How can I get a painted shut window to open?

Question

I have a very old house and several windows are painted shut and I can't get them to budge to try to open them. I've tried loosening the seal all around the window with no luck. Looks like they've been painted over numerous times. I've tried a chisel and hammer all around the frame, no luck. Any suggestions??

Answer 1

Use a sharpened putty knife to break the paint seal all around the frame of the window. If you have access to the outside, use a wonder bar under the window to gently try to pry it up. These can be miserable to get unstuck sometimes.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The windows were probably very loose fitting and the paint ran down between the window and sash. This will require cutting the paint all the way down to the bottom. As stated, a sharp putty knife is probably the best way to do it.

Answer 3

It's most likely painted shut on the outside as well.
You need to go around both inside & outside surfaces with a utility knife & a putty knife. That should work, if not you need to pull the sashes & clean them up.

Answer 4

THE CHISEL AND HAMMER IS A PERFECT IDEA.
WHRERE I LIVE OUR APARTMENTS WERE JUST
RECENTLY PAINTED AND OF COURSE THE PAINTERS
DON'T TELL YOU TO OPEN THE WINDOWS BEFORE
THEY DRY. SO I TOOK A SCREWDRIVER AND A
HAMMER A BANGED THE WINDOW OPEN. THE TRICK
IS TO PLACE THE SCREWDRIVER INTO THE CRACK
AND THEN BANG IT WITH THE HAMMER AND PUSH
THE SCREWDRIVER DOWN AND THAT WILL LOOSEN
THE WINDOW AND PAINT AT THE SAME TIME. U CAN
DO IT . DON'T GIVE UP..................