Inspiring Conversations with Frank Gibbs of The Wood Window Clinic

Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Gibbs.

Hi Frank, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a licensed mental health therapist that grew up in suburban Michigan, I didn’t know much about old houses except the ones I’d gawk at driving around my alma mater University of Detroit Mercy. I didn’t always want to be a therapist; I thought I’d be an architect early on but ended up changing directions. After meeting my wife, we met people that lived in the Old West End of Toledo–a large Victorian-era neighborhood–and suddenly it came rushing back. My love of architecture, my infatuation with older buildings, and inquisitiveness led me to figuring out how they “made things like they used to.” I followed some old house accounts on Instagram, then I was suggested to follow more and more. My first project was figuring out how these mysterious windows with ropes and pulleys worked. If houses weren’t built with AC, how did people stay cool?? Turns out, the top and bottom of a window is supposed to open in a process called convection–hot air out the top, cooler air in through the bottom–reminiscent of the green principles I loved so much in architecture. So, I reached out to those Instagram accounts, asked how they repaired these windows, and they responded! From there it was jumping right in on my own windows. Fast forward to getting laid off in 2024, and with my wife’s support, I jumped into window restoration for other people after noticing that a big reason I fixed my own windows was that I also couldn’t find someone local to help me to begin with. Since then, it’s been using that social media support network, forming relationships with fellow restoration pros across the country, and jumping in with a penchant for figuring out how things work and a stubbornness to try it out. So, I kept a bit of fun by naming my business The Wood Window Clinic and giving these windows the same time and attention I gave all my therapy clients.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s a big challenge for me with not having had a construction or carpentry background. It’s a hurdle that sometimes can feel a bit insurmountable when it comes to joinery, wood species, grain direction, all the tips and tricks from apprenticing under someone in the trade. On the other hand, it feels like on-the-job training like any other job would entail except this is with myself as the boss. I’m also a one-man operation so far because I’m getting established which, when dealing with 60 pound plate glass windows, you really start to feel it. There’s been a lot of learning when it comes to how I move my body and take care of it. Manual labor is a lot of what this job involves and there’s a stark difference between the desk jobs I worked before. All of these take time, patience which run a bit short some days, and an ability to ask for help when I need it which is a big step on its own.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My specialty is wood window restoration for windows predominantly those made pre 1950. Ropes or chains connected inside a pocket to weights and then to the window allow a window to be mechanically operational. Stripping lead-based paint and refinishing with new paint removes the hazards of lead. Deglazing and using new glazing putty keeps the glass in tact reducing rattle and drafts. Replacing rotted wood parts of the window with new lumber and the same mortise and tenon joinery keep the window structurally sound with the same principles used for thousands of years. These are just a few services and steps to completely restoring a window and processes like these rely on an understanding of materials and finishes as well as their interactions. Clinically this is where I would discuss the parts and then the whole and being able to look at both respectively to harmonize them. My biggest accomplishment so far has been the support I’ve found from other professionals in the industry and the ability to reach out to them when I experience a new problem or feel a bit stuck.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Once I’m done with a window and installed, there’s a deep satisfaction in seeing a long-forgotten product that opens and closes like the day it was installed. I’m working on something that a craftsperson worked on a hundred or more years ago and it’s like reaching through time to show appreciation and respect for their work and continuing their legacy. The more windows I do, the more I get to drive around and point out the windows I’ve repaired. The sweat, sore muscles, occasional cuss words, still result in the pride of that finished window no matter how many times I do it. I’m also happy to be combining so many of my skillsets into something so tangible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewoodwindowclinic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571718424050&sk=about
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/URK6NpMAb4yLqYCHA