HOW TO REMOVE A WOODEN WINDOW FRAME

Dismantling old window replacement wooden windows with double-glazed windows or plastic structures can be done in two ways. The first one can be called neat, as the frame of the dismantled window will not be damaged, and therefore it will find a new use, for example, in the countryside. The second method of dismantling is more straightforward, but it will be impossible to use the window unit, as the frame in the removal process will be sawn into several parts. The second way is customary to dismantle quite old windows window companies near me that are not suitable for further use.

How to prepare the room

So that after dismantling, you do not have to engage in general cleaning of the room, you need to know how to prepare it for this process.

The first thing to do is remove all objects on the windowsill. These can be pots and vases with flowers, toys, or photo frames;
Curtains or drapes should be removed to protect them from dust;
All of its items should be covered with film to prevent a layer of dust from covering furniture. This also applies to the floor, or it can be covered with corrugated cardboard instead of cinema;
And the last thing to do is to ensure unobstructed access to the window opening and the electrical outlet.

Dismantling without saving the frame: stages of work

To ensure that the dismantling of wooden windows does not cause difficulties, it is necessary to adhere to the following plan:

Dismantling begins with removing the sashes, then moves on to the blind parts, which pull the glazing bars that hold the glass, and then the glass itself.
The next step is the removal of the window sill. This part of the structure must be removed, so the window opening is not damaged. To do this correctly, you must know how window sills made of different materials are dismantled. For example, concrete structures are recommended to remove with a hammer. To do this, the middle part of the window sill is broken, its armature is cut, and its halves are removed from the side openings. If your window sill is made of wood, plastic, or metal, they are released in one piece using a punch or hammer.
Before removing the sills, you need to understand how they were installed. Usually, they are attached to the window sill or window unit.
When the window sill and sills are removed, it remains to remove the central part of the window structure. For this work, it is necessary to prepare thoroughly. It is essential to use a professional assembly cutter, but for lack of it, you can use an ordinary jigsaw or jigsaw.
After the window frame is removed from the opening, it is necessary to deal with the slopes. If they are made of gypsum cardboard or plastic, the dismantling will have no problems, but the cement-sand slopes will have to tinker.
The final stage can be the removal of the old insulation, as you will not need it when installing new windows.

Expert Advice:

If modern designs are installed instead of the old wooden windows, pay attention to the condition of the installation opening in the process of dismantling. It must be in perfect condition.

You will spend additional time preparing and aligning the opening in case of sloppy work. It is strictly forbidden to leave even minor errors; firstly, it can cause draughts, which is not desirable; secondly, the mistakes can destroy the impermeability of window units, and thirdly, the service life of windows will be much less, and that is an additional cost for installation of new windows. Therefore, if you are not confident that you can do it yourself, it is better to entrust the work to professionals.

Keeping up with the times and innovations in building paradigms, plastic windows have long confidently taken a leading position in the arrangement of modern facilities.

First, if you have saved up for plastic windows, you should get rid of the old - wooden windows and prepare the opening so that professionals can take the dimensions for your new windows and easily install them.

So, let's begin. First, you should prepare a place for work (since this work is very dusty) and find a place to stack the elements of the removed wooden windows. Next, remove nearby carpets and other household utensils, and cover furniture with plastic wrap.

Next, we will need a nail gun, a crowbar, a hammer, a chisel, a hammer, pliers, and pliers.

If the dismantled wooden windows and frames can still be used, you should do without their "destructive" removal, that is, sawing, breaking out, or twisting with crowbar frames or window sashes from the hinges. For example, you could successfully put them at your summer cottage or other premises, do a good deed to your acquaintances, or simply use them as boards and panes.

First, get rid of the window sashes: pick them up slightly from below with a crowbar on the wall side and carefully remove them. Then, since you, one way or another will still have to arrange a window opening for the new windows, you must remove a layer of plaster from the window slope with a punch or chisel to the base of the wall, where the wooden window frame rests.

Typically wooden window frames are fixed to the concrete with 150-200 mm nails. When you knock down the plaster, the nails will appear. Clamp them from the inside, near the wall with pliers, and hit the hammer on the frame so that the cap nails showed. Then pry them up with the pliers, bring them up to the level of the nailer, and pull the pin out. It will be easier if you have a "grinder," you can easily cut the nail at the base of the window frame.

