What is the best way to unstuck a window that has been painted shut to the window frame?

Question

My home is an older home with windows that slide up and down. The kitchen window was painted when it was slighly open. The top portion of the window frame is overlaping the bottom window frame, they are painted together to each other. How do I break the paint apart so I can open and close the window?

Answer 1

I would use a utility knife to cut the paint.

Answer 2

use a putty knife with a thin blade, it will flex into the joint better and is safer to work with than a utility knife. if that won't break the bond, then wearing leather gloves, try a utility knife. once you have the sashes free, lower the upper, and raise the lower one. i would suggest that you lightly sand the roughness off of the meeting rails, and any other bumps too. as far as keeping the windows sliding freely, i use paste floor wax and an 1 1/2" foam paint brush in the tracks or channels. soap will absorb moisture and since you will most likely be opening the windows during the warm moist months, won't last very long. these hints have served me well in my home, we bought from my father in law, and he wasn't too fussy with a paint brush, if you catch my drift! good luck, i know this works.

Answer 3

A utility knife is the most convenient tool to use. Sometimes, they are a wee bit too large to get to the area that needs to be severed. If this is the case, then, just use a single-sided razor blade and lightly cut the paint that has your double-sash window bound.
When you get the sash to move, spray some WD40 on the joints and sliding surfaces, if you don't have any, just rub some bath soap on the surfaces, it makes a great lubricant.

Answer 4

Double hung windows can be unstuck with an old or new putty knife by tapping with a hammer, then scrape the leftover bits
of paint smooth with same putty knife. Once free, you may want to rub those surfaces with an old bar of soap to lift easy.

Answer 5

Take a putty knife and tap it in between the two windows where they are painted together, this should do the trick for you. good luck.

Answer 6

I'd would try using a utility knife and slip it into the seam and cut the paint.