Removing Vinyl Flooring

We may not know why some people insist on putting plastic into an older home, but we do know how to remove it!

Removing vinyl flooring can be a breeze and can be done over a weekend, if you have the right tools to get the job done. Here's how we can help!

You'll need to know some things prior to starting any project like this. Like, what dangers are involved with removing linoleum or plastic from a surface? When it comes to linoleum flooring, there is a chance that asbestos is involved but this is easy to check. The sign you'll be looking for is located underneath the linoleum itself and the color you see. If you see black backing or adhesive, take caution during the entire process as this is an indicator of asbestos. If you see white instead, you should be in the clear. If you feel uncertain at all, we'd like to encourage you to wear a mask during the RIY process. 

With this in mind, you'll also want to make sure you're using the correct tools. Here is a list of the tools we recommend for this:

• End Cutting Pliers = For removing nails and staples.

• 5-IN-1 Tool = For pulling up backing. If you'll be focusing on a much larger surface area, a floor scraper would work as well. 

• Clapboard Paint Scraper = This versatile tool will come in handy for your more challenging areas. 

• Profile Paint Scraper = Great tool for profiling a surface.

• Speedheater Cobra = One of the easiest ways to remove paint is by heating it up. This will help to loosen up paint and/or adhesive. 

• Gloves = For safety.

• Mask = For safety.

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Speedheater™ Cobra

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Once you are ready to begin, you want to start by heating up a surface area with the Speedheater Cobra. We want to remind you to be cautious while heating up a surface and not allow it to get too hot, as it can catch fire. Once you feel the surface is heated up enough, you'll use the 5-IN-1 tool to pry the top up on the vinyl flooring. If possible, try to lift the paper backing up with the top as well.

Now, what should you do if the paper backing doesn't come up with the top of the vinyl? You'll want to scrape it off by heating up the surface and scrape with the grain as much as possible. Scraping against the grain will result in damaging the wood itself.

If you have any remaining stubborn pieces of backing left at this point, it's time to bust out the clapboard scraper. Since these pieces are stuck on very well, be careful while scraping these off as you may pull up some wood with the backing.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!

Field Guide: Wood Storm Windows

What is a storm window?

Storm windows are a practical and effective way to protect the integrity of your home. Not only can it be a Secret Way To Improve Your Homes Value, but it can also protect your primary window from the elements of the world. Not to mention, they also improve energy efficiency, privacy and comfort of the home. Wood Window Rescue offers its own version of a storm window called the EverStorm.

Now, for those who love an RIY approach to projects, you may want to tackle the installation yourself. There are some things you should know before starting though. Below, you will find a video and instructions from Morgan on how to install a standard EverStorm.

You'll need Wood Storm and Screen Sash Hangers to install the storm window during this process. The sash hangers will connect the casing and storm together. You may also need Wood Storm and Screen Turn Buttons if the window being covered by the storm will not be operable. 

This is a three part post that covers the dry fit, completion and installation of a wood storm window;

• Dry Fit Steps

• Completion Steps

• Installation Steps

• Storm Window Adjuster Steps

Depending on your preference, you can complete the work in a couple different ways;

1. Build storm frame, dry fit and adjust the storm, prime/paint/glass/glaze, then installation (preferred)

2. Build storm frame, prime/paint, glass, glaze, then install while fitting, adjusting and touching up at the end.

Have a question? Leave us a comment below!

5 Tips for Professional Glazing

Do you want to glaze an old wood window like a Rescue Pro? By using these 5 simple tips, you can transform your glazing from an amateur to a professional. These tips will work perfectly for any window restoration or for our EverSash replica wood windows.

Pro Tip 1: Before you get started, let’s make sure you have the right product for reglazing an antique window. This is crucial because if you don’t use the correct product, you’re more likely to end up displeased with the end results. Now, in order to achieve success, we recommend using Sarco Putty Multiglaze Type-M. This professional grade putty is perfect for any vintage window! That is because the putty remains elastic to allow normal expansion and contraction while dealing with the elements. This glazing putty also adheres to the surface; creating a permanent and watertight bond between the glass and sash.

Sarco Type M Multi-Glaze

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Pro Tip 2: You’ll also need the right tool to get the job done right. We highly recommend the Lamson ¾” bent putty knife for a professional grade tool. This putty knife is what the pros use to make glazing a breeze! It allows you to be precise with your lines and is made of a high carbon, stainless steel to prevent it from rusting.  

