How to Redo Old Wooden Windows
- 1). Remove the inside window stop molding. This is a thin vertical piece that runs up both sides of the window, holding the lower sash in place. Work under the edge of the molding, starting at the bottom, with a sharp chisel. Pull the nails through the back of the molding with locking pliers to prevent damage to the face. Lift the bottom sash from the window. Detach the counterweight ropes by pulling the knots from their notches on either side of the sash.
- 2). Remove the inside stop from the window frame. These run vertically up the sides of the frame like the outside stops. Lever the stop from its groove in the frame, using a wood chisel. Pull the top sash down and out. Release the ropes from the notches on either side of the sash. Set the sash aside.
- 3). Replace any broken or missing ropes. Pry the window casing, the flat side trim, away from the wall with a pry bar to reveal the counterweights. Pull the nails through the back of the casing using locking pliers. Set the casing aside to be reinstalled later.
- 4). Cut rope to fit through the pulleys in the side jambs of the frame and extend to the bottom of the frame. Use a poly-cotton blend rope, the same thickness as the original. Attach the new rope to the counterweights by feeding the rope through the eye on the top of the counterweight and tying a knot in its end. Tie a knot at the opposite end to fit the notch in the side of the sash.
- 5). Scrape loose paint from the window frame with a razor scraper. Fill any chips, loose seams and nail holes with painter's caulk for painted windows or wood filler for stained frames. Allow the filler to dry. Sand the repaired areas smooth with a random orbit sander and 150-grit sandpaper.
- 6). Place the sashes on a flat surface with the exterior faces up. Scrape the old glaze from the window with a sharp chisel. Sand the frame with a belt sander to remove loose paint or damaged finish. Remove old caulk and weatherstrip with the razor scraper.
- 7). Reglaze the glass with latex glazier's compound. Apply the glaze smoothly with a caulk gun to create a 45-degree bevel along the edge of the frame. Wet a flexible putty knife and smooth the glaze along the edges of the frame. Scrape the excess from the glass with the razor scraper.
- 8). Apply two coats of matching paint to the sashes, frame and trim of painted windows with a soft bristle brush. Allow the paint to dry between coats, according to the label recommendation. For stained windows, apply a coat of matching stain and two coats of clear finish. Follow the label directions for best results.
- 9). Reinstall the sashes in the reverse order. Attach the ropes to the top sash and push it up into place. Reinstall the inside stop, tapping it firmly into its groove. Attach the ropes to the bottom sash. Reposition it and nail the outside stop in place with finishing nails. Realign the casing and nail it in place with finishing nails.
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