In this post we will learn how to maintain and repair common problems on wood or vinyl windows, such as sticking, rotten sills and removing glass.
Freeing Stuck Wooden Windows
Wooden windows can swell in wet weather. Try rubbing candle wax along the sticking edge of the window. If that does not work, plane away some wood. You can plane the opening edge of a casement. Take off enough extra wood to allow for painting.
Unscrew the casement from its hinges so that you can plane the sticking edge.
Tap a screwdriver with a hammer to free painted-in screws.
Movement of wood due to damp weather can also make fasteners difficult to close, or lead to loose, rattling windows. Fix the problem by adjusting the positions, as if you were installing from scratch. If adjustment only requires minimal movement, you may have to move the fastener so you can attach into solid wood.
Repairing a Rotten Sill
If a small area of a wooden sill is rotten, but the rest of the window is sound, you can just replace this part of the sill.
Cut back the sill to sound wood. Use it as a template for the patch. Mark the position of the groove under the sill (the drip groove).
Cut the patch slightly larger than the rotten section you removed. Use a router to cut out the drip groove. Screw the patch in place and then plane it smooth. Make sure to countersink the screws so they won’t be in the way of the plane.
Another option is using bond-o or winmax wood filler.
Other wooden frame repairs
Another option for fixing loose joints is to strengthen them with dowel.
If a whole section of your window is rotten, then pry the piece out and make a replacement, using the old section as a template. If rot is more widespread, you should replace the entire window.
Adjusting a Mortise-Plate
If the mortise-plate for a mortise-type catch is poorly fitted, it makes the catch difficult to use and can prevent it from holding the window closed securely. Remove the mortise-plate and refit it properly.
Unscrew the mortise-plate from the window frame.
Reposition the mortise-plate. Draw around the outside and the inside of the mortise-plate with a pencil.
Use a chisel to adjust the size of the mortise if necessary. Reattach the mortise-plate and check that it fits snugly.
Maintaining Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows need little maintenance, apart from washing to keep them clean. Hinges may sometimes need lubricating, and occasionally you might need to replace a catch.
Broken catch
Pry off the fixing cover with a screwdriver then remove and replace the catch.
The screw is often covered
Stiff friction hinges
Lubricate metal hinges with low-viscosity oil. Spray plastic hinges with polish containing silicone.
Cleaning vinyl
With warm water, remove as much dirt as possible. Use a mild detergent on stubborn marks, then rinse well, especially the seals. Some cream cleaners can be used on vinyl, but keep them off the seals and rinse very thoroughly. Some cleaners are only suitable for smooth, white vinyl, not wood-grain effect types. Never use an abrasive cleaner on vinyl.
Removing Vinyl Bead Trim
With beaded and double-glazed units try to remove the trim carefully so they can be reused. Only carry out DIY work on old double-glazed units—if they are still under guarantee, get the manufacturer to repair them.
Work a scraper blade under the edge of the first bead.
Pry up the bead so you can position a packer underneath, beside the scraper. Insert another packer on the other side of the scraper.
Move the packers outward to unclip the bead from the frame. Repeat for all beads. Remove the double-glazing unit carefully.