Removing old windows without wrecking my walls?

"I'm planning to replace some old windows in my house, but I'm kinda worried about damaging the surrounding walls or paint."

Been there myself—it's definitely doable without wrecking your walls if you're careful. When I replaced mine, the trick was scoring around the window frame with a sharp utility knife first. It breaks the paint seal and stops chunks from peeling off when you pry things loose. Also, use a thin pry bar or putty knife to gently ease the frame away from the wall bit by bit. Patience is key... rushing it is how you end up patching drywall later.

I replaced a couple of windows last summer and man, I wish I'd known about scoring the paint first. I just jumped right in with a pry bar thinking it'd pop right off easy... big mistake. Ended up peeling off some pretty sizable chunks of paint and drywall paper—spent more time patching and repainting afterward than actually installing the new windows.

Another thing that helped on the second window (lesson learned, haha) was going slow and using shims or thin wood strips to gently wedge the frame loose bit by bit. If you can ease it out evenly, there's way less chance of cracking or chipping anything. Also, keep an eye out for hidden nails or screws—I found a couple buried deep in the frame that I didn't notice at first. Once I got those out, things went smoother.

Honestly though, even if you're careful, expect at least a little touch-up work afterward. Old windows rarely come out perfectly clean, especially if they've been painted over multiple times through the years. But it's nothing major—just keep some spackle and matching paint handy, and you should be fine.

Good luck with your project... it's definitely worth doing yourself if you've got the patience for it.