Painted-Shut Windows

Sometimes a few simple steps are all it takes to unstick a window that is painted shut, like the windows in St. Marys, Ga. First, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by carefully checking to make sure the sash hasn't been nailed to the frame, or blocked in place.

If it hasn't, you'll need to cut away the paint at the edge of the sash. You can use any sharp knife, but a pizza cutter does an especially neat job. Be sure to work gently to avoid breaking the glass, and wear eye protection just in case.

• Run the knife all the way around the sash. If that doesn't free it up, force a putty knife as far in as it will go.
  
• If it's still stuck, tap a block of wood against the frame at several points. Don't hit the sash.
  
• As a last resort, use a thin pry bar to push up at the edge of the window, on alternating sides.

And if you need to re-paint your windows, you can easily keep them from sticking just by opening and closing them a few times as they dry.