Removing old windows yourself—what's your go-to method?

I've done a few window replacements myself, and honestly, patience and elbow grease usually win out for me. Pry bars can be handy, but if you're not careful, they can easily damage the surrounding trim or drywall. Reciprocating saws are great for stubborn nails or caulking, but again—easy to slip up if you're nervous. Maybe start slow with a pry bar and see how it goes? Curious though, are you planning to reuse the frames or going for a full replacement? That might change your approach...

"Reciprocating saws are great for stubborn nails or caulking, but again—easy to slip up if you're nervous."

Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way myself. Last summer, I was helping my brother-in-law replace some old windows at his place. Thought I'd speed things up with the reciprocating saw... ended up nicking the drywall pretty good. Nothing a bit of patching couldn't fix, but still annoying. Curious though, anyone tried using one of those oscillating multi-tools instead? Seems like they'd offer more control in tight spots.

I've used oscillating multi-tools a few times for window removal, and while they're definitely precise and great in tight spaces, they can be painfully slow. Especially if you're dealing with thicker nails or old, hardened caulking—takes forever to cut through. Personally, I prefer carefully using a pry bar and hammer combo. With a bit of patience and gentle persuasion, you can usually get the window out cleanly without damaging the surrounding area too much.

I've done a few window removals myself and can confirm the oscillating multi-tool is precise but indeed slow, especially with older caulking. The pry bar and hammer method mentioned earlier has worked well for me too, provided you take your time and gently loosen things up first. One tip I'd add is to score around the window frame thoroughly with a utility knife beforehand—this helps minimize paint and drywall damage when prying the window out.

"One tip I'd add is to score around the window frame thoroughly with a utility knife beforehand—this helps minimize paint and drywall damage when prying the window out."

Good tip, though I've found sometimes even scoring carefully doesn't fully prevent drywall chips, especially in older houses. Personally, I switched to using a heat gun first to soften up stubborn caulking—makes things easier and less messy overall.

- Good call on the heat gun, never thought of that.
- I've tried scoring too, but drywall still chipped on me—old houses are stubborn like that.
- My go-to lately is a thin pry bar wrapped in painter's tape to protect the wall. Not perfect, but less patching after.
- Might give your heat gun trick a shot next time...sounds easier than wrestling with caulk all afternoon.

Does the heat gun really make that big of a difference? I get the idea, but wouldn't it risk damaging older paint or wallpaper nearby...or am I overthinking this? Just trying to avoid creating more work for myself.

I've used a heat gun a couple times and here's my quick take:

- It definitely speeds things up, especially if you're dealing with stubborn old paint or caulk.
- BUT...you're right to be cautious. I accidentally bubbled some nearby paint once because I wasn't paying close attention. Lesson learned, haha.
- If you're careful and keep the heat moving (don't linger too long in one spot), you'll probably be fine.
- Maybe test it out in a small hidden area first? That way you can see how your paint or wallpaper reacts without risking a big mess.

Honestly, you're smart to think ahead—avoiding extra work is always the goal. Good luck with the windows!

Good points on the heat gun—I learned that lesson the hard way too, haha. A few years back, I was tackling some old windows at my place. Thought I'd speed things up with a heat gun, and it definitely worked wonders on the caulk. But...I got a little too confident and lingered in one spot near the trim. Ended up warping the wood slightly—nothing major, but enough to notice every time I walked by.

Since then, I've found that patience is key. Keeping the heat moving steadily and evenly makes all the difference. And yeah, testing in a hidden spot first is solid advice. Better to spend an extra five minutes checking than hours fixing an unexpected mess later.

Sounds like you're already thinking ahead and being cautious, so I'm sure you'll do great with those windows. It's always satisfying when you finish a DIY project without any major hiccups...or at least minimal ones, haha. Good luck!