Last week I told you how to measure your wood window openings to properly order your new vinyl replacement windows. This week I'm going to explain how to remove your old windows. The vast majority of wood sash double hung windows in America have the same specifications. Starting from inside the house and working out, you have a wood stop approximately 3/8" X 3/8". Then comes the lower sash (the sash is the piece of glass and surrounding wood frame). Then you have another wood stop (called a parting bead) between the lower sash and upper sash. This stop is approx. 1/4" X 1/2". Then you have the upper sash, and finally, the outside wood stop (called a blind stop) that is approx. 1/2" X 3/4".
Before beginning, be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves. The safety glasses will protect your eyes from debris, and the gloves help avoid splinters. The inside stop needs to be removed first. Try not to damage these,they will be re-installed after the replacement windows are put in. If you should happen to crack the old stops, you can take a piece to a hardware store or molding store to get replacement wood stops. If the stops have been painted to blend into the surrounding trim or wall, you need to put a flat screwdriver or putty knife into the indented area that separates the stop from the surrounding area. Drag the blade from top to bottom to chip away the paint. Then put a stiff blade putty knife into this seam and pry the stop away from the frame. Start in the middle of the stop where there is the most flexibility. Work the putty knife from the middle to the top, then from the middle to the bottom. The number of nails that were used to install the stop will determine how difficult removal will be. I have seen some stops that have just 3 nails, while others have had 6. Most of the time there will be stops around all four sides of the opening, but I have seen some openings that didn't have a top stop, and others that had no bottom stop.
After the inside stops have been removed, you should be able to pull the lower sash out. If the windows were painted shut at some time, you might have to pry the area where the lock is located to separate the sashes. Now, once you get the lower sash out, it will still be attached to the cords that hold the window up when you raise it. Take a pair of tin snips and cut the cords while maintaining tension on them. The cords will recoil back into the assemblies. Take the lower sash and set it aside.
Next,we need to remove the middle stop, or parting bead. This piece is going to be thrown away, so you don't have to be careful when removing this piece. The parting bead will be on top and along both sides. It's never on the bottom. Take a screwdriver and tap it into the groove between the side frame and parting bead. Pry out. The bead is nailed into a recessed groove. When all of the parting bead is out, the upper sash will come out. If it's painted to the outside stop, CAREFULLY pry the sash from the outside stop with a stiff putty knife. You want to avoid damaging the outside stop. Remove the upper sash the same way you did the lower sash, cutting the cords under tension.
At this point,you should have the inside stops removed and set aside to be installed later, both sashes removed, the middle stop or parting bead removed and discarded,and the outside blind stop left in place undisturbed. Check to make sure there are no obstructions in the opening such as nails,the metal tab at the bottom for holding in the old screen, etc. The final step is to take a stiff putty knife and scrape the inside face of the outside blind stops to get rid of any old caulking. This is the surface that the replacement windows are going to rest against, and we are going to want this area as smooth as possible. Clean up all loose debris from the opening, and you are now ready to install your replacement windows. That will be our topic for next weeks article...
John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows
Houseplants can be soothing because of their visual impact. Besides... Read More
For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new... Read More
Are you looking for something different for your house? Maybe... Read More
A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle... Read More
Wallpaper is often overlooked as a key part of an... Read More
There are just a few important things to know and... Read More
Family fun is one of the most important things you... Read More
Circuit Breakers are devices that stop the electrical current of... Read More
Picnic tables are the perfect solution for an afternoon or... Read More
Some people will dream of the perfect patio. They dream... Read More
Can you remember when people used to install slatted louvre... Read More
A house or any particular room can be carefully planned,... Read More
Hygienic air is essential to human life, and in this... Read More
Did you know that over 50% of women now run... Read More
Hiring a professional to replace your rollers could cost you... Read More
Pre-drawn house plans are those that are drawn by architects... Read More
According to the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair... Read More
Housing and smart houses. I believe that we could have... Read More
PLACEMENT?Ladders should be placed so each side rail is on... Read More
Do you feel unhappy in your home and you don't... Read More
The bathroom in your home is the one room that... Read More
In bathroom terms at least, bigger doesn't have to be... Read More
Remodeling a kitchen is one of the best investments a... Read More
The cost of energy is on the rise, so if... Read More
Considering that home saunas are believed to produce numerous health... Read More
Last week I told you how to remove your old... Read More
Interior design for bargain hunters is the new fashionable item... Read More
Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? If you are... Read More
In recent years there has been many stories about dryers... Read More
Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home,... Read More
Putting the right comforter on your bed can make the... Read More
One of the advantages of using machines to control processes... Read More
Light fixtures are something not many of us think about.... Read More
Research & Development I began designing audio and video interconnect... Read More
No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But... Read More
An air sander is a common air tool often overlooked... Read More
It's now well into the new year and the residential... Read More
Bathroom vanity cabinets are an essential component of any bathroom... Read More
Hiring a professional electrician can be very expensive and is... Read More
Throughout the ages, colors have been used to evoke certain... Read More
From a riot of color in bold chintzes to the... Read More
Above all else, the furniture in the living-room should make... Read More
Believe it or not, the bathroom is one of the... Read More
If you are dedicated to improving the indoor air quality... Read More
We get a great many requests to view the potential... Read More
Creating a Designer Home With LightingTraditionally, spring is the time... Read More
Modern Design is sleek, stark, and spacious with angular and... Read More
Color theory is an entire science unto itself, and to... Read More
Not everyone is aware of how to deal with contractors.... Read More
Before talking to any contractors the first thing to do... Read More
Spa treatments in your own home? Sounds to good to... Read More
These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old... Read More
Newcomers to the world of log homes will notice that... Read More
Functionality and aesthetics are the two main objectives of any... Read More
Few things can be as frustrating as picture problems. You... Read More
After spending hundreds of dollars on your favorite Picasso print,... Read More
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house,... Read More
It's refreshing to note that gone are the days that... Read More
Ideas for interior design are a dime a dozen these... Read More
A ceiling fan consists of three basic parts, namely the... Read More
There are several ceiling texture choices to choose from when... Read More
A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your... Read More
If the weather is turning chilly it must time for... Read More
Rights of light - What a minefield this topic is... Read More
In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant must undergo a change... Read More
This week we are going to continue our series on... Read More
Home Improvement |