I recently posted a message looking for a vinyl sash replacement kit.
I have a single hung vinyl window with damage to the sash. This is a
new construction house, built 2.5 years ago. Replacing the window
would mean peeling back the vinyl siding on the outside of the house
to remove the window. I'm looking to avoid replacement if I can.

Unfortunately, I do not know the manufacturer of the windows. Neither
does the home owner's association. The builder doesn't. The supplier
to the builder no longer carries windows.

I find it hard to believe some window manufacturer hasn't started to
make replacement vinyl sashes. For new construction houses, it's
nearly impossible to replace the windows without great expense or
trouble. You would think there is an easy way to address this
problem.

Does anyone know why a wooden or aluminum sash replacement kit
wouldn't work in a vinyl window?

Are there any other resources or places I can turn to for help with
this question? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

"Jeff Puckett" wrote
I recently posted a message looking for a vinyl sash replacement kit.
I have a single hung vinyl window with damage to the sash. This is a
new construction house, built 2.5 years ago. Replacing the window
would mean peeling back the vinyl siding on the outside of the house
to remove the window. I'm looking to avoid replacement if I can.

Unfortunately, I do not know the manufacturer of the windows. Neither
does the home owner's association. The builder doesn't. The supplier
to the builder no longer carries windows.

I find it hard to believe some window manufacturer hasn't started to
make replacement vinyl sashes. For new construction houses, it's
nearly impossible to replace the windows without great expense or
trouble. You would think there is an easy way to address this
problem.

Does anyone know why a wooden or aluminum sash replacement kit
wouldn't work in a vinyl window?

Are there any other resources or places I can turn to for help with
this question? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Your window is _probably_ a standard size, but unfortunately as already
pointed out, different manufacturer parts are not interchangeable.

The good news is, vinyl siding is not that hard to unzip and put back. Your
window _probably_ has a nailing fin, being a single hung window you can bet
it was the cheapest window available. Normally on new construction, single
hung are installed on the first floor, with double hung installed on the
second floor. If your window is on the first floor, this is more good news
since you wouldn't have to work that high off the ground.

Measure your window, look for a new construction window same size (frame and
all). Unzip siding, there is a small tool called a siding zipper which
costs about $10. Start with the 2nd panel above the window and unzip, this
will let you have access to the fasteners on the panel below. Pull
fasteners, make sure you mark siding panel with an ID # so you know how &
where to re-install. Mark all your J channels where they go (you may have
to buy new channels, since the outside dimensions of new window may differ
because of casing. Once siding is off down below window, pull fasteners from
nailing fin. Install new window plumb/level/square. Reinstall everything
you took off, caulk as needed. You may have to cut a few pieces down
depending on outside casing. Hopefully, you won't need longer siding! Get a
brochure from one of these DIY centers on installing siding. The trick to
installing vinyl siding is you don't pull it tight, it is supposed to
_hang_. Don't nail vinyl siding tight, it needs to expand/contract.

You can do it, just take your time.