How to Install Double Hung Window Replacements
A double-hung window, one of the most common types of windows, consists of two separate window sashes that move independently from one another. This window style can provide significant ventilation and is known for ease of use. Damaged or out of date windows can drain your home of energy. Modern energy-efficient windows (look for the Energy Star logo) can save you up to 15% on your heating and cooling costs, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program. Also, by replacing a badly damaged double-hung window yourself you can save quite a bit of money. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Pry bar
- Flathead screwdriver
- Claw hammer
- Cordless drill
- Assorted bits
- Level
- Wooden shims
- Assorted nails
- Polyurethane caulking
- Caulking gun
- Wood putty
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Paint brush
- Exterior house paint
Instructions
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1
Cut the caulking or sealant from around your existing window trim by sliding a utility knife between the window trim and the siding and slicing along the sides of the window trim. Cut through all the caulking or sealant to allow the trim to be pulled free from the house.
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2
Pry the exterior wooden trim from around the window frame. Use your pry bar to gently lift these pieces from your house. You can reuse the trim pieces after you've installed the new window, so take care not to damage them during the removal process.
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3
Cut the sealant and caulking from around the exposed window frame with your utility knife. Run your putty knife between the nailing fin of the old window and break the seal between the window and the interior wooden window buck. The nail fin is a flange surrounding the window through which the nails are driven to fasten it to the window buck. The window buck is the wooden frame built inside the window opening to hold the window.
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4
Remove the nails holding the window to the window buck by using your flat head screwdriver to lift the nail heads. Pull them out with the claw end of your hammer. Remove all the nails from the window's nailing fin.
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5
Pull the old window free from the window opening and discard. If it is still in decent shape, consider donating it to a non-profit home-improvement organization. If the window is badly damaged, or the glass is broken, place it between two sheets of cardboard and use a hammer to smash the glass. Wear gloves and pull the remaining glass shards from the window frame. Put all the broken glass into a heavy-duty cardboard box, seal it, and clearly label it "BROKEN GLASS" before discarding.
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6
Inspect and clean the window buck, using your putty knife or utility knife to scrape away residual sealant or caulking material. Look for signs of rot or damage. Badly rotted or damaged wood should be removed and replaced with new material. Light cases of mold and mildew can be treated by scrubbing the window buck with a solution of one part bleach to three parts water, and rinsing thoroughly with water to remove any residual mold or mildew growth and bleach solution.
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7
Apply a generous bead of caulk to the inside of the replacement window's nail fin and position the new window into the window opening so that the caulked nail fin presses against the edges of the window buck.
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8
Check the level of the window from inside the house. Use a level and thin strips of wood called shims to adjust the window and make it level within the window opening.
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9
Nail the leveled window in place with corrosion-resistant nails. Drive the nails through the prefabricated slots running along the nailing fin. Don't over drive your nails. You want the window to be secured within the opening, but over driving the nails can cause warping and damage to your new window.
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10
Reinstall the window trim around the outside of the window opening by fastening the trim in place with finish nails. Countersink the nails and fill the holes with nail putty. Once the putty is dry, sand it smooth with a piece of 120-grit sandpaper. Paint the window trim with a quality exterior house paint. Finally, caulk around the window trim to create a weather-resistant seal.
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Inside your house apply a bead of caulking over the seams between the window frame and the window opening.
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Tips & Warnings
Colored caulking is available, as well as caulking that can be tinted to match the color of your house paint.
Use a Popsicle stick to smooth the caulking out after you have applied it to your interior and exterior seams. Some old-timers use their finger for this, but if you are going to use your finger, wear a latex glove as caulking contains chemicals that can be harmful.
Whenever you are working with glass, wear gloves and eye protection.
References
- Photo Credit fenêtre double et table image by focusart.fr from Fotolia.com
