Had to remove a couple old vinyl windows last weekend, and man, they were stuck good. Ended up carefully cutting around the edges with a utility knife, prying gently with a flat bar, and slowly working them loose bit by bit. Anyone got a less tedious way?
- Sounds like you handled it about as well as anyone could, honestly.
- Heat gun might help soften things up a bit, but it's still gonna be slow going.
- Curious though...were they caulked in or just painted over a million times?
"Curious though...were they caulked in or just painted over a million times?"
Betting on the "painted over a million times" scenario myself—been there, done that. When I replaced mine, it felt like I was excavating ancient ruins rather than removing windows. Heat gun helped a bit, but honestly, patience and a good pry bar were my best friends. Did you find any hidden surprises behind yours? I uncovered some vintage wallpaper that made me question previous owners' taste...
I'd lean more toward the caulked-in scenario myself. When I tackled mine, it wasn't layers of paint causing trouble—it was thick beads of hardened caulk sealing every possible gap. Had to carefully score around the edges with a utility knife multiple times before even thinking about prying. Didn't find wallpaper, but did uncover some questionable insulation choices...someone thought newspaper was a good idea at some point.
"Had to carefully score around the edges with a utility knife multiple times before even thinking about prying."
Yeah, that's exactly the way to go. I've seen plenty of windows practically welded in place by caulk—it's crazy how tough that stuff can get over time. One thing I'd add: after scoring, try gently tapping a thin putty knife or painter's tool into the gap to gradually loosen things up. And newspaper insulation...I've run into that too. Makes you wonder what else is hiding behind those walls, huh?
Good tips here, scoring and tapping definitely helps. Just a thought—when you finally get those stubborn windows out, it's a perfect opportunity to seal up gaps and boost insulation. Saves energy and cuts down drafts...worth the hassle in the end.
Yeah, sealing gaps is smart, but honestly, sometimes the hassle isn't worth it. Last time I tackled mine, ended up spending way more time and money than planned—insulation foam everywhere, paint touch-ups...ugh. If your windows aren't that drafty, might be better off leaving well enough alone. Just my two cents.