Removing Your Old Wood Double Hung Windows
|
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
|
|
|
Light Up Your Kitchen With The Right Lighting!
The proper lighting in a room can make or break it. With lighting, you can create a soft, cozy room for reading and relaxing. With bright, brilliant light you create a sense of excitement and energy. When looking for the right lighting for a room consider what you will do in that space and what you want the lighting to do. If you plan to install lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will want to use kitchen lighting that is bright and clean. You need to see what you are doing without shadows and haziness.A popular choice of lighting is track lighting. With a long strip of lights that point in whatever direction you decide, it is a great option for areas with a lot of lighting needs. You can direct the light at pictures, doorways, over a table or near a chair. Track lighting is also used for hallways where long space...(related: Home Improvement)
Roof Cleaning - Making Your Old Roof Look Like New!
Many Florida residents that have come from the North are surprised by the idea of roof cleaning - and even more surprised by the fact that many communities here in Florida require it. Reasons for cleaning include aesthetics, prop...(related: Home Improvement)
How To Paint Your Own Artwork - And Save Money
Everyone wants to save money. Don't you? Well, painting your own, color matched art can be a lot easier than you might think!Usually the picture that you want for your room will have an outrageous price. Or maybe you just can't find anything that matches your new color scheme?There is a simple way to paint your own pictures and save a fortune. Not only will you save money but you can exactly match your décor as well. Use this easy method and you can make your own unique pictures.First decide what size of picture you want and buy a suitable stretched canvas. It needs to be suitable for acrylic paints which are water based. Some canvases are only suitable for oil based paints, and will not work for this project.It will be easiest to choose an abstract theme. Abstract art will look go...(related: Home Improvement)
Helpful Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Functionality and aesthetics are the two main objectives of any kitchen remodeling plan. A kitchen must provide an efficient working place, even while it looks good.Most kitchen designs in vogue for the last few decades have been based on three standard layouts: the U-shaped kitchen, the L-shaped kitchen and the galley kitchen. All of them make use of the classic work-triangle concept that basically positions the three major kitchen components (refrigerator, stove, and sink) in a triangular pattern.With changing lifestyle and ...(related: Home Improvement)
Repairing Your Own Machine Components
Many industrial concerns have workshops of their own. For the repair of worn shafts, the lathe machine is excellent. Keyway slots can be machined by using a milling machine, while a shaping machine can do machining of large flat areas. A drilling machine does drilling of holes.A skilled Maintenance Engineer should know how to use all these machines in order to make his own repairs in a safe manner. Very often he has to supervise machinists. The information below should be useful for that purpose.Lathe MachineThe lathe machine uses a single-point-cutting tool for a variety of turning, facing, and drilling jobs. Ex...(related: Home Improvement)
The Art Of Power Washing Decks
Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started banning the use of pressure treated wood due to chromated copper arsenate (CCA), most people have decided to seal their wood decks as the EPA suggests to prevent the arsenic from leaching into the soil. Most homeowners use local companies to pressure wash their decks and s...(related: Home Improvement)
Planning Permission Tips Uk - How To Avoid Boundary Disputes When Extending Or Redeveloping A Site
The quest for more living space these days means making more efficient use of the sites available space in which to extend or develop. This invariably means building right up to the properties boundary line in many cases.This can have major pitfalls if it is not presented or handled correctly & not just at the Planning Application stage either. You wouldn't believe the number of on-site boundary disputes that arise during construct...(related: Home Improvement)
Single Pane Glass Repair In An Aluminum Frame, Part 2
This week we are going to continue our series on single pane window glass repair. Let's talk about broken glass in a fixed window, usually referred to as a picture window. The most common type will have metal stops on the outside, around all four edges of the window glass. Sometimes these stops will be held in place with screws, and other times there will be aluminum stops that snap in place. In some rare instances there will be a rubber material in place of metal. If you have the screw type, you remove all of the screws and ea...(related: Home Improvement)
Save Money On Home Improvement Projects
Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their expense. Granted if you are contemplating a "second-story" addition to your home, or the construction of a new "game-room", then most likely you will need to hire a general contractor to complete this task. However, if you are interested in projects like painting a room, removing acoustic texture from the ceiling (I just did this), installing laminate flooring, wallpaper, landscaping, etc. then you may be able to accomplish the task(s) all on your own, or with minimal assistance....(related: Home Improvement)
Reduce Noise To Reduce Stress: Sound Advice From The Rug Doctor
Maybe getting the silent treatment at home isn't a bad thing after all.With the constant barrage of leaf blowers, lawn mowers and loud appliances swirling around us, it's no wonder "I need some peace and quiet!" has become such a popular plea. If your neighbor decides to fire up the chainsaw Sunday morning while you're sipping coffee and enjoying the newspaper,...(related: Home Improvement)
Add Value To Your House - Interior Remodelling
Interior remodeling can have an amazing impact on the look and value of a house. I would definitely recommend getting professionals to do the job for you unless your good at renovation yourself. Here is some advice on how the get the most bang for your buck when remodeling.Replace the carpets:One of the best things you can do for your house to impr...(related: Home Improvement)
How To Finance A New Kitchen?
Want to improve the look of your property? Want to add value to your property?Been dreaming of a brand new kitchen? Do not have readily available cash to pay for it?Are you planning an extension to your home, a new kitchen, would you like to have double glazing, a new conservatory, patio, or a new heating system, or are you undertaking the general up keep of your home but finding it hard to pay for?Why not consider a Home Improvement Loan. Make ...(related: Home Improvement)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Home Improvement