How to restore a window!

Step 1

Prepare your old window

Taking down, marking and working on the sash

• Always use protective gloves and safety glasses when handling glass.
• Check all fittings to see which ones still work, which need to be repaired and which need to be replaced.
• Are there any uneven surfaces or irregularities on the sash? Repair any irregularities immediately or mark them for repair once the window has been taken down.
• Mark hinges, sashes and windows before removing. Glass and sash frames are unique and should be kept together the same way they were when mounted in the wall. Write down where each piece is located with respect to the entire window and how each piece fits together. Mark which pieces belong to which window, as well as which direction each side faces (inside or outside).
• Disassemble the window and lay on a flat surface. We recommend laying some kind of protective paper or cardboard underneath the window to collect any dirt and glass chips.

Step 2

Heat up and scrape off old paint

• Use Speedheater’s paint scrapers and heating system to soften and scrape off deteriorated putty and paint.
• To make the paint and putty soft in the easiest way, infrared light is used before scraping. The paint is heated from within, never reaching temperatures that could damage the wood. We recommend using Speedheater Cobra or Speedheater Rapid Slim for the most effortless, non-toxic, and gentle paint removal possible. Speedheater Cobra is suitable for smaller surfaces, while Speedheater Rapid Slim covers larger areas at once.
• Take care of the glass – if you need to get close to the surface, avoid directing the heat directly onto unprotected glass. Our recommendation is to use aluminum foil around a piece of cardboard or equivalent as protection. When removing putty, the machine can be angled towards and close to the putty, directing the heat towards it and reducing the risk of breaking the glass.
• Remove the now softened paint with a paint scraper that matches the profiles of your frames. For most windows, we recommend a Bumerang scraper with different profiles on its different sides. You’ll achieve the best results by pulling the paint scraper towards you with a gentle pressure against the wood.
• To remove the old putty, use a putty knife with support wheels to detach it from the window frame. This way, you can remove the putty from the window frame without damaging the wood or glass. Then, detach the putty from the glass using a putty scraper gliding along the glass.

Watch our instructional video below for a thorough walkthrough on how to proceed with window renovation.

Step 3

Paint and re-caulk the windows

• Sand all remaining surfaces to a matte finish so that the new window paint adheres properly.
• Check the quality of the wood and repair any rot damage. If any of the wood in the groove is dried out or gray, it’s a good idea to apply a base oil. Make sure the base oil has dried completely before caulking.
• Check to make sure that the moisture level of the wood is below 15% before starting to paint the window.
• Apply schellac to all grooves to prevent the wood from absorbing the oil in the putty.
• Next, apply a coat of primer to the sashes before reassembling the window panes and fittings.
• Apply putty along the bottom side of all the grooves. Next, place the glass pane back into the sash and gently press down, squeezing any excess putty out from behind the glass. Very carefully nail in glazing points, and protect the glass with tape. Next, choose a side and apply putty along the entire length of the groove. Once the putty has been applied, angle the putty knife towards the corner and drag the knife down along the pane, applying steady pressure to even out and pack the putty in place. Repeat this step on every side of the window pane. Let the putty dry completely before painting.
• Check the frames, trims and windowsills, scrape and paint as needed.