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Restoring Vintage Sliding Garage-Doors A Ft. Worth home, in the 1930s modern style, gets a distinctive period feature restored. From "Restoration Realities" episode DRTR-211

(Continued from page 2)

Removing and Rebuilding Window Frames

• Loosen the old window frames using a cat's paw and a hammer to remove the nails.

• Use a hammer and pry bar to tap and pry the frame pieces loose (figure J) and carefully lift out the frames.

• If the wood surrounding the frames is weak, a temporary support may be needed. Just screw a 2x 2 in the width of the door to the door before you remove the frames (figure K). This temporary support will need to be removed after you reinstall the new frames.

• Carefully remove the glass and set it aside in a secure location.

  Figure J

  Figure K

  
  

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  Figure L

• Flip the doors over to work on the other side.

  Note: Garage doors are heavy, so you'll need plenty of help completing this step.

• If there's a "lip" around the existing hole for the frame, cut it back flush using a jigsaw (figure L).

• Repeat process for each window frame.
  

  	Figure M
  	Figure N

• Measure the opening and rip wood to the widths you'll need using a table saw.

• Also, using the table saw, cut a rabbet in the wood. This is an "L" shaped channel that the glass will rest on.

• Using a miter saw, cut the frames to your measured lengths.

• The style of window frame the homeowners want requires a muntin bar.

• To ensure the muntin bar fits flush with the top and bottom frame, recess the ends of the rabbet cut (figure M). This is not a through cut with the miter saw. Using a chisel and a mallet, remove the indention. Repeat this process for the side jambs of the window frame as well.

• To attach the window frames, use a polyurethane glue to hold the joints together. First, lightly dampen the end of each frame and add a small amount of polyurethane glue to each end. Next, connect the frames.

• Secure the frames together using finish nails (figure N).

• Lightly sand each frame. An orbital palm sander with 80 to 120 grit sandpaper disks works best.
  

  	Figure O
  	Figure P

• Using carbide scrapers and palm sanders, remove any loose paint (figure O).

  Safety Alert: Be sure to wear particle masks to avoid breathing in paint dust.

• Next, prime the door and newly built frames, allowing sufficient time to dry.

• Install the window frames. Any temporary supports that were added earlier need to be removed before the new frames are installed.

• Screw the window frames back into the door (figure P).

• Once the frames are installed, paint the door.

• Allow the paint to dry fully.

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