REPLACEMENT OR RETROFIT STYLE FRAME? WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU? Written by John Rocco
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larger in width and height than old window frame. Another option is to install retrofit fin on top of wood trim. You can do this as long as depth from face of wood trim to point in house of innermost portion of old aluminum frame is less than 3 inches deep. The reason is because a good quality retrofit window will have a 3 inch frame depth from back of flush fin to innermost part of frame. That innermost part needs to be further into house than innermost part of aluminum frame so that aluminum frame will be hidden after we apply inside trim. What if you have brick around window openings? Or siding? Then what? Well, if you can install window against face of brick or siding and still have innermost part of vinyl frame be further into home than old frame, then you can use retrofit style frame. If not, then you have to use replacement style frame,then use trim to finish outside.The main point to remember when determining whether or not to use a retrofit frame or a standard replacement frame is that in order to use retrofit frame there needs to be less than 3 inches from outside point where flush fin will rest to inside point in room where old frame ends. If it's less than 3 inches, go with retro, more than 3 inches, use replacement frame and add trim to outside in lieu of flush fin. Next week i am going to explain process of removing old aluminum window. John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows
John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit http://www.how-to-install-windows.com
| | REMOVING OLD ALUMINUM WINDOWS Written by John Rocco
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Now, let's go back to vertical center bar and assume you didn't find any screws to remove it. That means fixed piece of glass doesn't have a frame around it. It's glazed in with either silicone, caulk, or double foam tape. You have to take out glass, then cut center bar out using a reciprocating saw. Usually, there will be "stops" on outside to help keep fixed piece of glass in place. There will be 4 of them, one on top, bottom, and each side. You should be able to just pry them out with a screw driver. Then, you can go inside and cut away adhesive holding glass in frame. Use a utility knife and cut between glass and frame. Wear gloves, and be careful not to put your hand through glass. Put a sheet or tarp outside and let glass fall into it. You could also have a helper stand on a ladder above glass and try grabbing top edge as you cut it away from frame. Have your helper also wear gloves. The reason for ladder is that you want to be above glass in case it has a little crack that you can't see. As soon as you grab glass, crack will run across to opposite edge, and suddenly you will find yourself trying to hold multiple pieces of glass at same time. Being on ladder, if glass "runs", you let go. After glass is out, cut bottom portion of center bar flush with bottom track. Then, you can wiggle bar back and forth to break top screw free. You can apply this removal process to picture windows that have no sliding panel. Just treat it like you did fixed portion, without having to remove a center bar. Next week we will talk about installation differences between a vinyl replacement frame and a vinyl retrofit frame. John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit http://www.how-to-install-windows.com
John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit http://www.how-to-install-windows.com
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