What Are the Safest Ways to Replace a Window?

Safety Equipment

• One of the safest ways to approach any window replacement project is with the proper safety equipment. Besides always using the right tools and only moving forward when you know what the next step in the process requires, you must always wear eye protection and work gloves. These will protect you from splintering wood as well as broken and shattering glass. When replacing second-story windows, use a ladder rated for your weight and positioned on a stable surface.

Removing Glass First

• As a first step in the process of removing old windows, remove the glass first. This may involve prying out molding that holds the glass in place. For other windows, it may be as simple as disengaging the pins that hold the window glass in the casing. With the glass removed, you'll eliminate the risks that broken glass poses while also giving yourself better places to grasp and lift the window as you remove it.

Getting Help

• Replacing windows may be a job you can perform yourself, but asking for help when you can't is essential to handling the process safely. Lifting large window casings out of a wall, and placing new ones, can be dangerous work if the weight is more than you can comfortably lift on your own. If you plan to enlarge the hole in your wall by removing studs, consult a professional to ensure that you won't compromise your home's structural integrity.

Dealing With Lead

• Whenever you remove older windows, the danger of exposure to lead is a potential concern. Lead-based paint is no longer available, but windows that were installed and painted decades ago may have layers of lead hidden below newer paint. If there's a possibility that your window replacement project will bring you into contact with lead, wear a mask to keep from inhaling lead paint dust. Keep dust to a minimum and clean up the area thoroughly soon after removing the window to prevent the lead from making its way into your home's ventilation system.