Windows are the eyes to a house's soul – if your windows are big and beautiful so too is your home, but they can also include a range of challenges as well. With sub par windows, you can look forward to a drafty home with high heating bills. Similarly, there are also moisture issues – for example, if you don't seal the space between your double panes securely enough, you will get a build up of condensation. Having lived in old houses and having helped choose the windows for new houses, I'm familiar with a range of challenges associated with windows. If you want tips and ideas, you've come to the right spot. Please, explore and enjoy.
If your home's wooden windows have several cracks in their frames, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to repair them. If so, use the following three-step guide to fill in the cracks to keep them from getting bigger and prevent the wood from rotting.
Step 1: Scrape Off Any Loose Paint Around The Cracks
Before you start filling the cracks, this first step is to scrape off any loose paint around them. This gives you a better view of the size of the cracks. It also reveals the bare wood, giving you a cleaner surface on which to spread the filler.
Hold the edge of a wide scraper at about a 45-degree angle past the end of the crack, then gently push it across the frame to remove the loose pieces. Repeat until all of the loose paint is removed. If there is any paint remaining with rough edges, lightly sand it with medium-grit sandpaper to smooth it out.
Step 2: Fill The Cracks With Wood Putty
Once you have revealed all of the cracks under the loose paint, you can see the extent of the damage. For any small cracks, load a one-inch putty knife with wood putty, then smear the putty into the opening. Repeat until the crack is filled about an eighth of an inch above the surface of the frame.
If you see any large cracks that have rotten wood inside of them, you may want to think about replacing the window frames instead of trying to repair them. Since the rotting wood is loose, the putty may not stick tightly and may fall out within a few weeks or months.
Step 3: Sand The Putty And Surrounding Wood
After letting the wood putty set up and dry according to the manufacturer's instructions, sand the lip you created above the putty and the surrounding wood with fine-grit sandpaper. This will sand the putty down to the surface of the wood, creating an even surface.
While sanding the putty, press lightly. If you push down too hard, you could crack the putty, making it necessary to take it out and repeat steps two and three.
After using the above guide, you can give your windows a fresh coat of paint to camouflage the repaired damage. However, if there are larger cracks or rotting wood, you may want to contact a contractor about replacing them with newer ones that will not rot or crack, such as Andersen replacement windows.
Share15 May 2017
