UPVC Window Emergency

Flatulentoldgoat

So I have a house full of very drafty windows due to worn out hinges. I tried to replace one set on a top hung window and I had no idea how heavy the sash was once I started unscrewing it.

Eventually I managed to maneuver it out with a suction pad at great difficulty and got it in. I replaced the hinge, and as I was then trying to line the hinges back into the frame the suction cup suddenly detached. I very, very nearly lost the entire sash and it would have fallen through the out building roof below.

I estimate the sashes must way at least 25kg each! How an earth can a single person do this, from the inside. At the moment the said window is temporarily screwed on precariously with just two screws. I need to bring it back in and adjust the hinges but I'm terrified I'll drop it. Far too dangerous....

Help.

FreeBear

Take the sealed unit out of the frame - Once out, the frame will weigh precious little and is a doddle to work on.

Flatulentoldgoat

FreeBear said:

Take the sealed unit out of the frame - Once out, the frame will weigh precious little and is a doddle to work on.

I think I might be out of luck here, there's no obvious insert on the pane edges that I can wedge out from the inside. The corners of the sash are molded together at a diagonal?

Flatulentoldgoat

See here

greyteam1959

Looks like it could be an external bead.
Probably a fairly old window ??

Flatulentoldgoat

greyteam1959 said:

Looks like it could be an external bead.
Probably a fairly old window ??

About 20 years. That's an image from the inside, so to get the glazing unit out I presume I would need to do this from the outside?? 😫😣😰😰

grumbler

Recently I tried to do this from outside with some pretty old window - and it was impossible to take the bead out without breaking it. And I had a very good platform outside to stand on.

knightstyle

wait till an expert comes along with advice. 
But I don't understand what you mean by the sash.  I thought sash windows went up and down in grooves and did not have hinges.
 When you say the hinges are worn out do you mean the windows no longer close tight to the flexible rubber strip?  If so you can renew the strip with a thicker one without removing the window.

grumbler

knightstyle said:

But I don't understand what you mean by the sash.  I thought sash windows went up and down in grooves and did not have hinges.

It's a more general term

"a frame with a piece of glass in it, used in windows and doors" - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sash

Flatulentoldgoat

knightstyle said:

wait till an expert comes along with advice. 
But I don't understand what you mean by the sash.  I thought sash windows went up and down in grooves and did not have hinges.
 When you say the hinges are worn out do you mean the windows no longer close tight to the flexible rubber strip?  If so you can renew the strip with a thicker one without removing the window.

It's definitely the hinges unfortunately. 20 year old windows, massive gap on the hinge side when closed. Also some of the other windows especially the top hung ones 'drift open' themselves when unlatched.

I'm pretty desperate, only two screws are holding it in place from a catastrophic fall. Plus the elements are pouring through the gap. Access from the outside is also complicated due to the out building belows pitched roof.

EssexExile

There are many specialist companies that do this sort of thing, now you know why!