Wadsworth Construction

09/03/2026

Paint fail 101. The best paint won't make up for poor prep

09/02/2026

Lest ye think of us as fenestration (fenestrating?) luddites, I offer you Vacuum Insulated Glass (VIG). VIG is the leading edge of window insulation technology, using a vacuum core in an ultra-thin gap to nearly eliminate conductive and convective heat transfer. The glass in my photos is 8mm thick and has a center of glass R value of 16. Vs R 3 for a typical double-glazed window. Is there a place for VIG in our work? On occasion, sure. We'll bring the latest and greatest or the tried and true to our work, whichever makes the most sense. The important thing here is that we bring more than one tool to the job.

08/26/2026

Thank you, Don & Ursula, for taking such great care of your home! And, thank you for trusting us to bring out the best in your windows ❤️

08/10/2026

Last week was higher education week for us. We wrapped up jobs at the Alumni house at Winona State, and Delta Upsilon house at ISU. WSU was pretty straightforward wood window restoration. Nice to see the college investing in its historic property. Delta was anything but typical. We don't do many steel window jobs. But this one worked out because the sashes were removable. Sort of. A key component of maintaining building components is making it convenient. In this case, the steps required to remove the sashes inevitably damaged the leaded glass panels, creating more work. But with the help of a team of resourceful and enthusiastic artisans we pulled it off just in time.

06/25/2026

06/25/2026

05/21/2026

It's not often we get the opportunity to work on windows older than 1850, so when we got the call to work on the windows at the Brigham and Mary Ann Young home in Nauvoo, Illinois, we didn't hesitate. Eventually, we discovered that, while historic in their own right, they definitely weren't the original sashes. Although ironically, the fantastic cylinder glass may have been (Grandfather's axe, anyone? ). The windows were typical for the era, plank (Eastern) style with grooved, beaded blind stops. It was a real treat to work amidst a community so dedicated to historic preservation. A trip to Nauvoo should be on every preservationist's bucket list

05/11/2026

Showing off the award for our contribution, with Russell Corp., to the McKee button factory renovation by Kent Corporation. We borrowed the AI plane for a quick site visit 😉

05/09/2026

Crafting a bathroom that meets our modern expectations for comfort and style while also blending in with a historic home can be a real challenge. Fortunately, vintage fixtures and features can help to provide inspiration and direction. Using a combination of heritage brands like and contemporary brands like , we were able to find the perfect combination for our 512 West Broadway project

05/03/2026

Here's a sampling of some of the original fixtures and hardware from 512 West Broadway. Every piece of hardware was removed, labeled, stripped, waxed, and polished. You'll notice that the hardware spans several architectural styles, which reflect other changes made to the house that bring current fashion into the home. Far from being stuck in time, a historic home can seamlessly blend changes in fashion over time into a cohesive elegance that makes the home feel both rooted and timeless.