Pro Tip 3: With the right product and tool in hand, you are ready to begin glazing! This brings us to our next tip. Keep your glazing lines clean! A professional will have clean and straight lines so when you look out a traditional window from the interior of your home, you won’t be able to see the putty at all. The pros will prevent putty from being all over the place. You don’t want the glazing lines to be wiggly nor look like someone jammed bubblegum around the glass. 

Pro Tip 4: Once you finish cleaning up your glazing lines, you’ll need to make sure you have sharp corners. A sharp corner is where there is a distinct line in the corners of the glazing to keep everything looking clean. This will not be bubbled or rounded over. You’ll want to have it pointed.

Pro Tip 5: Once you have completed glazing, the glass of your antique window will most likely be smudged up and greasy. To clean this up, we recommend using Rainbow Commercial Whiting. This chalk powder and a chip brush where the ends been cut off is a great solution to cleaning up the window. Dipping the chip brush into the whiting and brushing it onto a pane of glass is the best way to clean up. 

How to Replace a Window Pane

Replacing a broken window pane is one of the most common window repairs done on an older home. As you may already know, it’s due to how fragile glass can be. It is a real pain to take down the entire window too for just one piece of glass. But, what if we told you there was a simpler way? 

Did you know that there is a way to replace a pane without removing the window? If you answered no, allow us to show you how!

To start, you’ll want to get your measurements! We recommend using the FastCap Measuring Tape for this type of RIY. To get accurate measurements for your new pane of glass, you’ll want to measure the opening by starting and ending at the wood and glazing meets. As always, make sure to measure twice!

Next, you’ll want to remove the old glazing or silicone with a 3/8" Chisel at the seam. It may give some resistance, but will eventually all come off.

Once all of the glazing has been removed, you’ll need to adjust your measurements for the glass instead of the opening. To do so, you’ll take your measurements from earlier and reduce them by 1/8” and not the 1/16” shown in the video. So if you had the exact same measurements in the video, the opening being 32” x 20 1/8”, you’ll end up with 31 7/8” x 20” for your glass measurements. Just make sure to measure twice and only cut once! We highly encourage that you test fit the glass before proceeding into the next step. If you aren’t comfortable with cutting the glass yourself, the replacement piece of glass can be cut at your local home center.

Sarco Type M Multi-Glaze

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Now, you’ll want to make sure the glass bed is cleared of any remaining debris with the 3/8” Chisel, then you will be glazing the back bedding to prepare for the pane. We use the professional Sarco Type M Multi-Glaze putty for all glazing we do and can be purchased from our online shop! The putty will help create a long-term seal. To smooth out, we use Lamson 3/4" Bent Knife which can also be purchased from our online shop! After the back bedding is all glazed, you can set your glass in the opening and pin the glass. To ease the process of pinning, we have used CRL Diamond point Driver #1 Points. You can use the Red Devil 1710 Glazing Push Points as well! Once it’s pinned, you can finish up by glazing the window!

In the event that you are replacing a pane that isn’t ground level, we recommend using the Little Giant Ladder and get the Ladder Stabilizer to prevent falls. Be safe and cautious if you are working on a second floor.

If you desire to take down the window instead, here is a video of Tom Silva from This Old Home replacing a broken pane in a basement window to get you on the right track. This video also shows how to cut the glass for your window!

If you happen to come across a different old window problem and want some advice, check out our Common Window Problems Blog. We have identified 5 common issues you can find on your wood windows and provide solutions to each issue! You can also email us at info@woodwindowrescue.com or leave a comment below for more information!

Have any questions? Leave us a comment below! 

How to Paint a Window: 5 Pro Secrets for Success

Your wood windows have been primed with a coat of oil-based primer. They have been glazed for a few days...this allows them to skin over. 

The next step in this process is to paint the sashes! Painting any wood surface can be a daunting task and windows are no exception! Do not fear RIYer’s...there are some secrets that professionals use that can make painting a sash a breeze!

When it comes to painting a window sash, there are 5 pro secrets we highly recommend following for success! 

Pro Secret #1: Ensure the sash is prepped for painting! After the sash has been primed and the glazing has skinned over, wipe down for any debris that may have been left behind.

Pro Secret #2: Do not apply just one coat of paint! Apply two coats on the interior and the exterior! Avoid painting any sides that the jamb will rest against and avoid excessive amounts of paint during the application to areas that would cause the window to stick.

Pro Secret #3: Start with lites, rails and stiles of the sash! Follow video provided above on how to paint the lites and make sure to leave a 1/16” lap onto the glass. If you are unsure which part is which, check out our Double Hung Window Blog that goes over the anatomy of a double hung window.

