Home Improvement Information

Replacing Steel Casement Windows


I have been getting quite a few emails from homeowners wanting to know how to replace their old steel casement windows. Those are the type with the handle that you crank and the window opens outward. My instructional video didn't cover these windows, so I am going to dedicate two articles to this subject. This first article will cover the removal procedure and measuring for your vinyl windows. Next week I will go over the installation procedure.

The first thing you need to do is order your vinyl replacement windows. You can't remove the old windows until you have the new windows. So, let's start with a single casement window, no fixed panels. Crank the window open from inside and you will see a metal lip approximately 1/2" wide extending from your drywall on all four sides. This part of the frame stays in place, so the new window is going to fit inside those lips. So, to get your width dimension, measure left to right from lip to lip, then subtract 1/4" to get in. Do the same for the height. Let's say you measure 35 3/8" width and 38 3/8" on the height lip to lip. You would order your new window 35 1/8" X 38 1/8". If you live out west, where retrofit frames are available, you want to order the retrofit style frame. In parts of the country where only replacement style frames are available, you will have to add trim to the outside after you have installed the window.

After your windows arrive, it's time to remove the old window. Single casements with no fixed panels are the easiest of the casements to remove. When you crank the window open, you will notice two pivot assemblies. There is one on top and one on bottom. Cut off the metal piece where the pivot pin is attached. Just like that, the entire window frame and glass are removed. Now, remove the crank assembly by removing the screws holding it in place inside the house. The last step is to remove the protruding metal studs that you cut at the pivot to remove the window. The easiest way to do it is to clamp a pair of channel lock pliers or vice grips as close to the frame as possible, then raise and lower the vice grips to break the metal off. That's it.

If you have a combination of casement and fixed panels, you remove the casements as I described. Then, you have to remove the fixed glass. I used to put duct tape all over the outside of the glass. Then, I used one of those 2 dollar glass cutters that you can buy at the hardware store. Put a drop of household oil on the cutter tip before each cut. From inside, score the glass accross the very top of the glass, the very bottom, and along each side. Then, using the tip of a screwdriver, tap the score all the way around the glass. Put a tarp or old sheet down outside the window, take the handle end of a hammer, and knock out the glass at the score. You will have a vertical metal bar in the center where the casement window locked. Using a reciprocating saw or a hacksaw, cut the bar where it meets the frame coming from the drywall. There will be bits of glass protruding beyond the metal lips. You need to knock those out, so they aren't in the way when installing the new window. You can leave the glazing putty in place, since it will be hidden after you have installed the new window. PLEASE WEAR GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES DURING THIS ENTIRE REMOVAL PROCEDURE!!

Next week I am going to explain the two types of installation procedures, whether you install retrofit or replacement style frames.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978.

To learn more, visit How To Install Windows


MORE RESOURCES:

Home improvement stores burglarized
Aurora Beacon News, IL - 14 hours ago
BY BEACON NEWS STAFF Aurora police are investigating a rash of burglaries from vehicles parked at two far west side home improvement stores. ...


Home Improvement Kid Gets Tasered. No, Not that One, the Other...
Dose.ca, Canada - 21 hours ago
Ever wonder what happened to Home Improvement also-ran kid Zachery Ty Bryan? Okay, probably not but if we told you he got tasered at a San Diego hotel, ...


Former Child Star Zachery Ty Bryan Sues Hotel For Assault
AHN - Jul 8, 2008
The former "Home Improvement" star has filed a lawsuit against Choice Hotels International over an April incident. According to TMZ, he was staying at the ...


Home Improvement Zachery Ty Bryan Photo, Lawsuit: Don't Tase Me, Bro!
Post Chronicle - 20 hours ago
by Tashi Singh Child star Zachery Ty Bryan, better known as Brad Taylor for his big brother role on 'Home Improvement', has been shocked with...a taser! ...


"Home Improvement" Kid: Don't Tase Me, Bro!
TMZ.com, CA - Jul 7, 2008
Zachery Ty Bryan, who played Brad Taylor on "Home Improvement" -- is suing Choice Hotels International over an incident at one of their hotels back in April ...


Best Syndication

Cheap Home Improvement Loan: Low Rate Finance To Enhance Your Home ...
Best Syndication, CA - Jul 7, 2008
Even if you do not have any, you can source the money by opting for Cheap Home Improvement Loan. This loan offers you the required monetary assistance which ...


HOME IMPROVEMENT - HOME IMPROVEMENT STAR SUES HOTEL BOSSES OVER ...
Contactmusic.com, UK - Jul 7, 2008
HOME IMPROVEMENT star ZACHERY TY BRYAN is suing a leading hotel chain after he was tasered by an off-duty manager. In court documents, the former child star ...


E! Online

Rise 'n' Shine: Steve Carell Won't Let You Hit Anne Hathaway While ...
E! Online - 17 hours ago
The least cute brother from Home Improvement (Zachery Ty Bryan) is $25000 mad that a hotel tasered him. • It's possible Samantha Ronson bought Lindsay a ...


EASY CAULKING
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 19 hours ago
Available at Lowe's Home Improvement stores, Ace Hardware, True Value and Do It Best, caulk singles come in white paintable acrylic or white or clear ...


Retailers Recalibrate Pitch To Strapped Consumers
Wall Street Journal - 9 hours ago
Some, like home-improvement giant Home Depot Inc., are sprucing up their stores and investing more in customer service. Others, like discounter Wal-Mart ...

Home-Improvement - Google News

home | site map
© 2006