Windows that may be Painted Shut

Buying a home only to find out that the windows are painted shut is really frustrating.  Equally frustrating is remodeling and painting them shut yourself.  There are a few remodeling tips for getting that window working correctly again.

There are a couple things not to do when trying to get a window unstuck.  Don’t pound on the window or push and pull on the frame too hard.  You could knock the frame out of square, which will only compound the problem.  you could also end up damaging the glass itself, leading to yet another remodeling project.

For slider windows, look at the runners, usually made from aluminum, that the window should be sliding onto.  If there is paint on those, remove it by scraping.  Then take a utility knife and carefully cut the paint at the seems where the window is painted shut.  Be very careful when remodeling projects call for using a utility knife.  They are extremely sharp.  Never cut in the direction of any part of your body.  You may then need to use a putty knife at those seems to further pry the window from the frame.

Of course, the cure is really prevention.  if remodeling calls for painting an old window, open the window slightly and paint the areas that are not touching the frame, then just before the paint dries, close the window and paint the rest.  Be careful to not apply the paint too thickly and don’t paint the runners.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/9190235@N08/575571074/)