Home Page link

How to repair water rotted windows

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
How to repair water rotted windows bhumke 12-04-2006
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by on December 4, 2006, 8:23 am


I'm new to this group, so I apologize in advance if there is a post
already done on this ( I couldn't find it).

My husband is not able to help with this project due to a disability,
but my house windows on the back side & some on the front side at the
bottom corners, I noticed, have turned brown and black and some have
holes in it.

When I poke my fingers in it, the wood is hollow. I suppose it's water
damage which has rotted out the inside of the outside window sill.

I would like to replace them and want to do it myself to save money;
however, I cannot find any step by step instructions showing me how to
do this. Also I'd like to ensure that the windows were properly
installed to begin with, such as a flashing etc.

Can anyone offer any assistance.

Thank you,
Billie Goodman
bhumke@yahoo.com


Posted by David Martel on December 4, 2006, 8:54 am


Billie,

Your local library will have some books on home improvement and
carpentry. You'll need the right tools and a helper.

Dave M.



Posted by Lawrence on December 4, 2006, 10:51 am



bhumke@yahoo.com wrote:,
> but my house windows on the back side & some on the front side at the
> bottom corners, I noticed, have turned brown and black and some have
> holes in it.
>
> When I poke my fingers in it, the wood is hollow. I suppose it's water
> damage which has rotted out the inside of the outside window sill.
>
> I would like to replace them and want to do it myself to save money;
> however, I cannot find any step by step instructions showing me how to
> do this. Also I'd like to ensure that the windows were properly
> installed to begin with, such as a flashing etc.
>
Replacing windows is not difficult but requires a bit of knowledge
and/or exerience. I agree that a good book will have detailed
instructions. For now, use a prybar and take off the trim on the
inside. This will allow you to measure the size of the old window and
opening. You will want to buy or order you windows as soon as you are
sure they are to be replaced. You could go ahead and purchase the
window right away so that they will be in hand when you are ready to
remove the windows.

That said, windows are usually installed from the outside and are
therefore removed from the outside since most windows have a flange
that extends over the edge of the opening and possibly underneath the
siding. You have to use proper flashing to insure that your new
windows won't have the same prob a the old. Used to be aluminum was
used but now this sticky backed "water and ice shield" seems to be
preferred. The other thing is that you have to make sure that the
windows are plumb and level which is done with a level and wooden shims.


Posted by BobK207 on December 4, 2006, 11:26 am



bhumke@yahoo.com wrote:
> I'm new to this group, so I apologize in advance if there is a post
> already done on this ( I couldn't find it).
>
> My husband is not able to help with this project due to a disability,
> but my house windows on the back side & some on the front side at the
> bottom corners, I noticed, have turned brown and black and some have
> holes in it.
>
> When I poke my fingers in it, the wood is hollow. I suppose it's water
> damage which has rotted out the inside of the outside window sill.
>
> I would like to replace them and want to do it myself to save money;
> however, I cannot find any step by step instructions showing me how to
> do this. Also I'd like to ensure that the windows were properly
> installed to begin with, such as a flashing etc.
>
> Can anyone offer any assistance.
>
> Thank you,
> Billie Goodman
> bhumke@yahoo.com


Billie-

This is the product that I have used in the past with great success

http://abatron.com/cgi-bin/shop/index.cgi?cart_id=7082725.27139&pid=146

I just repaired about 30 window sashes & sills...only a few badly
rotted I used a quart kit.

A quart kit will replace about 50 cubic inches of rotted wood; 5" x 20"
x 1/2" thick

also checkout

http://www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/education/seminars.htm

a little way down the page on the right hand side is a click thru slide
show of a window repair

John's website has a wealth of information

http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/product.html


An epoxy system is the way to go but you've got to be somewhat handy &
organized. If you've got lots of rot (great volumes) ; wood
replacement is prorbably faster & cheaper.

I restored the rotted corners of a single lower sash without removing
the glass...I worked around it. If I had had l many windows I would
have just remade the parts in new wood & replaced them but with epoxy I
was able to do one faster than setting up & making the single part.


Bondo doesn't hold up very well....I did Bondo & it failed in a about a
year, I've used epoxy 20 years ago & it's still good.

I did a search on the group that might help you

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.home.repair/search?hl=en&group=alt.home.repair&q=rot+window+repair&qt_g=1&searchnow=Search+this+group


cheers
Bob


Similar ThreadsPosted
Rotted wood repair/prevention - multi part problem November 4, 2005, 10:36 am
Repair or Replace Corroded Windows? December 19, 2006, 12:54 pm
Re: Do I need to repair some rot in the sill when getting replacement windows? March 25, 2007, 11:41 pm
Re: Do I need to repair some rot in the sill when getting replacement windows? March 27, 2007, 12:51 am
Re: Help-- Rim joist rotted! June 22, 2005, 10:55 am
Re: Help-- Rim joist rotted! June 22, 2005, 12:10 pm
Re: Help-- Rim joist rotted! June 22, 2005, 1:07 pm
Re: Help-- Rim joist rotted! June 22, 2005, 3:00 pm
rotted sill...how to replace? April 12, 2007, 1:50 pm
casement windows leaking water April 24, 2005, 7:13 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap