8/6/2023 0 Comments Window putty repair![]() JL: There are three types of glazing compound, and each has its place in good window work. OHJ: What type of glazing putty do you recommend? I prefer a 4″ beveled sash brush for painting after the window is repaired, and a HEPA hip-pack vacuum for spot scraping and cleanup. I rely on a very stiff 1.5″ putty knife to tool putty, and a soft, thick paintbrush to dust off the glass with dry powder whiting. I use a combo of two 3″ stiff putty knifes and a thin pry bar to wedge out stops, beads and sash. A specialized tool called the Window Zipper also is great for loosening painted joints. JL: To release painted-shut sashes, I use a portable steamer and pull-type scraper. OHJ: What are some of your favorite tools to use when restoring windows? Savo Hall, a historic structure on the prairies of South Dakota, is a perfect candidate for a window restoration workshop. After the project is finished, fold up and dispose of the poly sheeting, and remove any remaining debris with a HEPA vacuum, followed by a damp rag and mild detergent. Also protect the building by covering floors with 6-mil poly sheeting taped to the baseboards. Use blue painter’s tape to seal the edges of doors and windows to prevent lead-containing dust from spreading outside the work area. Set up a wash-station at the exit of the work area so you can wash your hands and face before leaving work area. Have a spray bottle filled with water and roll of paper towels on hand for damp-spot-cleanup of lead-containing dust during work. Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect eyes from flying debris, and wear a hardhats and a respirator to keep dust out of your body. Protect occupants and visitors by hanging simple signs with big letters and red “keep out” safety tape to discourage people and pets from entering work areas. Working in high places presents the danger of falling. Dry-heat paint and putty removal methods can start building fires. Chemical fumes from paint and epoxy also can lead to health problems. Lead-containing paint and putty release lead particles that can get into the human body and cause serious health problems. OHJ: What kind of safety precautions should you take on a window-rehab project? Often I can repair one completely rotted out sash joint, replace a fourth of the putty, and paint a sash for less than the cost of a replacement sash. If you are just starting out with repairing your own windows, repair or refurbish at least ten sash to learn how and get up to speed before you decide a sash is too damaged to rehab. A do-it-yourselfer does not have to pay for labor. A professional window specialist keeps track of time and materials costs and will accurately estimate the rehab costs. The cost of repair/rehab varies greatly with the experience and labor cost of the worker. Will it cost less to repair and rehabilitate a sash, or to replace it with one of equal quality? The hidden trick is that most replacement sash on the market won’t be as good quality as the old sash, and replacements that do match the quality are very costly. It usually boils down to an economic decision. John Leeke: I’ve repaired hundreds of sashes and assessed the condition of more than a thousand, and never seen a sash that could not be repaired. OHJ: How can you tell when window sash is too damaged to be rehabbed? In between repairing the windows on his own 1899 Victorian in Maine (“My wife is going to shoot me if I don’t get that window in the back bedroom fixed before the first warm breezes of summer,” he says), he shared with us some of the lessons he’s learned over the years. Preservationist John Leeke re-glazes an old sash.Īs a preservationist for nearly five decades (and an OHJ contributor for 26 years!), John Leeke has encountered more than his share of old windows.
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