Painted-shut window repair in Seattle

Why windows get painted shut

In older Seattle homes, decades of repainting, often without masking the moving joints, leave a continuous paint film bridging the sash, the stops, and the frame. Once that film hardens, the window is effectively glued closed. Forcing it usually splits the sash, cracks the glass, or tears the glazing loose.

There's also a safety dimension: bedroom windows are required egress in an emergency, and a window painted shut can't be opened when it matters most. Freeing them isn't just about comfort, it's about ventilation and safe escape.

How we free a painted-shut window

• Score the paint seal precisely along every moving joint
• Break the bond between sash, stops, and parting bead without prying against the glass
• Clear hardened paint from the channels so the sash runs free
• Check and restore the cords and weights so the freed sash actually stays open
• Ease and wax the tracks for long-term smooth operation
• Lead-safe containment and cleanup on every pre-1978 home

Lead-safe by default

Old paint frequently contains lead, and sanding or scraping it without containment puts your household at risk. As an EPA Lead-Safe Certified firm, we follow RRP containment practices so freeing your windows never means contaminating your home.