When your goal is to get your windows to look like they did years ago when they first put out the line, mechanical window restoration aren’t the best bet. Generally speaking, this is the lowest and easiest form of service available. The bottom line is that the goal of this job is to get the window to return to proper functional order. This means that the window is functioning in a way that is not causing issues with air leaks or for any other reason. In order for this to happen, there must be no mechanical issues with the window itself. It should just be functioning correctly for that one window.
The main thing you have to watch for when trying to complete window restoration is that the condition of the glass is not deteriorating. This typically happens with older windows that were poorly sealed or weren’t properly cleaned. If the windows weren’t sealed, then rain and other weather-related conditions can easily damage the glass. Even when the windows were properly sealed, they may have been subject to cracks due to moisture exposure over time. If the damage is minimal at this point, you can use sealant to fix it and then get a new paint job that will go along with the new sealant.
Once the windows are in the same shape they were before the repair process began, you can start on the next step of the process, which is repainting. It is common for the windows to start looking better after they are treated. The problem you will most often encounter is that the windows have already started to chip or tear at the edges. This is something you will likely have to overcome and will take some time and patience to do successfully. The good news is that you can continue on to the final stage of the window restoration process and that is glass replacement.
When you have your historic windows in place, you can go ahead and start the glass replacement portion of the whole window restoration process. You will need to remove the original sash and window frame and any other parts that have either broken or damaged. Then you can remove the old paint from the windows and put on a fresh coat of paint. This is an important step because you want the new paint to match the old correctly. The best way to do this is by taking pictures of the historic windows before you replace them so you can get them exactly right.
When you have replaced the old windows and done all of the necessary work, it is time to move on to the next step of the window restoration process and that is the replacement of the knock panel. The knock panel will be the part of the window that holds up the sash windows and can be difficult to install. That means you may have to hire a professional company to install it for you. However, if you are determined to restore these old windows yourself, you can follow the simple steps below. They will help you install the knockout panel and make it fit properly into the sash window.
These are just some of the simple steps that you can take when you are doing window restoration projects on casement windows. Remember, these windows are very popular and being able to find someone who knows how to restore them can be difficult at times. If you have some experience with these types of windows, then you should be able to figure out how to get this project done yourself.