I WANT TO REPLACE ALUMINUM FRAME WINDOWS IN A HOUSE CONSTRUCTED OF CONCRETE BLOCK. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEDE. I AM COMFORTABLE WITH WOOD CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS NEW TO ME. THANKS
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I've done a few on these. One thing to watch/analyze is how is the old window going to come out. If there is a metal frame then more the likely the frame has a tongue which is buried in the concrete. Therefore, you either have to break the concrete to get it out or cut as much as the window out and build a wood frame around the perimeter of the left over metal window. Be prepare to do mortaring and caulking and other things. I think you'll be able to take it from here.
Edited 3/17/2005 12:50 am ET by handygman
You'll most likely find that the windows are flanged rather than finned, with the outer portion of the frame about a half inch larger than the inner. This flange is normally placed up against a wood buck that is either let into channels cast in the block or cut nailed to the block if the channels are not there. Then the sides and head would be screwed into the bucks with a bead of caulk finishing the job from the outside and the plaster or rock returned to the inside of the frame.
The sill has its own aluminum tab(s) set into or under the finished stool, usually tile in the older houses. If you have a tiled stool you must take care or you will pop up the tiles as you attempt to pull out the old window. Many block houses have a brick soldier row as the outside sill and the tab(s) can also be locked into the mortar behind. With a precast sill there are usually no lower tabs.
Remove the glass, use the sawzall to cut into the alum extrusion as far as you can without cutting the drywall, use a prybar with a wood backer block to remove the alum. I have done 100+ and this works.
To get the old windows out, pull the glass out and then collapse the frames . Larger aluminum frames can be collapsed with a come along. I do this whenever the fins have been buried in stucco or aluminum siding etc.