"Marvin Wood Double Hung Windows - How to Repair Vinyl Track Where Broken Out at Top"

 By Ron Stultz

Summary: you will have to remove vinyl track from wood frame and then use strips of aluminum to reinforce where vinyl is broken out.

Background:

If window is difficult to lift upward or will not stay in a position once up and the top of the vinyl track looks like the image below, the sash tube clip has broken the vinyl track and the vinyl track it will have to be repaired.

Note that the image below has the window bumper guard down from where it is supposed to sit, up tight against the top of the vinyl track. You might have to either slide your bumper guard down or simply squeeze it and remove it to see the top of the vinyl track.

A broken vinyl track, where only broken out at the top can be repaired without having to buy a new vinyl track although I am sure Marvin would be glad to sell you one.

Marvin will make house calls if after reading this, you do not want to attempt do-it-yourself (DIY).

Tools and supplies needed:

A single sheet of thin aluminum like sold at any Home Depot or other home repairs parts stores.

What is shown above is used for flashing around chimney's, etc.

A pair of scissors (metal cutting shears not required because aluminum sheet is so thin).

Needle nose pliers.

Measure tape.

Repair broken vinyl track:

Remove both windows.  "Marvin Wood Double Hung Windows - How to Till In for Cleaning or Removal"

Remove vinyl track from wood frame. "Marvin Wood Double Hung Windows - How To Remove Vinyl Track"

Take aluminum sheet and mark off a strip that is one inch wide. Strip can be a long as any side of sheet you cut.

Above shows strip cut of aluminum sheet that is 2 inches wide and will be cut again to give 2, "1" inch width strips.

Be careful handling aluminum sheet and cutting strips as edges are sharp and can cut skin.

Insert aluminum strip into vinyl channel where broken out.

Insert enough aluminum to extend down beyond where broken but no more an 1.5 inches or it might interfere with sash tube.

Using your fingers, bend the aluminum strip over the vinyl edge as shown above.

Using scissors, cut the strip off on the back. Leave 2 inches or so of aluminum.

Use pliers to crimp aluminum strip tightly on edge of vinyl track.

Now to reinforce, double down on the strip by adding another over the first.

Now insert another aluminum strip into same channel so it overlaps the first strip.

As with the first strip, bend it over the top of the vinyl.

As with the first strip, cut off the strip on the back.

With both strips in place, again uses pliers to crimp where the strips go over the vinyl.

Now move sash tube clip up and over newly reinforced vinyl edge.