Once you have freed the window frame from the nail, carefully remove the frame from the opening. Use alternating taps with a hammer and the work of a crowbar or nailer. Removing the interfering plaster flooring along the way will provide a secure "entrance" for inserting the new windows. After the wooden windows are removed, conduct a controlled sweep of the window opening surface.

If you have one, the window sill is usually piled on the side of the frame, so after removing the plaster layer of the soffits, remove the sill first by simply pulling it up.

This way, you "kill two birds with one stone": you have the space for the new windows ready, and you have the auxiliary material.

First: you take off all the wings from the old window. Remove the glazing bars and glass if you have dummy parts. Take the glass with your fingertips so as not to touch the edge; even if you are working with special gloves, there is a risk that the glass will go along the palm.

Second: Use a jigsaw or a regular wood hacksaw to cut the inside of the window (the partitions between the sashes or between the belt and the blind part). Usually trimmed from the bottom, the upper part is ripped out.

Third: Remove the old window sill (if necessary). If the sill is concrete, the easiest option is to break the middle with a hammer and then cut the rebar with a bolt cutter; pulling it out of the side walls is easy. If the window sill is marble or wood, it must be released from the wall with a hammer or hammer and chisel.

Fourth: When the window sill is removed, you can quickly get to the bottom of the wooden frame. You cut the frame with a jigsaw or hacksaw somewhere in the middle. If the wall does not allow you to do this, first make a notch, then use a crowbar to lift the frame where you sawed and cut to the end or until it breaks from the force of the crowbar. Next, you remove the bottom part of the window by simply ripping the lots out of the sides of the frame. Often the bottom part pulls both the side and top of the frame with it. This happens because the window is flimsy or because of the Soviet installation. In Soviet times, the windows were simply nailed to wooden bars poured into the wall at the sides of the window, and some windows were simply wedged and concreted into the wall. In any case, you must tear out the window frame not sideways but inward. That is, the window is on the slope, and the concrete, you do not need to break the hill, just see the bottom and pull it in the opposite direction from the wall. After removing the frame in places where the structure is in contact with the wall will remain insulation (usually glass wool); it must be scraped to the concrete or brick. After that, it is desirable to sweep because dismantling generates a lot of construction debris.

You cannot avoid dismantling windows if you decide to carry out significant repairs. Instead, the outdated wooden frames should be replaced with a modern plastic versions. This will allow you to insulate the room and strengthen its sound insulation. In addition, plastic windows will help you improve the overall aesthetics of the living space, giving it a modern look.

To avoid spending the extra money to remove the wooden frame, you can save money and dismantle the window yourself. In this article, we will tell you in detail about what steps you will have to perform and what you need to have at hand for this.

Required tools

To remove the windows, you will need:

A crowbar or nail gun. These tools will help you remove the window pieces from the hinges.
A jig saw (electric jigsaw). You will need a jigsaw to cut the frame pieces into smaller segments.
An ax, hammer, and chisel will be helpful to lift the frame in hard-to-reach places.
You should also have a Phillips or an electric screwdriver and pliers handy.

A sequence of removal work

A lot of garbage will accompany the removal of wooden windows. Therefore, it is recommended to wrap all pieces of furniture in polyethylene and purchase large volume garbage bags before starting the work. In addition, it is necessary to protect the floor from dirt by covering it with polyethylene tarpaulin or film.

The first elements of the window to be removed are those that open. As a rule, when the window hinges are in good condition, the disassembly does not cause complications. Otherwise, it is carried out with a crowbar, and the alternative is to cut the hinges with a bolt cutter.

If the glass in the window is intact and has no chips and cracks, it is advisable to take it out and use it if necessary for household needs.

After removing all the opening elements, proceed to remove the box. I saw the bottom beam in half with a grinder or hacksaw to do this. The upper part of the beam is demolished last.

Remember that dismantling a wooden window is a laborious process requiring special skills. If you do not have them, we recommend using the help of qualified professionals. Otherwise, you may not be able to cope with the task. In this case, removing old wooden windows will go quickly and without problems. The price of the service will depend on the size and type of window.

