If you are lucky enough to still own a house with wooden sash windows you already know by now that they need a lot of taking care of. You may have also just bought a new family home with sash windows but have found that they have a lot of wear and tear on them. This can make them look raggedy and can also make it hard to open and close the window. If you have any of these issues or something else that is bothering you, sash window renovation is your solution.
If you prefer to do undertake your own renovations instead of paying someone to do it for you, below is a quick guide to help you get start on your window restoration project:
Removing The Sash
This can be difficult on some windows because the sash windows can sometimes be stuck together by old layers and layers of paint. You will need to take the most care with this step so as not to damage any part of the window frame.
To remove the bottom sash you will first need to take off or unscrew the window stops. This will allow you take off the bottom sash and you will then need to remove chains (or chords) from both sides of the window frame. Most sash windows will have little pockets on each side, to avoid the chain getting caught in their you may want to knot each end of the chain. Once you have done that you will see parting beads around the seal of the window, remove these and you will be able to take off the top sash.
To avoid any confusion when putting the window back together you should label each part and store it somewhere safe.
Remove The Glass
You will need to have access to a heat gun to be able to remove the putty from the borders of the glass. If you don’t have access to one you may be able to hire it from a local hardware store. When you access the heat gun you will need to heat up and soften the putty from the edge of the glass, this will allow you to scrape it all off. It is then easy to remove the glass from the frame.
Begin The Renovation
Once you have each sash on its own, detached from any glass, it becomes a lot easier to begin your sash window renovation. To make sure you don’t have to go through this process again in the short term you will want to make sure you repair any rotting wood and cracked wood. If you feel that it is beyond repair, you may want to take the frame to a joinery professional to have another frame made up for yo or you can purchase replacement sash windows.
The most common area people forget to pay attention to when renovating is the chains from the window. These can become old and rusty which make it difficult to open and close the window. You will want to check that they are well lubricated and that they aren’t rusting. If you find that they are damaged, you will want to get yourself some new chains to install.
Once you have covered all of this you can start putting your windows back together. For those who don’t like DIY projects, there are plenty of carpenters out there who still specialize in sash window renovation that will be able to do all the work for you, leaving you stress free from any physical labor.