Before a window is painted, a sash is reglazed, a sill is repaired, an Artisan will perform a Mechanical Makeover and during this operation – change the balance system ropes. This is because the Artisan knows that the shortest path to any window maintenance or repair lies not just within the window’s functionality, but in the ability the take the window apart and put it back together quickly.
Preservation Carpenter Amanda Warren changing the ropes at the historic May-Stringer House Museum in Brooksville, FL during the 2018 Historic Homes Workshop
Have you seen new windows with the selling point that allows the consumer to clean the windows by tilting the sash inside the house? That’s not a new window innovation, but rather an innovation borrowed from the historic double hung window, which, when set up correctly allows the sash to be removed in just a minute or two.
This is knowledge that lost to most of the American population, as illustrated by the following conversation.
Client calls the Window Restoration Artisan because of some window problems.
Client: I notice that a lot of the glazing holding the glass in place is falling out. Can you help me?
Artisan: Yes. I see that to get the sash out, I’ll need to perform a Mechanical Makeover and change the ropes out. Your windows will work again by default.
Client: I am not interested in making the window work again, just give me a price on reglazing from the outside.
Artisan: If you would like to go about doing the work in the wrong way, that’s fine with me. You should hire a handyman.
Client: I notice that I have some rot on a sash or two in my windows. Can you fix it?
Artisan: Yes. I see that to get the sash out, I’ll need to perform a Mechanical Makeover and change the ropes out. Your windows will work again by default.
Client: I am not interested in making the window work again, just give me a price to repair the sash.
Artisan: The proper way to repair a sash is to take it out to repair it on a table. If you would like to go about doing the work in the wrong way, that’s fine with me. You should hire a handyman. Client: I notice that the paint on my windows is failing. Can you repaint my windows.
Artisan: Yes. I see that to get the sash out I’ll need to perform a Mechanical Makeover and change the ropes out. Your windows will work again by default.
Client: I am not interested in making the window work again. Can you just give me a price to paint it?
Artisan. The proper way to paint a window is to paint the sash and frame apart from one another. If you would like to go about doing the work in a wrong way, that’s fine, but I suggest you need a painter
Client: I don’t care if my window works or not.
Artisan: Then why am I here?
Artisan: If I fix your glazing, repair your sash, fix your sill and repaint your window, I need to change your ropes, because they come apart from the inside, and I am not going to go about doing the work in the wrong way. I will set your sash on a table so I can be comfortable and do a good job. I will remove the sash so I can properly make a sill repair. I will repaint your sash and frame separately. If you don’t have good ropes, I can’t put your window back together and stand behind my work. If I take them apart from the inside and the ropes are broken – I change out the ropes. This is the proper order of operations and the first order of business. When is there a better time to change the ropes? After I take the windows apart, update the glazing, fix the sash and sill, paint the window and put them back together?
Order of Operations is Everything
There’s no better place in the order of operations to change the ropes than at the beginning.
You could start restoring the sash, but what are you going to hang it on when you are done?
You could start restoring the frame. But what are you going to do – paint it, then change the ropes? Because that’s smart.
Take off the interior stops
Take out the bottom sash
Take out the parting bead
Take out the top sash
Take off the weight pocket door
What if there isn’t a door?
– Make one.
Bill Benham starting to cut a weight pocket door at the Green Goddess job in Miami. Click on the picture to watch a how to video
Remove the weights
Cut new ropes
Steve cutting lengths of Samson Spot Cord on a project in Atlanta, GA. Most residential take a 1/4″ rope, also known as size #8
Feed ropes through pulleys
Attach ropes to weights
Put doors back on
Put top sash back in
Put parting bead back in
Put bottom sash back in
Put stops back on.
Now wasn’t that easy? Now we can work on the windows any time we like.
