Last weekend, I finally decided to open up the old windows in our guest room (they've been painted shut for god knows how long). Got them unstuck pretty easily, but turns out both cords on one side are snapped. So now I have windows that either slam shut or won't stay open without me propping them up with random objects—currently using a dictionary, lol. Has anyone else tackled something like this? Seems straightforward enough but um, knowing my luck, maybe not...
Been there, done that—welcome to the joys of old windows, haha. Had the exact same issue in our place a couple years back. Honestly, replacing the cords isn't too bad once you get into it. The trickiest part is usually getting access to the weights inside the frame (assuming yours are weighted). You'll probably need to pry off the side trim carefully—just go slow and gentle so you don't crack anything.
Once you're in there, it's mostly just threading new sash cord through the pulleys and tying them off securely. I watched a couple YouTube vids first, which helped a ton. Also, quick tip: make sure you get actual sash cord from the hardware store—regular rope or twine won't hold up long-term.
And hey, if all else fails, dictionaries and random objects work surprisingly well...I had a window propped open with an old shoe for like three months before finally fixing it. You've got this!