What Should I Pay Attention To When Replacing Old Windows?

When replacing the windows of an old house, we should not only focus on the selection and budget of the new door and window types but also pay more attention to the details of disassembly, assembly, and processing.

1. It is recommended to replace old doors and windows

The use of doors and windows in older residential houses is not very good. The general characteristics of doors and windows in this type of community are as follows: sliding windows: single-layer glass; the fur strips are aging and falling off, and the sealing is not good; the whole window is not smooth to push and pull, it has been in disrepair for a long time, and the surface corrosion is severe.

Casement windows: The glass and sealant are old and hard, the hardware is aging and rusty, the window is not smooth to open, and there is even a risk of falling. For both safety and demand, it is recommended that they all be replaced.

2. Doors and windows should be coordinated with the budget

Replacing doors and windows naturally requires considering the decoration budget. If the budget is sufficient, it will be better to replace them uniformly so that the style is unified and the overall performance is better. If the budget is insufficient, we can combine it according to actual needs and performance. For example, the side close to the street should use the broken bridge window series with better sound insulation... Of course, we can only replace the doors and windows in essential positions (such as bedroom windows, etc.) and use other doors or windows for the time being.

To save money, it is recommended to use sliding windows in the kitchen and bathroom (large opening area, good lighting and ventilation, and reasonable price); frosted glass can be selected for bathroom glass.

3. Remove doors and windows and clean the openings

Generally speaking, the old doors and windows that need to be replaced at home will be removed before the new doors and windows are installed (but premature removal can easily cause water to enter the installation opening); when cleaning the opening, the flatter the installation opening, the better, which will make the subsequent filling and sealing more convenient and reduce the risk of water leakage. The specific details are as follows:

(1) Measurement and layout: Before installing the door and window frames, check the size of the opening and the window frame;

(2) Cut and remove the doors and windows of the original building: Be careful not to damage the exterior wall decoration layer when cutting and removing the windows of the original building;

(3) Clean up the gravel and dust after removal: Avoid garbage gravel and dust affecting the flatness of the installation and the horizontal line of the window frame;

(4) Install the window frame: Use fasteners to fix the window frame, and pay attention to the fact that it should not be installed too close to the outside.

4. Pay attention to waterproofing in installation details

If the waterproof sealing of the doors and windows at home is not in place, even if they are expensive and sound, their user experience will be greatly reduced. Therefore, when installing doors and windows, we also need to pay attention to the waterproof details, such as the window sill joints and the slope of the external balcony, to prevent rainwater from taking advantage of it.

In addition, the looseness between the door and window frames and the wall is also a common cause of daily water seepage and leakage. On the one hand, when we open and close the windows, the seal between the window and the wall will crack due to excessive force or vibration resonance; on the other hand, due to the poor quality (or insufficient strength) of some doors and windows, they will deform under long-term wind and rain. Eventually, the mortar layer on the window frame will crack and fall off. In addition, damage/aging cracking/cement shedding of the waterproof layer of the wall near the window (for older buildings) will also cause water leakage.

Solution: Remove the cracked and fallen mortar layer and re-seal (between the door, window, and wall). Sealing filling can be done with foam glue or cement: when the gap is less than 5 cm, it can be filled with foam glue (it is recommended to waterproof the outermost layer of the outdoor window to prevent the foam glue from being soaked in rainy days); when the gap is more significant than 5 cm, you can first fill part of it with bricks or cement, and then reinforce the seal with sealant.