Removing the Jams

This job is often a lot of fun, especially if you like tearing things up! With older wood windows, you are probably going to destroy the jams when you tear them out. A lot of them have lead weights inside the jam, make sure you watch for them, as they tend to fall on toes. Some metal frames are removable by removing screws.
If the home was built within the last 20 years or so, it may have been nailed from the outside through a flange. If that is the case, you can either cut through the flange with a sawzall, or remove the old siding and pop the nails out. It all depends on what your intentions are regarding the siding. All in all, there are several scenarios that you might encounter, all of which I can't give every detail for here. If you have any specific questions, check out our forum and you can post them there.

Clean up the Opening

Once all the window pieces are out, check for any nails or screws sticking out and remove them. Also check for any residue of caulk or insulation. This is a good time for you to check to see if the window was leaking also. Look for any stains in the wood that would indicate that water was getting in somewhere. If you find any, pay good attention to it's location and try to provide adequate flashing, especially in that area. You might also want to double check your measurements to insure that the new window is going to fit.

As you might have guessed, there are a lot of different directions this process can go. There are so many different situations and types of windows. The next section will cover how to flash a window if you are installing New Siding after your New Windows. If you're not installing siding, you can skip that section and go on to Installing Your First Window.