• April 30, 2021

Steel Casement Window Replacement

I have received quite a few emails from homeowners wanting to know how to replace their old steel casement windows. Those are the kind with the crank that opens and the window opens outward. My instructional video did not cover these windows, so I am going to dedicate two articles to this topic. This first article will cover the removal procedure and measurement of your vinyl windows. Next week I’ll go over the installation procedure.

The first thing to do is order your vinyl replacement windows. You cannot remove the old windows until you have the new ones. So, let’s start with a single casement window, with no fixed panels. Open the window from the inside and you will see a metal trim approximately 1/2 “wide extending from your drywall on all four sides. This part of the frame stays in place, so the new window will fit inside. those lips. So to get your width dimension, measure left to right from lip to lip, then subtract 1/4 “to go in. Do the same with the height. Let’s say it measures 35 3/8 “in width and 38 3/8” in height from edge to edge. I would request your new 35 1/8 “X 38 1/8” window. If you live in the west where upgrade frames are available, you want to order upgrade style frame. In parts of the country where only replacement style frames are available, you will need to add trim to the exterior after the window has been installed.

Once your windows arrive, it’s time to remove the old window. Single windows without fixed panels are the easiest to remove. When you open the window, you will notice two pivot sets. There is one above and one below. Cut the piece of metal where the pivot pin is attached. Thus, the entire window frame and glass are removed. Now, remove the crank assembly by removing the screws that hold it in place inside the house. The last step is to remove the protruding metal studs that you cut into the pivot to remove the window. The easiest way to do this is to hold a pair of channel locking pliers or jaws as close to the frame as possible, then raise and lower the jaws to break the metal. That’s.

If you have a combination of casement frames and fixed panels, remove the frames as I described. Next, you need to remove the fixed glass. I used to put duct tape all over the outside of the glass. Next, I used one of those $ 2 glass cutters you can buy at the hardware store. Put a drop of household oil on the tip of the cutter before each cut. From the inside, mark the glass along the top of the glass, the bottom, and along each side. Then, with the tip of a screwdriver, tap the groove around the glass. Place an old tarp or sheet outside the window, take the end of a hammer handle, and tap the glass into the slot. It will have a vertical metal bar in the center where the casement window was blocked. Using a reciprocating saw or hacksaw, cut the bar where it meets the frame coming from the drywall. There will be pieces of glass sticking out past the metal lips. You must remove them so that they do not get in the way when installing the new window. You can leave the glazing putty in place as it will be hidden after the new window is installed. PLEASE WEAR GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES DURING THIS COMPLETE REMOVAL PROCEDURE !!

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

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