How to replace a window frame bottom rail?

edkelly

Hi everyone, I have a timber window frame that needs some TLC. This window is hard to access so previous owners and myself have left it neglected for quite a number of years I suspect. I have attached a picture. The bottom rail needs replacing. The other wood under the rail is pretty sound so will sand that back and repaint. I know I'll need to buy a tri quad piece of wood to replace the bottom rail. 

My question is how do you attach the new tri quad to the existing frame? Do I need to use putty or sealant on the new piece of wood to stick to the glass and wood? Or as in the pictures will new nails do? Do I then do sealant around the edges? The other windows in the house doesn't look like it has sealant around the edges but I may be wrong. Thanks in advance.

  

JacobZ

Hi @edkelly,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Any work done around glass should be done with extreme caution as there is the potential for the glass to shatter with even a light knock. Please ensure you wear eye protection, gloves, long work clothes, and enclosed shoes and take all other possible precautions to prevent injury to yourself or others. If you are not confident, consider employing a glazier for their assistance.

Beading like this is usually shot in place with galvanised brad nails such as these PowerFit 25mm C Series Electro-Galvanised Brad Nails which are aimed down into the windowsill. The length of the nail is dependent on the size of the timber, so if you have a larger piece of tri-quad, use a longer nail. You are looking to go through the quad and embed roughly half way into the sill beneath. Ensure the nail is galvanised as it is outdoors and will be susceptible to rust.

A good part of the reason the timber is not in great condition is because it hasn't been sealed. I'd suggest regardless of whether the other windows have been sealed or not, you should do it to prolong the life of the new timber.

To seal the bottom and top edge of your timber, you can use Selleys 430g White No More Gaps Exterior Gap Filler. Check out How To Silicone a Gap for some guidance on this.

Once sealed, everything should be painted with a suitable exterior paint such as Dulux Weathershield or Wattyl Solagard.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob