Fragile window frames

[JBean]

Our newly-acquired Edwardian house has a large bay window at the front. It is all timber frames and single-glazed. Some of the panes are the lovely wobbly originals.

The windows have been painted shut inside and out - several times judging by the amount of paint involved. We have carefully prised out as much of the paint in between frame and casement as we can, and cleaned up the hinges, which were smothered in paint. But we are still struggling to open two of the windows. I think the hinges may still be full of paint and are very stiff. When we push the opening part, the bottom wooden rail (is that the term? the wood along the bottom of the glass) starts to split away from the side rail, where the hinges aren't rotating.

It feels as if we need to find some way to support that bottom corner joint so that we can encourage the hinges to work before the wood splits.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Or should we just resign ourselves to some of the windows being too old and fragile to open?

 

[MikeG]

No, don't resign yourself to that. Windows are meant to open, and if they don't, then they may need repair.

For a start, squirt some WD40 into the hinges, after scraping away as much of the paint as you can. Secondly, if there are parts of the casement which are flexing, then you probably have rot and are close to structural failure. Feel free to repair them, either by cutting in a new piece, or by having a whole new casement made.........but, do be extremely careful with the size of the timber and the style of the mouldings. It should exactly the same as what you are replacing.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I didn't have your problem with hinges thankfully, but the bay window in my little Edwardian house sounds like it was in a similar state. In fact one joint at the bottom of one casement had completely rotted away so that I could see the corner of the pane of glass on the outside! I can only agree that it would be best to scrape as much paint as possible and go gingerly. I'm amazed that the wood is splitting, it must be quite fragile and rotten. The only thing I can think of is to screw a board over the whole casement to keep it in shape, open the window, and once you've got the hinge working, take the board off and fill the small holes from the screws before painting!!!

 

[JBean]

Thanks for the replies. We did try WD40 and managed to open the third window as a result. It was magical when the whole thing finally swung free. But the other two are resisting. I don't think the wood is rotten - it's that the corner joint below the hinges looks like it will separate under pressure before the hinges will give in and rotate. I like PP's idea of a board nailed on to keep everything together while we try and get the hinges working again.

I wonder if another option is new hinges - or least taking off the old ones one at a time and trying to clean them out more thoroughly?

 

[MikeG]

Thanks for the replies. We did try WD40 and managed to open the third window as a result. It was magical when the whole thing finally swung free. But the other two are resisting. I don't think the wood is rotten - it's that the corner joint below the hinges looks like it will separate under pressure before the hinges will give in and rotate. I like PP's idea of a board nailed on to keep everything together while we try and get the hinges working again.

I wonder if another option is new hinges - or least taking off the old ones one at a time and trying to clean them out more thoroughly?

Not nailed, no! Screwed. (As your window would be if you nailed it! )

 

[JBean]

Yes of course, screwed. :roll:

 

[CliffordPope]

I've had that problem, but with hinges hidden in the pivoting joint so the screws were hidden.
I used an angle grinder on the projecting hinge, which either cut it free or it melted the paint and the hinge turned.
Then I could dig out the screws from the wood and replace the hinges.
Shield the glass from sparks.

 

[88v8]

A small blowlamp precisely wielded, will melt the paint in the hinges
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Butane-Gas-Micro-Blow-Torch-Lighter-Welding-Soldering-Brazing-Refillable-Tool-UK-/401001994122?hash=item5d5d94d78a:gVgAAOSw0HVWB642

Modern hinges are not the same size as your originals.
I would take the hinges off - a fiddly job - strip and derust them. The sort of people who paint windows shut tend to be botchers, so you may end up having to do a total strip and repaint. Job for next spring perhaps.

While you are persuading the windows to open, be very careful of your old glass.

Ivor

 

[plasticpigeon]

A small blowlamp precisely wielded, will melt the paint in the hinges
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Butane-Gas-Micro-Blow-Torch-Lighter-Welding-Soldering-Brazing-Refillable-Tool-UK-/401001994122?hash=item5d5d94d78a:gVgAAOSw0HVWB642

Ivor

Yes of course, that is the obviouos answer!!!

 

[livias]

I don't like the risk of open flames so I'd use a heat gun instead. They come with various nozzles so pick a fine nozzle.

My (mum's) patent method to clean hinges and other small bits of metal is to boil them up in a pan of water. The metal expands, the paint falls off and hey presto you are done! Its a bit smelly and may vapourise lead so best to use a camping stove outside

 

[JBean]

Thanks for all the advice!

On further inspection, the hinges weren't that full of paint, just completely stuck through years of not being used. So we tried PP's suggestion and bought a large sheet of ply and screwed it to one of the windows. Gently, gently we pushed and rocked the window, encouraging the hinges to rotate. They really did not want to. As soon as I could see them from the inside, I sprayed on WD40 and then we pushed gently some more. And eventually the window opened! We had to support it carefully as of course the ply made the whole thing heavier. Then we took off the ply and reopened the window and sprayed some dry lube into the hinges. We felt so pleased for the house that its windows could open again - and very relieved that we had not broken the glass. Tomorrow we will tackle the other one.

Thanks again to everyone for your advice. I think we would just have given up otherwise and left them painted shut.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm really pleased it worked out!