesthetic fit for the rest of the house. We really appreciated Jeff and his team's care and hard work throughout the process. Jeff has the kind of expert knowledge of his craft that is very rare these days. Pat and Jude, besides the high level of skill they brought to the job, were extremely gracious and kind as they worked on the windows while we and two small kids were living in the house, and they took great care not only in their work but also in helping manage dust and debris. We are greatly enjoying the beautiful results of their work now that it is complete. We offer our highest recommendation for Oak Brothers. read more

Oak Brothers did an excellent job restoring nine double hung windows in our home, including finish removal and refinishing for all of the windows with a stained and varnished finish. A previous owner had painted over the frames and windows, to the point that they were difficult to open and after years of neglect somewhat unsightly. The end result is absolutely beautiful, down to the hardware and chains. They also did a wonderful job restoring the finish on our front door, sanding and painting our railing, and installing upgraded weather-seals in a sunroom door. The most impressive work was their restoration of our second floor facade-facing bay of windows which contains a lovely stained glass design that spreads across three windows. Oak Brothers removed the windows, re-cemented the glass, and fixed some cracked panes. The windows are much improved and we plan to do the same for another stained glass window. Throughout the process, Jeff and his team were attentive and responsive. Jeff is passionate about restoration, and his wealth of knowledge gave us new ideas for elsewhere in the home. He has become someone we turn to when considering other improvements or restorations. He even came back two years later to repair what turned out to be a bent piece of weather-stripping that was causing a sash to be inoperable. While the source of the problem was a misplaced piece of hardened epoxy that had caused a piece of metal weather-stripping to get bent, he did not charge us for the repair. We plan to work with Oak Brothers in the future for more restoration on our home and highly recommend them for restoration work. read more

Oak Brothers Historic Restoration - General Contractors Near Me

If you're looking for masterful window restoration, look no further than Oak Brothers! Jeff Ediger and his talented team transformed the windows of our historic home in Evanston with incredible skill and attention to detail. Our home features both double-hung and casement windows that had seen better days. Jeff approached each window with a craftsman's precision, preserving the charm and character of the originals while making them functional and efficient once again. Every step of the process was handled with care, from expertly restoring the frames to ensuring the sashes opened and closed perfectly. What impressed us most was Jeff's deep respect for the historical integrity of our home. He didn't just repair our windows--he revitalized them, blending old-world artistry with modern performance. The finished product is nothing short of stunning, and we couldn't be happier. For anyone with an older or historic home, Oak Brothers is the gold standard for window restoration. Jeff and his team go above and beyond to deliver quality work that exceeds expectations. Highly recommend! KUDOS to a guy like Jeff that will come back to my house 7 years after project is complete to help throw in some complimentary touch up serice read more

Jeffrey and his team are amazing at their craft. The work was done impeccably and reasonable for the complexity of our job.

If you want to have your historic woodwork restored properly and with exceptional craftsmanship, then Oak Brothers is the way to go. It will cost both time and money, but it will be worth it. Jeff restored the 7 windows with decorative glass in our octagon bungalow. We knew very little about what we actually wanted and what was historically appropriate, and really didn't want to go with a cheaper company that just says, "whatever you want, just let me know" when important decisions arise. Instead, Jeff patiently gave us historical context and reasoning for his suggestions, and even gave us a reading assignment to help us pick a color :) (Bungalow Colors--we also highly recommend!). The completed windows are just beautiful and have transformed the entire front-half of our home. We haven't yet seen how they perform in the winter, but they are quite smooth to open and close and even our restored original hardware functions beautifully. Historical restoration is a long and pricey process, but we hope to continue the efforts with Oak Brothers in the future, and highly recommend the work. read more

Oak Brothers Historic Restoration - the living room - General Contractors Near Me

I originally had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Ediger about 10 years ago at a Bungalow Expo. Jeff's work was personally endorsed by Mr. Bob Yapp, a PBS home repair celebrity who made the introduction. I'm so glad he did. I retained Jeff's contact information knowing that our stained-glass window restoration project would be necessary. The project was recently completed and indeed a lengthy and pricey one - but so worth it!!!!! Jeff and his talented staff painstakingly brought new life to our vintage windows that were encrusted in old caulk, glazing putty, paint and water damage. Deteriorated ropes and pulleys were replaced with period sensitive chains and hardware. Upper sashes that were once painted shut now move up and down effortlessly, enabling the windows to work as they were intended- due in part to the proper calibration of the windows and weights. We received a sound education as each stage of the process was thoughtfully explained by Jeff. I will anxiously look forward to working with this talented craftsman and true gentleman again. If you are considering similar work, contact him without hesitation or delay - you will be amazed at the results! M&C H. - Chicago read more

