You've decided to upgrade your home energy-wise. You've chosen the ideal windows, but something's holding you back: the fear of the building site. Dust everywhere, demolished plaster, broken bricks and days of patching up.
We understand completely. In the past, changing windows was indeed a violent process. Today, however, things have changed radically. Modern installation is based on the principles of "dry construction" and controlled extraction.
In the past, to remove an old wooden or aluminium frame, the tradesman would grab a crowbar, wedge it between the wall and the frame and pull with all his might. The frame came out but took huge chunks of plaster with it, shattered bricks and destroyed marble sills. The damage required a plasterer to rebuild the reveals - days of work, extra cost and massive disruption.
The modern approach is purely "surgical". The secret is not brute force but smart tools. Before any tool touches the frame, the room is shielded: furniture is covered with plastic sheeting, the floor is lined with protective corrugated cardboard and the door is closed to contain dust.
The first phase is quiet. The crew removes the glass, unscrews the hinges and takes out the opening or sliding sashes. All that remains on the wall is the outer frame - the perimeter chassis. This step dramatically lightens the frame, making handling safer.
Here lies the essence. Instead of pulling the frame outward (destroying the plaster), the crew uses a reciprocating saw or specialised circular saws with integrated dust extraction. The installer cuts the old frame in half (vertically and horizontally) while it's still screwed to the wall, then folds the pieces inward (into the opening void). The aluminium detaches without exerting any pressure on the plaster!
Once the old frame is removed, the wall is left perfectly "clean" and square. The crew removes old silicone, wipes away dust and the opening is ready to receive the new energy window. No bricklayer or plasterer is needed.
The new window is designed a few millimetres wider. External and internal aluminium trim profiles (cover strips) are fitted. Combined with the acrylic sealant applied around the perimeter, any minor wall imperfections are hidden perfectly. At most, a light touch-up with a paintbrush next time you redecorate.
An experienced crew completes removal + installation of a typical window in 1–2 hours. For a home with 8-10 windows, the entire job is finished within 1–2 days.
Renovation isn't done with a magic wand. Even with the most careful method, there will be a little dust. When an old frame comes out (especially one that's been there for 30 years), the contact point with the wall may show a barely visible paint flake.
You won't need a bricklayer or plasterer. Trim profiles and acrylic sealant cover every imperfection. The comparison with the old crowbar method is dramatic: instead of days of site work, we're talking hours. Instead of demolished plaster, minimal dust. Modern window replacement is now a routine procedure that respects your living space.
Replacing windows in an occupied home is now typically completed within 1–2 days. By choosing crews that respect your space and apply "cutting" rather than "ripping" techniques, you can upgrade your home's energy performance without disrupting your daily life. Ask your installer: "How do you remove old windows?" If the answer includes the word "crowbar", look for more modern solutions.
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