New Thermopane Basement Windows

I’ve got to replace the windows in our basement soon. They’re aluminum as well and are mortared in place with an angled sill on all four sides, inside and out.

Anything I should watch for when doing the job, or is it easier than my cautious mind is making it?

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

In my case, it went easier than expected. After removing the glass frames, I removed the bottom aluminum sill by hitting it with a cold/cement chisel in the center bending it upwards, wear eye protection. The sides were short and came out easily. The window frame corners were not fastened on mine, the aluminum was just sort of crimp interlocked together at the corners, if you know what I mean. This made frame removal easier. The top frame piece was simply nailed into the wooden house sill in two spots. I used a cats’s paw to pull the rusty nails out and then the top frame piece came out with ease as there was no mortar at the top.

One word of caution, my new windows came with friction fit screens that you pull downward from ithe inside of the basement and then push outwards to remove. Make sure the windows are spaced properly from the top sill and stucco (in my case) so that the screens have clearance to remove, otherwise you may never be able to remove the screens for future repair, etc. I tested screen removal before permanentaly installing the windows to make certain they functioned properly. Good Luck. I figure the 4 new basement windows should help with energy efficiency/heating bills here in PA.

-- DONE is a "four letter word" at our house, we don't say it often.

I did this upgrade to my house when I lived in Maine. It was unbelievable how much cold was coming in those old windows. I could actually go in the basement during the winter, without my parka and muk-luks.

-- Tim

Wow, basements. I’m so jealous.

Nice job on the windows, Jim.

Great Lookin Job Very Nice

We need to do this too. One of our many projects so badly in need of. But our window wells fill up with water and come thru the windows when we get alot of rain. Did you have this problem before replaceing the windows? I never thought about putting rock in there to help with drainage, I’m not sure it even will. But I do like the idea of going with deeper wells. How much rock did you or are you putting in? Thanks for any advise you can give me and thanks for sharing this. This may have helped with our problem! By the way, I love the idea you came up with for the sills. Might have to do that too. Thanks again for sharing this.

-- Janice

Thanks for your comments. Actually one of the window wells did fill up with water once and the new window leaked. This was after I completed (not pictured) new 24” deep window wells and added approximatly one foot of drainage rock to each window well base. The leaking was caused by one of the worst rains that we have seen around her in the last 15 years or so, and happened to the window closest to the roof downspout. Unfortunalty I think the permanent solution to the problem is more complicated and pricey, meaning digging down to the homes foundation, installing drain tile around the base of the foundation and connecting new window well drains to them. I’m no expert on drainage though, just a thought. I do have a floating slab for my basement floor and a sump pump in the corner where the window leaked which kept things under control. Good Luck!

-- DONE is a "four letter word" at our house, we don't say it often.

That’s really has to help on energy cost

-- If at first you don't succeed ask some one at Home Refurbers