How To: Remove & Install Window Sash

In this video I show you the tools and techniques to remove, reinstall, and change ropes on double-hung window sash. It’s DIY friendly and big money saver to do this yourself!

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Royalty Free Music by Bensound and Epidemic Sound

[maryconklin]

By far the best video addressing removing and installing window sashes. I found no others that included the upper sash. Such a good explanation of how to feed the ropes and how to cut them to the appropriate length. So clearly presented especially for a beginner like me. Thank you!!

[jimhamster]

I've done a number of windows and this video is excellent. One thing you seemed to gloss over was the reinstallation of the second parting bead. I've always found it difficult to squeeze in that second bead and getting it past the notch in the upper sash. Would love to see how you do it.

[rominapawlak]

Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you SOO much for this video! We purchased a home built in 1910, and this actually makes me excited to begin restoring our windows!

[roncox]

I have watched a wide variety of videos for replacing ropes on the sash and I think this was the best of any period Thank you

[madisonreyes]

THIS is EXACTLY what I needed. I think this is the only YouTube video that shows you how to remove the 'parting bead'. I could not figure out how to get out the upper window pane until I watched this. THANK YOU!!!!

[martinwilson]

I love watching these sash window videos, it’s what I do for a living, been doing them 30+ years, done well over 10k . In England we fit new staff and parting beads that have brush pile in them, this is for draughtproofing and makes them slide easier, I would always re-cord in one continuous rope -saves so much cord . I always put a screw under one side of the top sash before removing the parting bead, this is to stop it falling once freed if it’s no longer attached to the old cord . Finally I never use Philips screws in Victorian style ironmongery - always slotted, as they would of been . In the uk, we’re not as strict about lead paint, so I burn all the paint off the boxes and strip the paint off the sashes before re-priming, not sure if you’re allowed to do that in America

[happybobummy]

I'm almost 10 years in on residential carpentry in an East Coast city with tons of old houses. Torn out a lot of these old windows for pocket replacements, but never installed new sashes on an old window.

Next week I'm flying the nest and becoming a lead carpenter. First job is replacing the sashes in a 100 year old house.

Your video here has relieved all my stress for Monday.

Great content, thank you very much!

[bernadettepesce]

This video is exactly what I need! I have ten 6-over-1 double hung windows that need work including new sash cords and painting. Thank you SO much.

[JackTRyan]

Best video out there on this topic. Love that you showed the ENTIRE job, start to end. Another YouTube video notes that only one side of the stops need to be removed, which can save a little time. Plus, not sure why you removed the top stop...just to make sure all the woodwork matches perfectly perhaps? Thanks for the information.

[ednagale]

Love the look of old "wavy" glass.

[robscott]

Sir that is some of the most brilliant Sash window instruction that I have ever seen!!! Well done and excellent photography👍

[danilorainone]

very common in making old wood sash windows work again, , rope gets painted in decorating, and fibers break over time, tenants leave the storm cracked open in rain n snow, = water soaks the old wood sill, nails too large when nailing up the trim catch the rope weights, windows painted solid shut, I have been working w wood sashes for 30 years, so nice to see them work again, well puttied and preserved wood usually outlasts the plastic aluminum double whammy windows and the biddy springs ckips and doodads that break after a few years, sometimes earlier

[DeafRVTraveler]

Very clear and thorough! Thanks for sharing. I have a 1923 craftsman home in Southern California. Bottom sash are able to move up and down however the top sash are not. So this is going to be one of my future project to get the top sash in working order. Thanks again!

[WanieB]

We bought an old house about a year ago and have started working on the old weighted windows. thank you for the video!!!! i could not figure out how to get the top sash out. It breaks my heart to see how many coats of paint is on these windows, my goodness a little maintenance every couple of years would have been sufficient. sad all that work has been hid all these years but these 81 year old windows are gonna shine again!!

[heatherscanlon]

I’m going to try this. I bought a 90 year old craftsman home last summer with all original woodwork, built ins and windows. Everything is in great condition and have never been painted.

[Talonstorm]

Thanks for this video! It was really helpful for me as I start to work on the windows in my 1903 home. I picked up a copy of your book "Old Windows Made Easy" too as a reference. 👍🏻

[kimberlyjones]

Between reading your new book and watching this video **a bunch of times** I’ve successfully removed the first of many windows in our old house. Well, I should say the hubs and I removed the top and bottom sashes, lol. I just thought I could do it by myself. Everything went just as you said it would including paint, nails, caulk, and gloop. Thanks so much!

[ammo]

Took me 20 tries to find a video with the top sash removal. Huge thumbs up for that.

[claremore]

Marvellous step-by-step guide to removing /replacing wooden sash windows - the best video I have seen...thanks 🙂

[kirkrogers]

I agree with many of the comments and say best detail video. I appreciate showing this.