Tips for Replacing Windows With Brick Siding

Window Removal

• Methods of removing windows vary widely. The level of finesse that is required depends on whether you are planning to reuse the window somewhere else. If it's an old, ruined window, you can be quite brutal in your removal. If it's a nice window, take some time to remove it undamaged so it can be reused elsewhere. Run a reciprocating saw around the perimeter of the window between the outside of the window frame and the inside of the rough opening, cutting any nails that are there. Working with another person, push the window out of the rough opening and have your assistant lower it to the ground.

Exterior Fill

• To fill the rough opening of the window on the outside of the building, clean away any remaining dust, dirt, debris, wood bits and putty that may interfere with new brick in the opening. Apply mortar to the bottom face of the rough opening and build a miniature brick wall that fills up the opening. You can do this quickly by simply fitting the bricks into the opening, or you can make it look professional by chiseling out the half-bricks along the sides of the rough opening, creating a toothed pattern into which you can fit the new bricks. A talented mason can almost make an old window hole disappear using this method.

Interior Fill

• If the interior wall is exposed brick, you can use the same method as for the outer face. You may want to take more care with the interior fill-in if it's in a prominent place within your home that you will look at every day. If the wall is double brick with a space in between the inner and outer walls, use the opportunity to put some insulation in between the two surfaces and improve your home's heat retention.

Safety

• Both window removal and brick work can present opportunities for hurting yourself, so be sure not to take advantage of them. Even if you're not planning to break any glass when removing the window, wear gloves as a safety precaution. Keep the gloves on for working with mortar, because the lime in the mortar will suck the moisture out of your skin and cause it to crack. Steel-toed boots are also essential when working with heavy objects such as bricks. A dropped brick can easily break a toe if you're working in your sandals.