I don’t play with windows a whole lot, but I have a client with a few that are just darn near impossible to raise the lower sash, so I told her I’d play around with them a little bit.
They are older wooden double hungs, factory vinyl jamb liners. She claims they are Anderson’s, but I don’t see any identifying marks or etchings in the glass.
My first step is I want to get the lower sash out and strip the paint off the edges and the jamb liner to see if that isn’t most if not all her problem. On windows with jamb liners I have seen you push the jamb liners in to release the top of the sash. These will not budge. They don’t appear to be glued in with paint. Is there another method for removing the sash on some models?
Shawn
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Checker Contracting – SE Michigan
Replies
On older Andersens, you'll see that one side (left, IIRC) of the jamb liner is in two pieces, a top and a bottom. Push both sashes all the way up. You need to remove the screws holding the bottom 1/2 in place, and pull that piece of jamb liner down and out.
Once that's done, slide the lower sash all the way down, and carefully remove the sash balance cords from the sash. There's a fair amount of tension on the cord, so don't let it get away from you, or it could break and rewind into the balance mechanism.
Repeat for the upper sash.
Once you have the sashes out, you can clean the liners of any built up paint and dirt, then give them a light coat of silicone or similar lubricant spray.
Clean the edges of the sashes, and re-install them.
If they are Andersens, there will be a small triangle etched in one corner of the sash with the Andersen "A" logo. If that's not there, they're probably not Andersens.
If they are old Andersens that jamb liner is gonna blow up into pieces.
Get a new one before proceeding... actually I'd replace all 3.
I've had pretty good luck over the years easing the old jamb liners out. I think I've only cracked one out of I-don't-know how many.
But it would definitely be faster to replace them, than clean old paint build up off.
Good for you. I do easily 500/year, I carry liners for both primed narrowline and 200 series in my truck in all sizes...for 10 bucks it ain't worth the risk.
Edited 7/20/2008 8:55 pm ET by sledgehammer
Edited 7/20/2008 8:56 pm ET by sledgehammer
I don't do anywhere near that volume of window repair.
But I basically agree with you. Its just I usually get asked to check out a window while I'm at a customer's house doing something else. So I don't have jamb liners with me, and try to be careful removing the old ones so I don't end up making several trips.
Yea, there were no etchings on any of the glass at all. So apparently they are not Andersens. Not that I would know the difference anyway ...If we go on the assumption that they are NOT Andersen ... do other manufacturers have the same kind of split jamb liner set up?Where would I go for new liners if I don't know the make of the window?Thanks -Shawn
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Checker Contracting - SE Michigan
The division strip between the glass might give you a clue to the manufacturer.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Look all over the window- on the hardware, on the glass dividers, on the jambs, on the sashes- for the manufacturers name or logo.
Every manufacturer has a different way of installing the jambs. Some are easier than others to remove. And a lot of window manufacturers don't still have parts available for their older windows, unlike Andersen.
You might be best telling your customer that you'll charge T&M for the first window, while you try to figure out how to take it apart.