Buttonville · Markham
Buttonville: a heritage hamlet, 1960s estates and 1980s streets
Three kinds of house share the Buttonville name. The old hamlet on Woodbine Avenue is one of Markham's four heritage conservation districts, where the rules favour repairing original sash. Estate homes from the 1960s may already be on their second set of windows. The 1980s streets have reached the age when sealed units fog and cranks wear out. We connect you with an independent local glass professional suited to your house; that pro measures, quotes and does the work.
At a glance
- Housing
- Hamlet buildings on Woodbine, 1960s estate homes, 1980s subdivisions
- Heritage
- The hamlet is a heritage conservation district; window changes need a heritage permit
- Common jobs
- Sash repair, picture-window glass, fogged sealed units, patio doors
- Landmark
- The former Buttonville airport lands, closed in November 2023
The heritage hamlet and its window rules
Every property inside the Buttonville district needs a City of Markham heritage permit before exterior changes, and windows are included (City of Markham, heritage districts). The district plan is specific about what it wants:
- Repair original frames and sash rather than replace them, and limit the work to the damaged parts.
- If a window is beyond repair, replicate it in the same material, style and proportion.
- No snap-in or tape grilles.
- Traditional exterior storm windows are the plan's preferred route to better efficiency.
So the first question on a hamlet house is whether the sash can be saved; see wood window repair. The City's 2026 heritage grant can help pay to repair original windows, and it asks for two professional quotes for the same scope. If you plan to apply, say so in your request; our heritage window guide covers both.
1960s estate homes: large openings, older replacements
Buttonville's first suburban houses appeared in the 1960s as estate homes on large lots near Cachet Woods. Many have long, low fronts with wide picture windows, and many may already have had those windows replaced once. A fogged unit in a later replacement window can usually be swapped on its own; a tired replacement with warped frames is a different conversation.
Outside the heritage district, the City doesn't require a building permit to replace a window when the rough opening stays the same size (City of Markham, building permits). Widening a picture window is another matter. Large glass is heavy, so size and access drive the quote; our picture window page sets out the glass-only and full-window routes.
1980s homes: seals and hardware
On the 1980s streets, original sealed units and hardware are now wearing out. Most of it can be fixed in place:
- Fogged sealed units: a haze between the panes that won't wipe off means the edge seal has failed. The unit is replaced; frame and trim stay.
- Cranks and locks: a crank that spins or a sash that won't lock is a worn part, not a worn window.
- Replacement windows: worth pricing when frames are soft, drafts come in all round, or several units are failing together.
A photo of the whole window and a close-up of one frame corner usually tells the pro which of these you're dealing with.
Buttonville window questions
Is my Buttonville property in the heritage district?
Only if it sits within the district boundary, which takes in the historic hamlet rather than every Buttonville street. The City of Markham publishes the boundary with the district plan, and its heritage staff can confirm an address. Inside the district, windows need a heritage permit before work starts. On a 1960s or 1980s street outside it, the ordinary City rules apply. Our service areas page shows the other Markham communities with districts.
Does a window change in the Buttonville hamlet need a heritage permit?
Yes, for any property inside the district. The City requires a Minor or Major Heritage Permit for exterior alterations there, and that includes windows, even at the same size. Heritage staff hold delegated authority for work that fits the district plan, so a proposal to repair original sash starts on the plan's own terms. Apply before booking the work, and give the pro the permit conditions so the quote matches them.
Should 1960s windows be repaired or replaced?
It depends on which windows the house has now; in many 1960s Buttonville homes the originals may already have been replaced. A fogged unit or a worn crank in a sound frame is a repair. Warped frames, drafts all round or several failing units point towards replacement. Our repair or replace guide walks through the signs.
The big picture window on my Buttonville estate home has fogged. Does the frame have to go?
Usually not. A big fixed picture window is often a single sealed unit, which a pro can replace while the frame and trim stay put. The quote turns on the size and weight of the glass, how it's held in the frame and access from outside. Send a photo of the whole window and its width and height, if you can measure them, with your request.
For a 1960s Buttonville house, is retrofit or brick-to-brick replacement the better fit?
A retrofit, or insert, fits a new window inside the existing frame. It keeps the interior trim but can trim the glass area slightly. Brick-to-brick removes the old window down to the rough opening, which suits a rotten frame or an owner who wants to keep all of the view. On a wide 1960s picture window, that difference in sightlines is worth asking about before choosing.