Hot take: I thought fixing a stuck window would be a quick job

My bedroom window was painted shut, so I figured I'd just pry it open in maybe 20 minutes. I spent over two hours trying different tools and methods, from a putty knife to a rubber mallet. The real issue was old glazing putty that had hardened like cement in the track. I finally got it free after carefully scoring the paint line with a utility knife and using a flat bar with a wood block. Has anyone else found a better way to deal with windows sealed shut by old paint?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa83921d ago

Oh man, that sounds familiar. I had the same fight with my kitchen window last spring. The utility knife trick is key for breaking that paint seal. What finally did it for me was a heat gun on low, just warming the old paint and putty along the seam for a minute before using a stiff putty knife. It softened things up just enough to get some movement without cracking the wood. Still took way longer than I thought it would.

charlie_fisher4521d ago

Yeah, @lisa839, the heat gun move is a total game changer. I used to just go at old windows with a pry bar and a lot of anger, which usually ended with a splintered sill. Warming up that old crusty paint and glazing putty first makes all the difference. It just gets gummy instead of snapping. Still a slow, careful job, but way less chance of wrecking the frame.