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Re: Removing Steel Jalousie Windows from a Cinder Block Wall

From: mislynn501@alltel.net
Category: Windows and Doors
Remote Name: 162.39.75.122
Date: 05 Feb 2006
Time: 04:31 PM

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Question: How do you remove old steel jalousie windows from a cinder block house? We plan to replace them with new wooden ones.

Builders Websource® Answer: For those readers who may not be familiar with jalousie windows, these are louvered windows with hinges that you can open and shut with a simple turn of the window crank or center slider bar. While they are ideal for providing excellent ventilation, jolousie windows are difficult to seal, making them a poor choice for energy efficient homes. Many local building codes no longer permit louvered or jalousie windows, so if you're planning to replace your existing steel ones with new wood ones, check with your buidling department so you don't end up wasting your time and money. Furthermore, jalousie windows can be a security threat. Unless the opening is very small, it's easy to open or break them from the outside.

Depending on how your home is constructed and what type of frame was used at the time, your method of removal may vary. On the chance that there is no steel flange locked behind the masonry or cinder block, there may be some screws on the inside of the frame that anchor the frame into the window jamb. If you see no screws, you'll need to strip the window down to the bare frame...and either use a reciprocating saw with a bimetal steel blade to cut the steel frames flush with the existing cutout, or consider installing a replacement window that fits within the existing frame. We recommend that you hire a window company to confirm the measurements for you since the actual sizes may vary depending on what you opt to do with the existing frame.

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