After years if use and layer upon layer of paint, your windows may not be broken, but they did were new. On older homes , single-pane glass and worn jambs are not doing much to keep the heat in during winter, and the old paint can make windows nearly impossible to open can make windows nearly impossible to open and close .
You could spend hours scraping the windows down to bare wood and wind up with the same old energy-inefficient model. Replacing them makes better use of your time and money. These days you can get inexpensive , custom made replacement windows with double glazing that drastically improves the unit’s insulating value. You could also opt for low-emissivity glass or even triple glazing if you live in area with very cold winters .
Options for Replacements
You have three basic choices-sash kits , replacement windows that fit into existing frames, or entirely new windows that fit into existing frames, and casing. With sash kits, you get new standard-size sashes-the window glass and the frame around it-plus new jamb liners, which are the tracks that hold the sash in place. Sash frames can be wood or vinyl with double glazing. Your existing window frame, casing, and trim all stay in place, and all installation work is done from the inside . On the downside , a sash kit typically is not as energy-efficient as a new window.
Replacement windows are entirely new, energy-efficient units custom-made to fit into an existing window frame , usually at no extra cost. These windows have less glass area than the old ones, but if cost is a major consideration , vinyl replacement windows are the way to go.
New windows give you a wider range of options-you can go to larger sizes and different shapes – but the installation involves a lot more work because you have to rip out the old window entirely. If the new one is only a little larger, you may be able to take advantage of extra space in the rough frame that was formerly occupied by the sash weights . For larger windows , it means cutting a bigger wall opening and installing a new framing.
Tools needed pry bar, level, flat head , hammer , nails, reciprocating saw, utility knife and shims.
Unsticking windows , Once spring arrives and the weather warms up, you’ll want to open all your windows all the way and let the fresh air in . But moving parts that have been locked in place over the winter may refuse to budge . So start small : just try to get the windows cracked. If the frame is swollen from the moisture of the window sash and the surrounding frame are sealed by paint , you could be in for a wrestling match.
Ways to unstick un pry flat bar without forcing it. Slice apart window pane utility knife, near the painted seam. Helps using putty knife .
Window and doors can be costly but Top Job is local company in the BuxMont area for Bucks County and Montgomery County, Pa . Top Job Restoration is competitive pricing that likes to choice Pella windows .