From time to time, the cord may need to be changed due to wear and tear. With some time and effort, a homeowner can learn how to change a broken cord on a sash window by themselves. To make the repair, have a putty knife, small pry bar, flat head screw driver and several small nails on hand.
First, take off the interior stop. This can be pried off with the putty knife or it can be unscrewed. Pull away the inner sash as carefully as possible. There are upward pieces inside the frame, called stile grooves, where the cords are tied in place. Pull them free and remove the weights. If it needs it, clean out the frame.
Next, the parting strip needs to be opened from one of the jambs. These are upright supports in the window frame. Be careful when trying to remove this as it may be nailed down. The cords can be taken off after the upper sash is taken out.
The next step is to deal with the weight pockets. You can find them by taking off the weather stripping. They're usually behind plates near the bottom of the jambs. If you don't see them here, you may have to look behind the inner casing. Once these are out of the way, you can get to the weights.
Be sure to measure out the new cords before you replace them and cut the to the right length. Untie the old ones and add the new ones by sending them over the pulleys and then into the weights. Each weight has an eye, which a small bar you can loop the string around. Tie it off here. You can also use wire to help keep it in place.
You can make it a little easier on yourself by nailing the weights to the frame. Pull the weight up to the top of their pockets before you do. Now take the outer cords and attach them to their slots with a screw. Put the plates and weather stripping back and then replace the parting strip. You can take out the nails now. You next have to lift sash and tie the strings to the inner sash then put the whole thing back together.
It might be easier to change all the strings at one time while the frame is apart. This insures that they are all fresh and shouldn't need to be changed again for some time. It is possible to use chain instead of string, whichever is preferred. It may take some time, but it's much less costly to do it yourself.
First, take off the interior stop. This can be pried off with the putty knife or it can be unscrewed. Pull away the inner sash as carefully as possible. There are upward pieces inside the frame, called stile grooves, where the cords are tied in place. Pull them free and remove the weights. If it needs it, clean out the frame.
Next, the parting strip needs to be opened from one of the jambs. These are upright supports in the window frame. Be careful when trying to remove this as it may be nailed down. The cords can be taken off after the upper sash is taken out.
The next step is to deal with the weight pockets. You can find them by taking off the weather stripping. They're usually behind plates near the bottom of the jambs. If you don't see them here, you may have to look behind the inner casing. Once these are out of the way, you can get to the weights.
Be sure to measure out the new cords before you replace them and cut the to the right length. Untie the old ones and add the new ones by sending them over the pulleys and then into the weights. Each weight has an eye, which a small bar you can loop the string around. Tie it off here. You can also use wire to help keep it in place.
You can make it a little easier on yourself by nailing the weights to the frame. Pull the weight up to the top of their pockets before you do. Now take the outer cords and attach them to their slots with a screw. Put the plates and weather stripping back and then replace the parting strip. You can take out the nails now. You next have to lift sash and tie the strings to the inner sash then put the whole thing back together.
It might be easier to change all the strings at one time while the frame is apart. This insures that they are all fresh and shouldn't need to be changed again for some time. It is possible to use chain instead of string, whichever is preferred. It may take some time, but it's much less costly to do it yourself.
About the Author:
No matter what kind of sash window repairs London residents need, it is as near as an Internet search. You can learn how to achieve sash cord repairs using local professionals and technicians.