Pro Secret #4: Dripping paint? Clean up drips and over painted areas immediately with a wet rag.

Pro Secret #5: Once paint has dried, cut back interior paint from glass with a scraper to profile and cut back exterior paint from glass with a mini paint scraper to leave the 1/16” lap onto the glass.

Using these 5 Pro Secrets can help any RIYer paint a wooden sash beautifully! 

Have questions? Leave us a comment below!

Easy Window Lock Fix

Do you have a double-hung window who’s upper sash is sagging? Is that upper sash sagging so badly that the lock doesn’t line up with it’s catch anymore?

You may be wondering how this happened. It could have occurred on a larger wood window where the glass was heavy enough to cause the upper sash to sag overtime. Another reason this may have occurred...the window was painted open from an improper painting job. Either way, this has caused the alignment to be thrown off and has made the windows unsecured. 

There are a couple of ways you can approach this common issue of unaligned sash locks! The first thing that may come to mind...renovate the window. Renovating the window to make the meeting rail align will fix this problem along with assisting in the reduction of air infiltration, allow the window to shut correctly and make the home a bit more energy efficient. Renovating is a great option, but if you just want to secure the home...we have another RIY route you can take!

Allow us to introduce the Sash Lock Shim! A sash lock shim is an inexpensive way to align the lock on a vintage window. This is extremely easy to install yourself and a great way to protect the home. This fix is a 5&5, which is $5 in materials and will take 5 minutes of your time to fix!

As shown in the video, you'll need a few more tools and items than just the shim itself. You'll need a screwdriver or a Leatherman. You may also need longer screws due to the height distance. We do not recommend using a drill or any other power tools for this RIY project. Using a drill can cause the aged wood to crack and split...using a hand tool will not.

If you are having difficulties with the screw catching, try using a toothpick in the gap! Breaking off a toothpick that has been wedged in the gap can help the screw catch! 

Wood Window Lock Shim

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You can order these Sash Lock Shims at our online store by clicking this link! If you happen to come across a different old window problem and want some advice, check out our Common Window Problems Blog. We have identified 5 common issues you can find on your wood windows and provide solutions to each issue! You can also email us at info@woodwindowrescue.com or leave a comment below for more information!

Have any questions? Leave us a comment below!  Searching for something else? Try searching our blogs!

Window Glazing Made Easy

How to glaze a wood window with Aqua Glaze.

Here at the Wood Window Rescue Shop, we have searched the internet to find the best and most accessible old window repair techniques to share with our audience. This video series from Dave Bowers of Olde Window Restorer is one of the best. We use these videos for training in our window restoration projects and love how the historic wood windows turn out. We hope that you will find these videos and additional window sash repair insight to be helpful.

Tools Needed:

• Putty Knife

• Damp Rag

Material Needed:

• Glazing Points

• Aqua Glaze

Sarco Type M Multi-Glaze

from $25.00

Quantity:

Select Quantity 1 Gallon1 Quart

1 Gallon 1 Quart

Quantity:

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Getting Started

We suggest that you remove the window sash from the wood window frame. We also recommend using a make-shift sash easel on a slight incline. If you are doing this at homes and want the best results, do it outside and make sure you have enough time set aside to complete an entire window sash glazing.

Tips on Working with Aqua Glaze

• Work up a softball sized amount of Aqua Glaze and then set aside in a separate container.

• To keep window glazing from drying out, keep only a small amount of window putty in your hand while you work the glazing into the wood window sash.

Putty Knife Tricks

• Keep your knife clean and free of grim. Grim will cause the glazing to drag and will leave a rough, less than desirable window sash glazing.

• Make sure to use a flexible putty knife. Apply enough pressure so that the knife bends as you pull the knife over the window glazing. Doing this presses the glazing on to the glass and wood on the wood window.

• Keep your knife moist by wiping often with a damp rag.

How to Estimate Glazing Material

To estimate glazing, we use a great tool created by the folks at SRS Hardware. Here are the basics:

Number of Sashes x Number of Lights Per Sash x .2 x .2 x Perimeter of Each Light x .0022=Gallons of Glazing needed.

To get a more precise estimate and for further detail please check out the Putty Calculator.

Final Tip...

Don't give up! It may take a few tries...especially on those corners. The important part is you are doing this instead of replacing with disposable vinyl windows. 

If you need help, just comment below and we will do our best to help.