🖼️
The project:
When Cyclone Alfred swept through Queensland in 2025, we were sure our 120-year-old Queenslander cottage windows wouldn’t survive. Most of the old putty and paint had deteriorated, falling off leaving the glass vulnerable to the elements. Fortunately, the windows held up - but it was the motivation we needed to restore them. Finding a tradesperson experienced in timber casement windows proved difficult, so we decided to DIY.
After hours of research, we found an excellent tutorial by the Woodworkers on YouTube, while the knowledgeable team at our Bunnings provided invaluable advice, products and encouragement throughout the entire project.
The classic hopscotch casement windows were hand-crafted by a carpenter from beautiful silky oak that gives Queenslanders so much of their charm and character. Preserving these original features became our priority.
- Materials:
• Selleys Aquadhere PVA Exterior Adhesive Wood Glue
• Selleys Linseed Oil Special Putty
• Zenith 8G x 20mm Timber Screws Long-Thread Countersunk Phillips Drive
• Quality white primer
• Weather-shield Oil-based white gloss paint
• Replacement glass panes (Hartley Williams cut to size $10 each)
- Tools:
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Orbital sander
• Paintbrushes
- Step 1:
Casement window restoration process:
• Remove the old windows, carefully taking out the old hardware -screws, hinges and brackets.
• Gently chisel out the old putty and removed each glass pane.
• Sand back the timber frames, glue and clamp any loose joints with PVA wood glue.
• Re-glaze with new glass panels and apply fresh putty around the panes on the exterior.
• Allow the putty to cure for a couple of days before refitting the hardware.
• Apply a quality primer followed by a weather-shield oil-based gloss finish.
• Rehang each window with a 3 mm gap around the casement, using new screws, fixtures and fittings.
• Install the security latches and handles last (these windows had pendulum handles and cockspur latches).