I can wholeheartedly recommend Oak Brothers to anyone who wants top quality work done in restoring the 'buried treasure' in their older home. Jeff's many years of experience and resourcefulness produced results that exceeded expectations. Here are two examples. The mahogany veneer in the dining room of my 1910 flat was badly alligatored, and now, thanks to Oak Brothers, it has returned to its former glory. The living room fireplace had been painted white. Once I had removed the paint, the ceramic tiles were dull and the cement grout stained and pocked. Only when I found Oak Brothers did I trust that the restoration could be reliably completed, and now it's the focus of the living room. read more

Couldn't be happier with Oak Brothers. We hired them to restore all twenty-six windows original to our 1910 apartment. Twenty of them are double-hung wood windows, and six are casement windows, including two that are stained glass. Most were pretty much inoperable; they'd either been painted or caulked shut or were missing counterweights, pulleys, and hardware. Most of the beautiful old wavy glass (and the stained glass) was on the brink of falling out of the sash. Jeff and his assistants removed our windows to their shop, restored them, and reinstalled them. Now they're good for another 100 years. The sashes glide up and down like silk and fit snugly. The best part about working with Oak Brothers is what I learned. I'm not all that handy, but Jeff took the time to walk me through their process and explain what they'd do in detail BEFORE they did it; his proposals and contract were very detailed and well-written. Whenever anything unexpected arose he took the time to write, call, and send photos if necessary to explain what had come up, what our options were, and what a fair cost adjustment would be. I get the impression he can't bear for anything to be less than perfect. He's a true craftsman. I should also add that he and his assistant worked here in our home every weekday until the job was done and they were always respectful and pleasant. They couldn't have been better about keeping their workspaces-and thus our home-as clean, tidy, and quiet as possible. The job did take a little longer than planned, but that's because they took extra time to do it right, to the highest standard. Their work was not cheap but the price was always fair, or more than fair. We'll definitely use Oak Brothers to restore the rest of our vintage home. read more

Oak Brothers HR did a fantastic job restoring four sets of original French doors and accompanying screen doors plus transom windows (including replacement of the thresholds). The threshold replacement was a critical concern, since we were getting ice build-up on the interior side of the metal thresholds. Jeff and his workers replaced them with white oak thresholds and installed automatic weather-seals on the door bottoms. (The seals drop down when the doors close and lift up when they are opened.) They installed a lot of other weatherseals as well, repaired hardware, and added additional hardware to ensure tight-fitting closure. Not only do the doors look beautiful, but now they close and seal tight! Probably the greatest testament I can give to the quality of the work they did is that my wife, who had originally thought we should replace these doors, changed her mind when she saw the results. Both she and I are delighted with the results. We were so pleased with the work Oak Brothers had done that we've hired them for a second job--restoring ten sets of multi-light casement windows. Four sets have already been completed and the workmanship is of the same high quality as the work Oak Brothers did on the first project. read more

We were always really satisfied with the job that Jeff did restoring our original 1924 stained glass bungalow windows - he stripped the flaking lead white paint, installed new, but original looking hardware, fixed the chains, several of which were broken and finished the wood varnish beautifully. He also installed these spring loaded things that made the wooden panels fit together in way that protected us from the Polar Vortex this past January. You'd think that original 1924 windows would leak enough cold air to give us tons of ice inside the house which is what was happening to people all over Chicago over those three days - new and old windows alike, but in the restored windows we didn't see any of that - so we got original windows that look beautiful but work as well -or better - than some new modern windows. He really cares about his craft and when we got this bungalow, restoring it and fixing it up with professionals who care as much as we do was really important to us. read more

Oak Brothers Historic Restoration - the living room - General Contractors Near Me

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We've hired Jeff Edigar and Oak Brothers twice, to restore the upstairs and then the downstairs windows in our 153-year-old home. The work isn't cheap but I checked and the price was comparable to installing new Marvins. (Not that I could or would replace beautiful old windows.) Jeff's craftsmanship is beautiful, and he did a lot of work to insulate the windows against the weather. Now our rooms are much warmer in the I can actually open all the windows in the summer. One word of warning-Jeff's work is in high demand so don't expect fast turnaround. It took about six months from when we signed the contract until he was able to come out and begin work. read more