Preparation for the work

Before considering the dismantling technology, you should look at how to prepare for the dismantling properly. Since dismantling will require you to be responsible and severe, you can not start it without preparation.

During dismantling a window in the apartment, you should take measures in advance for the safety of household appliances, furnishings, furniture, and other valuable items. If possible, you should take them out in general, and large objects should be covered with plastic film. It is better to cover with polyethylene, as it will be the easiest to clean up later. Even if you dismantle it with the utmost care, you will not be able to complete the dismantling without getting construction debris and dust. In connection with this, and requires a responsible approach to the safety of valuables.
The immediate area of the work should be covered with plywood sheets. This will be necessary to preserve the flooring. If carpets or rugs are in the room, they must be removed. The passageway to the workplace should not be cluttered with furniture and other items that will interfere with the process.

Dismantling steps

Professionals will be able to dismantle an old window without any difficulty. You can also do all the work with your own hands. The main thing is to start the job correctly and complete the dismantling sequence. It is necessary to dismantle the window in the following line:

Remove the sashes of the window;
Saw the frame and mullion;
Remove the old structure;
Dismantle window sill and sill;
Prepare the window opening: remove the old insulation and clean the door.

Let's look at the specifics of each step separately.

How to remove window sashes

There are usually no difficulties in this step. However, if the panes are securely seated in the frame, there is no need to remove them before removal. But when the glass is not too well held, it is necessary to remove it before dismantling to avoid injury.

To remove it, you need to see it. To do this, make several cuts across it with a regular saw. Of course, you can use a grinder with a diamond disk or concrete, but you will get much more dust. Here we draw attention that it is strictly forbidden to use an ordinary metal disk because it can jam or burst while cutting, leading to injury. For wood, the disk will not work either.

After you have made several cuts, you can begin to dismantle it piece by piece. You can use a crowbar, a nail gun, a hole punch with a spatula, or other convenient means. First, the frame from the box should be removed without the rest. Removing all of its parts will ensure the maximum fixation of the future window.

Now let's look at the peculiarities of removing the old window sill. First, when it is made of wood, remove it the same way as the wooden frame: push a couple of cuts and pull it out by parts using some tool.

If you have a concrete window sill, the case will be somewhat more complicated because you will need to break it with a jackhammer, and if it is not available, you will have to work manually with a hammer or crowbar. You can also use a grinder with a disc for concrete surfaces. Also, when the substantial window sill has no defects and is in good condition, you can leave it alone.

However, the plastic window sill will outperform the concrete sill in terms of its thermal insulation properties. In addition, keeping the old construction will result in a gap between it and the new window frame. Even if you apply a unique mixture and reinforcing mesh, it is unlikely that you will completely get rid of cracks and gaps.

First, you must clean the window opening from the dust and debris during disassembly and remove the old insulation. Already after that, you can proceed to the direct installation of the new frame. As a rule, installing a new window will not require high labor costs. You will also just need to follow all the steps, and everything will work out.

They dismantled the old window not so long ago, which concerned only the Soviet carpentry. But with the advent of new, more advanced models, to change the already started and the window PVC.

Dismantling a wooden window

The window frame is not less than a quarter "sunk" in the opening. And if the outside can be a factory "quarter" of the reinforced concrete wall of a panel house, on the inside, it is hidden by the plaster slope. So the easiest way to remove the window is to cut the frame several times while partially (or completely) removing the inner lining.

First, by opening the sashes, remove them from the hinges. If the slope prevents this, you can remove or tear the hinges with a nailer, first loosening their mounts (old screws often can not be unscrewed).

Part of the frame with blind glazing (side or top) is freed from the glass. To do this, clean off the caulk and remove the glazing bars - first the lower, then the side, and lastly the upper.

A grinder or hand hacksaw makes two cuts as deep as possible on the right and left sides of the frame. The distance between them is 30-40 cm. Then a part of the inner slope is knocked down in this place, and both short pieces are broken out with a crowbar, nailer, or a crowbar. After that, you can pull out the remaining sidewalls and the top of the frame. Usually, old wooden windows were nailed to the concrete or brick wall with wooden embedded boards, so the structure fragments should not be pulled sideways and inwardly.

