Removing & replacing aluminum windows

[birdman17]

Our house has single pane, single hung aluminum windows, the house is brick veneer with traditional stick framing structure. What is the process to remove the old aluminum windows and will stock size window work as the replacement if the nail flange is removed or should you special order the windows without the nail flange? How are the replacement window secured to the house structure? I assume conventional gap and crack filling methods are used in order finish the replacement. Instructions, hints, tips and lessions learned would be glady accepted.

[Wgoodrich]

There are many types of aluminum window mountings. Best to study how it is set to the house. Some are screwed in place along the outside same as the old storm windows were installed. Most were installed in the same manner as today's design. The window framed in opening. Then the window slid in and was nailed or screwed through the sides into the framing. Check to see which type of method you have to remove the window from the framed opening.

Take a picture inside and outside. Then remove the trim inside to expose the framing. Then measure the width and length of your aluminum windows. Take this info and your pictures to a couple of suppliers. They should be able to help you get a compatible replacement window. Not normally hard to do.

Good Luck

Wg

[birdman17]

The inside of the window does not have wood trim...the interior is textured drywall painted the same as the room and has natural wood window ledges, neither of which I want to damage during the replacement process nor do I want to remove in order to do the work...other suggestions please!

[Wgoodrich]

You can remove your interior trim around your window without damaging it. Most likly you will find a flange from the window frame either inside under the trim or outside under the siding J channel. Either way you will need to expose behind the trim to be able to remove the window. Inside trim is easier to remove than outside. I would start there. You will not be able to remove that window even if you destroy the window without damaging the trim inside or out unless the trim is removed first. You can remove the inside trim and then reinstall that trim later without damage if you are careful.

Sorry

Wg

[suemarkp]

I had my windows replaced but unfortunately I didn't see how they did it. They were in a quandry as to which type to order (flanged or not) because I had brick on three sides and wood siding on the other. The interior window sill was tile.

They said the tile may crack and it would be up to me to fix that. Fortunately, they didn't crack any tiles. Overall, they did a great job. I believe the windows were normal aluminum flanged types that were installed before the brick. I'm sure getting those out was kind of tough, but I think if you pry hard enough they will bend and come out. I wish I could have seen the demo and install and that I could offer real help other than to say it is most likely possible.

[JeffeVerde]

The inside of the window does not have wood trim...the interior is textured drywall painted the same as the room and has natural wood window ledges, neither of which I want to damage during the replacement process nor do I want to remove in order to do the work...other suggestions please!


If you want a "drop-in" solution, there are replacement vinyl windows designed to replace existing aluminum sliders. You remove the glass, leave the aluminum frame in place, and slip in the new window from the outside. They're self-framing, and that's how they hide the old window. Fast easy install, and fairly nice looking. One downside is that theyr'e several inches smaller than the old window, because they fit inside the old window opening.

Every aluminum slider I've seen mounts as you described - a flange on the outside wall that's nailed to the exterior face of the rough window frame, and the interior is framed in with drywall. If that's what you've got, and you don't like the retrofit window, then you'll be peeling away a couple inches of the brick veneer all around the window to expose the old flange. And unless you're planning on replacing with a similar aluminum window, then you'll probably have to also strip off the interior drywall and trim, down to the rough opening, becauase your new window won't be an exact match for the old.