[JohnsPop]

I have two windows in my basement that I want to remove and replace with sliders. They are simply big panes of glass held in place by what looks to be aluminum channel. I don't know if this is a cap that snaps over some other channel or what and the only way I know to go about removing them is to try to gently pry this aluminum away from the glass. I thought I'd ask here first though, in case someone can give me more information about this. Attached are four pictures from the inside and out.

[JohnsPop]

Pics 1 & 2 are on the outside and pics 3 & 4 are on the inside.

[Studs ad]

I can't tell too much from the pictures. Normally there is some kind of a "buck" or frame that was put in when the concrete was poured that the window was nailed to. From the looks of things I would pull the trim off the inside and outside to see if you could see how it was fastened in place. One suggestion I do have is to tape the windows corner to corner inside and out with duct tape or some kind of strong tape. Old glass can be very brittle and shatter cutting you. The kitty corner tape will help to hold the glass together, but caution should be taken when working the window, especially if you have to pound or pry at all to get it out.

The window may have its own casing or it may be that it was sandwiched between the inside and outside casings. If you pull the inside trim off, you should be able to see if the window is in a frame or just sandwiched between things.

[smoothy]

What material is the frame made from? Wood, plastic, metal? Inside and out.

I agree with studs ad. lots and lots of a wide tape criss crossed all over it on both sides to contain breaking glass if and when it breaks....I'll thinking its almost inevitable. Thats a big piece...a bigh chunk breaking loose from the high side and falling unrestrained can easily cause a life threatening injury.

[JohnsPop]

I don't see any frame of any kind. All I can see are these trim pieces. They appear to be aluminum. I was planning on taping all over the glass, but thank y'all for pointing that out. Yeah, it's pretty thick glass, like maybe 1/4" so I know it's going to be heavy as all get out. I may end up intentionally breaking it depending on what I find. I'll try to figure out what the trim is and see if I can get an inside piece off and report back my findings.