Window Field Guide · Post-War Masonry Walk-Ups

Post-war masonry walk-ups: brick returns, steel lintels, and reorder specs

Post-war masonry walk-ups and elevator buildings from the 1950s through the 1970s sit between pre-war plaster stock and Sun Belt garden-style — brick or limestone facades, steel lintels, double-hung bedrooms, and patio sliders on newer wings. Outer-borough NYC, Chicago post-war courts, DC 1960s flats, and Boston garden-style masonry blocks share turnover discipline: measure every opening, standardize white vinyl mini on bedrooms, vertical on sliders.

Common in: New York City · Chicago · Washington, D.C. · Boston · Philadelphia

Quick answer

What landlords and PMs standardize on post-war masonry stock:

  • 1" vinyl mini — bedrooms and baths; outside mount when brick returns are shallow
  • 3.5" vertical on patio sliders — 68" × 84" and 78" × 84" reorder pairs
  • Steel lintels and masonry anchors — pre-drill; do not assume wood jambs
  • Elevator buildings: document stack side and floor-by-floor widths
  • Ship nationwide — local installer for ladder-heavy upper floors
  • Ships nationwide from Texas
  • Custom cut to measured size
  • Mini, vertical & faux wood lines
  • Mount notes by material

Post-war masonry building types behind the measurements

These buildings are not pre-war walk-ups and not 1980s garden-style slabs — they are mid-century masonry blocks with repeating floorplans but construction details that vary by city and renovation era.

  • Six-flat / eight-flat brick walk-up (1950s–1960s): stacked units, rear court or side lot, double-hung bedrooms
  • Elevator mid-rise (10–15 stories): outer-borough NYC, Chicago lakefront infill — aluminum replacement windows mixed with original steel sash
  • Masonry garden court (1960s–1970s): low-rise brick with landscaped interior court — slider modules on ground and second floors
  • Renovated vinyl-window packages: 2000s value-add often replaced bedroom windows but left original patio sliders
  • Steel lintels above bedroom openings — shallow effective depth even when the jamb looks deep
  • Co-op and condo conversion stock — board rules on visible hardware from the street

Products post-war masonry buildings reorder most

Vinyl mini leads bedroom volume. Vertical covers patio sliders. Faux wood is a selective upgrade.

1" vinyl mini blinds

Turnover default for masonry bedrooms — white cordless, custom width.

Shop vinyl mini blinds
1 inch cordless vinyl mini blinds on a bedroom window
Close-up of vinyl mini blind slats and headrail
Vinyl mini blinds installed in an apartment unit
White vinyl mini blinds — standard turnover color
Cordless vinyl mini blinds on a dark trim opening

Typical opening → blind size

Typical reorder bands on shipped post-war masonry orders — measure each opening:

Opening (approx.)Order sizeRoom
26"–30"25.5"–29.5"Small bedroom / bath
34"–36"33.5"–35.5"Primary bedroom
68" × 84" slider68" × 84" verticalPatio door
78" × 84" slider78" × 84" verticalWide patio door

Mounting by material & situation

Brick and steel lintels punish wrong mount assumptions. Confirm substrate before you spec inside mount community-wide.

1" vinyl mini blinds

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Default turnover line on post-war masonry bedrooms — light headrail, cordless white, custom width.

  • Inside mount — adequate masonry return

    When renovation left a vinyl or wood liner with roughly 1" clear depth, inside mount works. Measure width at three heights; use narrowest.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1" clear
    Hardware:
    #8 masonry screws or wood screws into liner

  • Outside mount on brick return or trim

    Pro often used

    Shallow brick returns and proud lintels often force outside mount on the flat trim face or wall above the opening. Add 1½"–2" overlap per side.

    Min depth:
    N/A — face mount
    Hardware:
    Masonry anchors or extended brackets

  • Steel lintel subframe

    Pro often used

    Pre-drill metal lintels with a bit sized for your screw shank. Use appropriate metal anchors if the pilot spins. Avoid striping thin gauge.

    Hardware:
    Self-tapping metal screws or rated anchors

3.5" vertical blinds

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Patio sliders on post-war wings and garden courts — face-mount track when headers are aluminum.

  • Face-mount track above slider

    Pro often used

    Original mid-century sliders often have shallow headers — mount the track on the wall face above the frame. Standardize stack direction per building.

  • Ceiling / soffit mount

    Pro often used

    When the wall above the slider is uneven, screw the track into the ceiling soffit. Verify structure — hollow soffits need rated anchors.

2" faux wood blinds

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Selective living-room upgrade when depth allows — less common on full-building turn budgets than vinyl mini.

  • Inside mount — check lintel clearance

    Pro often used

    Steel lintels can reduce effective depth at the top corners. Confirm 1½"–2½" clear before spec'ing faux wood inside mount.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1½"–2½"

When to hire a pro on post-war masonry turns

Masonry anchors, steel lintels, and upper-floor ladder work push many landlords toward a local installer — especially outside mount on brick and ceiling-mounted verticals. We custom-cut and ship blinds nationwide; professional install is available in Dallas–Fort Worth only. Send your installer our SKU list and mount notes per opening type.

Frequently asked questions

How is post-war masonry stock different from pre-war apartments?

Pre-war units often have plaster returns and very shallow jambs. Post-war masonry uses brick facades, steel lintels, and more aluminum replacement windows — outside mount on brick is more common, but bedroom width bands are similarly narrow.

Do you install in Chicago or NYC post-war buildings?

We ship nationwide from Texas. On-site installation is available in Dallas–Fort Worth only. Most owners hire a local installer for masonry and lintel work.

What vertical size fits a standard post-war patio slider?

68" × 84" and 78" × 84" are the most common reorder pairs. Measure exact glass width — renovation wings differ within the same building.

Metro guides

This housing archetype appears in these markets — browse local building stock and related field guides.

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