Adding a window yourself?

How hard is it to install a window yourself where one doesnt exist? Bought an old lake house and living room is dark, no window on one side, would like to put in a large window, with so many other repairs needed have to keep costs down by doing projects myself but have never actually installed a window before, thanks

 

Putting the actual window in isn't too hard.....

Getting the hole ready is the trick.

Describe your wall, the inside finish, the outiside finish, whether the wall supports the roof and so on...

 

I have the same question, if you wouldn't mind answering it for me as well. I would just like to add one 30" window on the east side of my den to match the two north-facing windows already in the room. The house is wood-frame, and about 43 yrs. old. The wall is paneled inside and painted outside, and it does look like it supports the roof. It's a pitched roof, and the eaves slant out over that wall.

Thanks!

Sue

 

Since you're fairly sure it's a load bearing wall ( the roof pitches down to that wall ), you'll have to have a "header" in the wall.....for a 30" wide window, the rough opening will be about 32" for a wood window, or right at 30 for a vinyl or aluminum window.....shop for the window you want first to confirm what size hole you need.

The header will be a double 2x10 or 2x12 that will need to be 3" longer than the hole size width you need. Then a "trimmer" or "jack" or "cripple" stud ( depending on what it's called in your part of the country) goes underneath the header to hold it up...that the reason the header is 3" longer.

Consult a book on carpentry for exact "how to" on this.

Since you have paneling inside, that's not too hard to remove to access the wall, and re install without damage. I assume you have some kind of wood siding ( you said "paint") that can be cut and modified.

This is a job above the level of a noivice, but definitely doable with some skills and tools.

 

thanks,, sounds like Sue and I have the same type walls,, wanted to be sure I had thought of everything befoer I start,, since I am going to remove the paneling totally and put up sheetrock, won
t matter about tearing up paneling..