To remove the lower part:

Terminate the sill from the outside and dismantle the window sill from the inside.
Remove the window sill, removing the old mortar with a hammer and chisel (or a hammer), which is sealed in the opening.
Loosen the slab with a crowbar and pull it out.

The last part of the lower part of the frame is removed from the opening.

Dismantling a plastic window

As well as wooden windows, PVC windows are dismantled without glazing.

Hinged sashes are removed from the hinges by first removing the decorative covers:

Next, 1. Slide down the axis of the top hinge with a screwdriver from above.

Remove the axle from below with pliers, pulling its shank. 3.

3. Swing the sash open, holding the top of the hand.

4. 4. Lift it and remove it from the bottom hinge.

Remove the glass pane of the fixed part of the window. 1:

Insert a spatula or a thin flat screwdriver into the joint between the frame profile and the side glazing bead (approximately in the middle of its length). 2.

2 Carefully widen the gap and fix it with a plastic or wooden plate.

3. Sliding up and down the spatula, release the glazing bead from the castle connection in the profile, and remove it.

4. repeat the same procedure for the opposite side glazing bead.

5. Holding the glazing unit by hand, release the lower and upper glazing bead.

6. 6. Tilt the glass pane toward you and pull its side edges out of the profile plane at the top.

7. Grasp the glass pane from the side and remove it from the frame.

There are two ways to remove the plastic window frame from the opening.

The first method is the "power method." It can be used if the window is not subject to further use and the lining is made of plaster. Next, the frame is sawn in several places and removed from the opening, using the same techniques as a wooden window.

The second method allows you to keep the frame intact and install the window in a different location:

1. Removing the interior soffits:

1.1. The plaster is knocked down, freeing the installation joint and the points of attachment of the frame in the window opening.

1.2 Release the plastic panels from the external decorative trim and take off the side and then the top part of the lining one by one. 2.

2. Remove the sill by unscrewing the self-tapping screws.

3. Gently pull upward with tugs from the installation foam sill. 4.

Clean the installation seam and cut through the entire perimeter.

5. Unscrew or remove the anchors securing the frame mounting plates to the window opening.

6. Remove the frame from the opening.

Depending on whether the windows are old or modern, the work has some differences. The following instructions show in detail how to safely and efficiently dismantle old and new wooden, aluminum, and plastic windows.

Of course, each job requires suitable materials and tools.

This also applies to the dismantling of windows

List of Tools

Sabre saw
Concrete cutter (not necessary, but helpful)
Hammer
Scrap
Screwdriver
Pliers
Knife with detachable blades

Pay attention to safety when dismantling windows. Protect your eyes with assembly glasses from flying splinters and your hands with comfortable work gloves from fragments.

Preparatory Work

Before dismantling the window, cover the floor and furniture with protective film.

Before dismantling, measure the opening and compare it to the new windows.

If the dimensions are the same, you can safely begin dismantling.

The size of windows in old buildings is calculated differently than in new ones. Detailed instructions on how to correctly measure the windows can be found here.

2. Remove the window sash

The first step in window removal is removing the sash. There are several differences in the reduction of old-style or modern windows. The critical moment is what kind of sash you remove the swing with the old hinges or tilt-turn with modern fittings.

a) old-style wooden windows

Simply open the sash, lift it, and remove it from its hinges like a door. When removing, ensure you don't stain the wall with oil pins.

b) New style wood, plastic, and aluminum

If the sash is pivoting, simply open the belt, lift and remove it from the hinges as with the old windows.

Open the sash with a tilt and turn mechanism and place the handle in the tilt position.

Now lift the sash, so the pin comes out of the bottom hinge.

Take the so-called scissors, the metal bar that holds the sash tilted at the top of the window, and simply unhook it.

Removing the sash with a helper is convenient, especially if the scissors are high.

c) Sash removal from modern wood, aluminum, or plastic windows

Removing a sash from a current window - whether wood, aluminum, or plastic - is more straightforward than first-generation windows. All you need is pliers or a screwdriver.

