As we all know, window replacement is a big investment. In addition, sometimes it is quite difficult to part with wooden windows in connection with nostalgic memories
If the wood in your windows is in good condition, there are no cracks, large chips, cyanosis, then you can try to restore their former shine and give the windows a second youth.
Old wooden windows are a source of big problems: they don’t fit tightly, they look “terrible” due to repeated repainting, etc. Replacing them with metal-plastic double-glazed windows can be a quick and easy solution to problems, but they will not give the warmth and attractiveness of wood. Let’s look at this problem from the other side. All worn fittings can be repaired, restored or replaced with a new one. As a sealant, use not old rubber, but modern silicone, which are not exposed to weathering, resistant to various cleaners and detergents. In addition, modern seals simply and easily fit on any, even not quite flat, surface.
The decisive factor in favor of the restoration of windows can be the quality and condition of the wood. It often happens that a nondescript-looking window, after cleaning from paint, noticeably changes, becomes so beautiful and spectacular that it is a reasonable decision to cover it with a transparent varnish, thereby emphasizing the natural beauty of the tree. Of course, you can also paint the windows using modern acrylic paints that do not have a pungent odor, are easy to use, fit perfectly on a wooden surface, the painted surface is easy to clean. In addition, there are also paints that can emphasize the texture of the tree. At present, the lubricant that was previously used to fill the space between frames and glass has already been forgotten.
Instead, it was replaced by modern, sunlight and weather resistant acrylic (acrylic sealant). Not only does it fit perfectly and fills all existing voids well, but it can also be painted to match the color of the frame, which makes it almost invisible. If you have decided to restore windows, then a few of our tips and recommendations will help you complete the entire range of work quickly and efficiently.
For the restoration work, we need the following tools: a construction electric hair dryer, an angle grinder (“grinder”), an eccentric grinder, a scraper, sandpaper, a hammer, tongs, a screwdriver, a chisel, a punch, a plastic spatula, an applicator gun for cartridges (for sealant).
Restoration of doors and frames. Before you start cleaning windows and frames from paint, we recommend covering household items with plastic wrap to protect them from dust.
To clean frames from old paint, an electric building hair dryer (thermal gun) with a special focusing nozzle is best suited. We recommend removing window sashes for the period of restoration work and placing them on a flat and immovable surface (table, trestle). This will be especially convenient when using a power tool.
We recommend removing the old layer of paint with an angle grinder (“grinder”), during the cleaning process, constantly reduce the grain size of the sanding paper (starting from 16 and ending with 50 microns). When working on the surface of the grinder, hold it slightly at an angle, moving in a smooth motion from top to bottom and pressing on the front of the sanding disc. Cleaned wood is best processed with an eccentric sander, without pressing it very hard and performing circular movements on the surface to be treated. At the beginning of processing, use sandpaper with a grit of 60 microns, and when all the main irregularities are smoothed out – with a grit of 80 microns. All hard-to-reach places (droppers, corners, hinges) are recommended to be cleaned with an electric building hair dryer and a small scraper. Be especially careful when cleaning with a thermal gun in the immediate vicinity of the glass, as they may crack from heat. Minor unevenness and damage to the wood can be corrected using wood putty for natural wood. This putty has a large number of shades, which allows you to choose the one you need for this type of wood. Putty should be applied with a special plastic spatula. After the putty has completely set and dried (about 30 minutes), we proceed to a thorough surface treatment. First, we use an eccentric sander for these purposes, and then manually using 80 grit sandpaper (wrapped around a wooden block) or pumice stone. Pay special attention to the condition of the droppers that protect the windows from precipitation. If they are damaged, they must be replaced, otherwise all your work will be in vain.
Replenishment of putty between glass and frame.
Fragments of crumbled putty are carefully removed with a chisel so as not to damage the glass. We clean the joint between the frame and glass with a brush. Next, carefully glue the masking tape onto the glass and frame, while leaving a gap of about 2 mm for filling with sealant. We apply sanitary acrylic sealant to the joint between the frame and glass. For these purposes, you should not use a silicone-based sealant, as it does not accept paint and slides on the glass. Currently, acrylic sealant is available in a wide variety of colors. If you did not find the required color, then it is best to choose white and cover it with paint when painting the frame. The sealant must be applied not to the very corner, leaving about 2-3 cm. Then, with a finger dipped in soapy water, it is necessary to evenly smooth the sealant over the entire surface of the seam, filling all the cracks. After that, without waiting for the sealant to dry, with a sharp movement, tear off the masking tape from the glass and frame. When the sealant dries carefully, this procedure cannot be done. On the sashes, we fill the vertical and then the horizontal joints with sealant. The main thing is that the sealant in the corner has time to dry before a new perpendicular layer is applied.
Elimination of large defects in wood.
Large and serious defects can be eliminated with the help of “patches”. First, problem areas are cleaned of damage, for example, rotten wood, and the damage site is given a regular rectangular shape. From healthy wood, preferably a similar structure, we cut out a “patch”, lubricate it and the damaged area with glue. We place the “patch” in the prepared hole and press it. We carefully remove the excess glue that has come out and fill all the gaps around the perimeter of the “patches” with putty for wood. After the glue and putty have completely dried, we grind this area with an eccentric sander.
Loop replacement.
Old broken or rusty hinges must be replaced with new ones. Carefully use a punch and a hammer to knock out the old nails. Then, with special care, so as not to damage the wood, we pull out the loops with tongs, while, if necessary, you can carefully tap with a hammer so that the glass does not burst. We carefully insert a new loop into the slot, tapping it through a wooden lining so as not to damage its surface, we drive it in until it stops. We screw wood screws into the existing holes from the nails to fasten the hinge. It is necessary to screw in the screws so that their hats are slightly drowned. We putty the places for fastening the screws and grind them after complete drying. In the same way, we replace the second part of the hinge located in the window frame. The screws that secure the hinge in the frame must be screwed in not to the very end, but so that the hinge holds. All elements on the window and frame must be treated with WD-40, automotive or machine lubricant so that they do not creak or rust.
Hanging window sashes and final painting.
The wooden frame must be painted at least twice. After the first coat of paint, it is recommended to slightly sand the surface to eliminate minor defects that have appeared. After painting and complete drying, we hang the sashes on the painted frame. When adjusting the position of the flaps, it is necessary to check how well they close. After that, we completely screw in the screws that fasten the hinges in the window frames. We paint or varnish window sashes. Hung sashes dry much faster and at the same time no traces will be visible on the paint or varnish.
We hope that our advice on the restoration of wooden windows will help you to restore them quickly, efficiently and without any problems. They will delight you for a long time with their excellent aesthetic appearance and good performance.