Page 186 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 153

Now you need to replace the sash cord. You can use cotton clothesline, because it looks just like the
cord that was there originally. Feed an end over the pulley until it appears in the hole. Tie the end to the
loop on top of the weight.

If you look at the outside edge of the sash frame on each side, you'll see keyhole-shaped cutouts where
the cord is supposed to go. Cut new cord to the proper length and tie a knot in the end. The knot goes
in the round-hole part of the keyhole-shaped cutout. The long thin part of the cutout acts as a guide for
the rest of the rope. Once you fit the sash back in the frame, the cord will be held in place by pressure.

Before you put the window back together, check and see that it operates properly. If the repair has been
done correctly, the window will slide smoothly and stay put when released in any position. If the window
doesn't slide easily, do a little cleaning or sanding.

Replacing a set of four sash cords requires about two hours per window, assuming you don’t break any
trim boards or knock chunks out of the plaster. But those two hours will save the several hundred dollars
a new custom-made insulated vinyl window would cost. Since counterweighted windows were made
from high-quality materials like oak, a vinyl window might not look right in this location anyway. And a
new window probably won't cut heating or cooling cost by more than a dollar or so a month. When in
doubt, repair the existing window and buy new storms.

Adding or Moving a Window
Adding or moving a window will usually require both structural changes (studs and headers) and
changes to the interior finish (wallboard, painting and trim). If the home improvement budget is modest,
money should be spent elsewhere. But a strategically-placed window can add both livability and resale
value to an older home. Figures 8-9 and 8-10 are before and after shots of a window resizing job. To take
good advantage of a beautiful view, both openings were enlarged considerably. This job required about
12 hours per window. Chapter 3 includes estimates for cutting new wall openings for windows and
doors.

Here are some rules to observe when adding, moving or resizing a window:

• Glass area should be equivalent to about 10 percent of floor area.
• Locate windows to promote good cross-ventilation.
• Group windows to eliminate undesirable contrasts in brightness.
• Window venting area should be about half of the window area.
• Provide screens for all sash that open for ventilation.