Whether the tilt mechanism is installed, simply open the sash and pull the pin from the top hinge.

To do this, first, remove the plastic cover from the top hinge.

Once the top hinge is open, simply pull the pin down. Likewise, you can easily remove the window sash from the bottom hinge by lifting it.

3. Removing the window frame

The frame holds the sash and is rigidly built into the opening. A crowbar and a saber saw or a hand router is used here.

Before dismantling the window frame, cut the joint between the window and the soffits. If slats are present, tear them off.

To cut old frames, use a concrete router to avoid damaging the tool when it comes into contact with concrete or brick. If you don't have a concrete router, use a stable saw, but be careful when approaching the saw against the wall. Besides the danger of damaging the tool, you can injure yourself if it jams. Since the fasteners are mostly installed at the top and bottom of the window, it is sufficient to cut the left and right sides of the frame. If it later turns out that the fasteners are not limited to the top and bottom, make additional cuts.

Now the frame is sawn into several pieces so that you can safely remove it. It usually only takes six cuts to cut a window frame into several parts: two on the left, two on the right, one on the top, and one on the bottom. Make the cuts as V-shaped as possible so that the frame parts don't flatten out when you remove them.

Now put a crowbar or hammer under the window frame and push the individual parts away from the window opening. If you notice that the structure is still attached in one spot, cut the masonry again, or pull out this fastener with a strong push of the crowbar.

With a step-by-step guide, you can remove the window - a similar procedure is used when removing balcony doors - simply, safely, and efficiently.

Before installing a new metal or wooden window, you must dismantle the old one. This work does not require specific skills and tools and is designed more for strength than cleverness.

When removing the window, you will have a lot of dust and debris, so removing all curtains, drapes, carpet from the floor, and all furniture away from the experimental window is advisable. The floor surface should be covered; for this purpose, some old carpet or rags will do.

From the tools you will need

An electric jigsaw or a grinder with a wood wheel to see the window box.

After preparing all the necessary tools, you can get to work. First, you do not need to remove the glass from the old windows unless you will need them in the future. The old wooden window is usually removed together with the glass.

First, you need to remove the sashes. To do this, you must open them and try to remove them from their hinges. If the strap does not respond to the efforts of only one hand, then you must try to pull it off the hinges with a crowbar or hatchet. To do this, put the tool under the bottom of the sash and pull it sharply upwards.

If the hinges are too jammed or there is no possibility, or rather a place to bring the sash up, you can use a grinder to saw the hinges; it will be much faster and easier than trying to shake the unusable hinges.

After you are finished with the sashes, you can proceed to the dismantling of the box. Be prepared for the fact that during the work with the package can sprinkle plaster from the slopes, and sometimes the layers of the application are colossal, and the hill falls off entirely.

Also, you need to consider that sometimes houses were built so that the lintel wasn't put on the window opening, but the box was walled up, and the bricks were put right on top. This only applied to old, tiny private houses and outbuildings. So check whether there is this very lintel. If not, when you pull the box from the top, you may sprinkle bricks that were held directly on it. In this case, it would be better to cut into the wall, install reinforced concrete or metal lintel, and pull out the box.

To make it easier to remove the box, you need to saw in the middle of her side struts. You can do this with an electric jigsaw or angle grinder. If there is neither of those, then suit the usual wood hacksaw, but this process is slightly delayed.

After the side racks are sawn, you can try to use a crowbar or ax to pull out the box if it has not fallen on its own.

If you want to dismantle old windows, you need to enlist the help of professionals. A professional can easily disassemble old windows with step-by-step instructions, the right tools, and one helper.

Of course, each job requires suitable materials and tools.

This also applies to the dismantling of windows

Sabre saw
Concrete cutter (not necessary, but helpful)
Hammer
Scrap
Screwdriver
Pliers
Knife with detachable blades

Pay attention to safety when dismantling windows. Protect your eyes with assembly glasses from flying splinters and your hands with comfortable work gloves from fragments.

1. Preparatory Work

Before dismantling the window, cover the floor and furniture with protective film.

Before dismantling, measure the opening and compare it to the new windows.

