I’ve definitely run into the newspaper “insulation” trick—found a couple old grocery ads stuffed in behind my living room trim when I started demo. Not sure if it did much for the heating bills, but it was a weird little time capsule. As for out-of-square openings, yeah, my place is from the late 70s and every window frame needed shims in at least two corners. The labor for getting those new windows plumb and level added a chunk to my install cost.
Curious if anyone’s had issues with hidden electrical or plumbing when replacing windows? I got lucky and didn’t hit any live wires, but I did find some old knob-and-tube that made me pause for a second. Wondering how much extra to budget for surprises like that—did you all set aside a contingency fund, or just cross your fingers?
Hidden electrical is a real wildcard. When I pulled out my old windows (mid-60s ranch), I actually found a junction box just tucked behind the trim—definitely not to code. That added a bit to my cost since I had to get an electrician in to move it, plus patching up the drywall after. Never saw any plumbing, though I’ve heard some folks run into old radiator lines in older homes.
I’d say it’s smart to set aside at least 10-15% extra for surprises like that. I tried to just wing it at first and ended up regretting it when the costs started creeping up. If you don’t end up needing it, great, but it’s less stressful knowing you’ve got a buffer. The out-of-square frames are pretty much par for the course in houses from that era—shims and patience go a long way, but yeah, the labor can add up.
Funny about the newspaper insulation. I found a 1978 sports section in one wall...made demo day a little more interesting.
- Definitely agree on the hidden electrical—pulled a window in my ‘72 split-level and found a random wire just dangling. Had to pause everything and call in a pro, which ate into my budget fast.
- I’d say 10-15% extra is smart, but honestly, I’d lean closer to 20% if you’re dealing with original windows and walls. Surprises seem to multiply once you start demo.
- Out-of-square frames are a pain. Used a ton of shims, but still ended up with a couple windows that aren’t perfectly flush. Not the end of the world, but it bugs me every time I see the trim.
- Found a 1969 grocery list stuffed in my wall—someone really didn’t want to lose track of their shopping.
- Curious if anyone’s had luck reusing old trim? I tried, but most of it split or was full of nails.
That hidden electrical gets me every time—last fall, I pulled out a bay window on a ‘68 ranch and found an old doorbell transformer just dangling in the stud bay. Had to call my electrician buddy and, yeah, that set me back a bit. As for trim, I’ve had mixed luck reusing it. Sometimes it pops off clean, but usually I wind up with splinters and bent nails. I keep meaning to get better at it, but fresh trim just saves me headaches. Those out-of-square frames are the real test of patience... shims only go so far before it starts looking wonky.
That’s wild about the transformer—never fails, right? I’m always paranoid I’ll hit something weird behind the walls. Did you end up rewiring or just capping it off? On the trim, I mostly gave up on reusing too. Is it even worth the time unless it’s something fancy or original? Those frames that aren’t square… do you ever just say “good enough” and move on, or does it bug you until you fix it?
I get the urge to just call it “good enough” on out-of-square frames, but honestly, I can’t let it go if the gap’s obvious. I’ll shim or tweak until it looks right, even if it takes longer. As for trim, unless it’s old-growth or has unique profiles, I usually just replace—reinstalling warped stuff never seems worth the headache. On the wiring, I’d always re-route if there’s any doubt about safety. Capping off feels like kicking the can down the road.
Man, I hear you on the trim—sometimes I think I spend more time fussing with old, wavy stuff than just cutting new. Have you ever run into a situation where you regretted tossing original trim though? I had a 1920s place once and still kick myself for not saving those weird, chunky profiles. On the windows, are you planning to DIY install or hire it out? I’ve seen the price swing a lot depending on that.
I get the nostalgia for old trim, but honestly, I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would. Some of the original stuff in my 1940s place was so beat up, it just never looked right no matter how much I tried to patch it. I actually prefer matching new trim—it’s less fuss and you can always stain or paint to get close to the old look. On the windows, I tried installing one myself once... let’s just say I paid someone after that. The price is higher, but man, the peace of mind is worth it.
I get wanting to ditch the old trim, but honestly, I think sometimes it’s worth the hassle to keep at least some of it. Maybe I’m just stubborn, but the character you lose when you swap everything for new stuff—no matter how close the stain or paint—is hard to get back.
I hear you, but with a little patience (and a lot of wood filler), I managed to save a few pieces in my place and now they’re my favorite detail. As for window installs, yeah, paying someone is less stressful, but I’m still not convinced the cost is always justified unless you’ve got tricky framing or weird measurements. Sometimes DIY is rough, but sometimes pros overcharge for what turns out to be a pretty straightforward job. Just my two cents.“Some of the original stuff in my 1940s place was so beat up, it just never looked right no matter how much I tried to patch it.”
I get what you’re saying about saving the old trim, but after dealing with warped, splintery stuff in my place, I honestly just wanted a clean slate. Tried the wood filler route too, but sometimes the damage is just too far gone or you end up spending more time than it’s worth. As for the window install, I thought about DIY, but after wrestling with one crooked opening, I caved and hired it out. Not cheap, but at least I know they’re sealed up right—my old house is drafty enough as it is. Sometimes paying for peace of mind isn’t the worst thing.