Whether you’re enhancing the look of your home, saving on energy, or fixing a draft, installing a replacement window requires skill, experience, and the proper tools. Luckily, we’ve made it easy with our guide on how to install a replacement window like a pro.
Materials Needed
Before replacing windows yourself, make sure you have the necessary tools for a standard window installation project:
- Safety glasses
- Flat bar
- Power drill
- Screwdriver
- Shims
- Hammer
- Tape Measure
- Caulk gun
- Trim nails
- Nail set
- Utility knife
1. Measure for a Replacement Window
Get the measurements of your current window frame to buy a replacement window with the right dimensions. Measure the inside width of the frame across the top, middle, and bottom. Then measure the frame’s height from the top of the sill to the bottom of the head jamb at the left, the middle, and the right. Next, measure the diagonals from corner to corner and the slope of the sill.
2. Take Out the Sashes
Remove the window stops and surrounding trim with a flat bar and screwdriver or power drill. Slice any paint that sticks the window stops and frame together with a utility knife. Carefully set the stops aside if you plan to reinstall them. Lift the lower window sash out of the frame. Use the pry bar to remove the parting beads holding the upper sash in place. Then, carefully tilt the upper sash and take it out of the window frame. Remove any jamb liners with the flat bar to pry them free and remove any remaining stops from the frame.
3. Clean and Prep the Frame
Scrape off loose paint from the frame and fill any cracks or holes with an exterior-grade wood filler. Wait for the wood filler to dry before sanding away splintered wood from the frame. Prime and paint the surfaces to match the sill and wait for the paint to dry before installing the replacement window.
4. Install the New Window
Prepare the frame for the new window by applying caulk to the frame’s inner edge and two thick beads of caulk to the window sill, about an inch apart. Lift the replacement window into the frame, carefully setting the bottom of the replacement first then tipping it up into place. Hold the window in place by inserting a 2-inch screw through both side jambs near the top of the upper sash. Then slip a shim into any edges that need adjusting and test the window out to make sure it works smoothly. Screw the window in place.
5. Seal with Caulk and Paint
Fill any small gaps around the outside of the window with caulk. Reinstall the window stops or add new ones. Then finish up with a coat of paint or stain to the window sash and frame to match the look of your home.
Ready to start your next home improvement project? ABC Windows offers the best quality replacement windows in Ohio. Contact us today for an in-home consultation!