If the dimensions are the same, you can safely begin dismantling. (Fig. 1)

The size of windows in old buildings is calculated differently than in new buildings. Detailed instructions for correctly measuring the windows can be found here.

2. Remove the window sash

a) old-style wooden windows

Simply open the sash, lift it, and remove it from its hinges like a door. When removing it, don't stain the wall with oil pins.

To begin the installation, you must prepare or do the removal instead. For example, if the windows are replaced in houses built back in Soviet times, you first need to dismantle the old wooden window frames. In this article, we will tell you how to do it correctly.

Removing the old wooden frame is necessary for the new window to take its place in the opening. This work will not require special knowledge because you need more physical strength than skill here.

Remember that a lot of dust is generated in the process of dismantling. Therefore, it is advisable to remove curtains in advance, as well as roll up carpets and carpeting. The floor area near the window is better to protect any rags, as splinters of the slopes will undoubtedly crumble.

Tools.

Prepare the following tools:

- An ax or crowbar;

- A wood hacksaw or electric jigsaw;

- A chisel and hammer.

Instructions

1. The work begins with the removal of the sashes. There is no need to remove the glass from them to save time. They are removed only if they are needed in the future.

2. To remove the sashes, you will need to open the frame and try to lift them. If they will not come off, use a crowbar or ax. The tool is placed under the bottom of the window element, and then you should push it down.

3. This is often enough to cope with the task. But sometimes, it is easier to see the metal hinges with a bolt cutter than to apply too much physical effort.

4. After removing the sashes, proceed to dismantle the box. When removing it, the plaster slopes are partially destroyed. Therefore, you may have to hammer and chisel some areas additionally. Quite large pieces sometimes fall on the window sill and the floor. Be prepared for this.

5. In older houses, window lintels are not always present. This is because the wooden frame was installed and bricked up during construction. In addition, removing the box is more challenging without a lintel, as the upper part can partially crumble. To avoid such trouble, you can beforehand mount concrete or metal lintel in the opening.

6. The box itself is easiest to remove in parts. To do this, its side posts are sawed with a hacksaw. An electric jigsaw will also work. Use it carefully so that the saw does not come into contact with the brick and hardened cement; otherwise, it will quickly blunt.

7. When the posts are sawn, they are broken out with a crowbar or ax. Then the remaining box pieces at the top and bottom are removed. Thus, the window opening becomes free. Now you need to do a little cleaning and proceed to the installation of a new plastic window.

Dismantle the windows with your own hands

The construction market is full of offers from manufacturers of metal-plastic windows, and every year the quality of frames, glass units, and fittings is improving. In addition, independent window dismantling allows you to save money on installation.

A significant renovation or cosmetic repair often involves replacing old windows with new ones. As a rule, sellers provide a service for removing old structures, but it must be paid for. Therefore, if you want the new windows to cost you a minimum price, carry out the dismantling yourself. In our article, you will learn how to do it properly and what tools you need.

Tools:

A nailer or crowbar (for dismantling the window frame and removing the sashes from the hinges);

A hacksaw, jigsaw, or angle grinder (for sawing the frame);

Chisel, ax, hammer (for undermining in hard-to-reach areas);

Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver;

Trowel and pliers.

Dismantling Work.

Regardless of what kind of new window you will put (wooden or metal-plastic), you will need to free the window opening. Qualitative dismantling is the key to the safe and proper placement of the new structure. This requires the cleaning of the slopes. This procedure entails a lot of dust and debris. Therefore, be sure to cover furniture and the floor with thick film and buy trash bags of large volumes.

Dismantling a wooden window

Wooden construction is in direct contact with the wall, so prepare for dust.

Stages of work:

First, remove the opening elements (window sashes and sash windows). If the hinges are in good condition, it will not be difficult. When the design is not amenable to removal, use a crowbar. In the extreme case, the hinges can be cut with a bolt cutter.

If you need glass, you can remove it only when the frame is removed from the window box.

After removing all the opening elements, proceed to remove the box. I saw the bottom beam in half with a bolt or hacksaw to do this.

Then, in the same way, remove the sides of the box, and the upper beam is demolished in the last place.