That’s a fair take—confidence definitely grows after that first window. I’d just add, sometimes the age of the house or how many layers of paint you’re dealing with can really change the game. Did you run into any hidden surprises, like cracked stops or weird hardware? I’ve found that part’s where things can get tricky, but you’re right: slow and steady usually wins it. Having a heat gun is a lifesaver for old paint, for sure.
Did you run into any hidden surprises, like cracked stops or weird hardware?
Yeah, actually—my place is a 1920s bungalow and I swear every window had something unexpected. One had nails sunk right through the sash cord channel, another had some kind of mystery bracket I still can’t figure out. Did you find the stops were easy to get off? I ended up splitting one and had to glue it back together… kinda makes me wonder if calling a pro would’ve saved me some headaches, but then again, learning as you go is half the fun, right?
Totally get where you’re coming from—mine’s a 1918 foursquare and I swear every window is its own puzzle. The stops were a pain for me too; I chipped one even though I tried to go slow with a putty knife. Ended up patching it with wood glue and a clamp. Honestly, I kind of liked figuring it out, even if it took longer than I thought. It’s not always cheaper if you break stuff, but there’s something satisfying about seeing it work again. Those weird brackets though... still stumped by a couple myself.
I get the appeal of figuring it out yourself, but honestly, after cracking a couple stops and having to hunt down matching trim, I started wondering if it’s really worth the trial and error. Sometimes calling in a pro for just the trickiest windows saves you money (and headaches) in the long run. I like a good DIY challenge, but these old houses have a way of turning a simple job into a weekend project... or two. Not saying don’t try, just that sometimes outsourcing the worst of it is smarter.