Putting in a window where none was before- HOW TO?

Hey,

I have a wall that we're going to place a window in- there is no window there now, only a wall! We want to know how to get started. I assume you first buy the window, cut out the drywall, but we're lost from there. Please help me through this step by step- I've done many home improvements before so this should be a snap. Are there any guidlines as to how big a window we can put in?

Thanks,

Steve Harrison
Jacksonville, FL

 

Make the rough opening 1/2" bigger than the window, both height and width. The window will arrive with a built in jam (probably) and you just shim and nail it into the rough opening you made. The rest is trim and finish. The hardest part is matching the exterior trim to the rest of the house.

 

What are the interior and exterior materials, as well as the wall framing?
Is the dwelling 1 or 2 story?
What is the length of the wall?
What is the size of the window that you had in mind?
What it the room used for.

 

You will need to support any studs you cut off when you create your rough opening. So don't forget to install a header over the window that is supported by jack studs.

 

Hey,

Just wondering if you have to put up a jack to 'hold the roof' while cutting the 2 support studs to install my window. Or if I can just cut them and then install the header.

Thanks,

Steve

 

Hey,

The dwelling is 1 story, in Jacksonville, FL, with drywall interior, insulation, and wood frame. The window is a 3 x 4, the exterior is t1-11 with hardiboard over the top, the window will be in the dining area with a western exposure to view the kids on the playground. Oh yeah, and the wall is 103 inches long on the side of the house.

Thanks,

Steve

 

You have your choice. You can screw up both the interior and the exterior and have to patch and repair both. I’m going to give you the interior only repair.

The easiest method is to not demand of yourself that the installation be centered in the wall, lengthwise.
Having selected a location, cut and remove a section of drywall, the top of which is 90” += above the floor and the lower point being 30” above the floor, and 48” wide, from the center to center of two vertical framing members. These define the perimeter.

At 84” above the floor, having used a level to mark, cut the two studs that occur between the perimeter studs. Measure the window, add 5,½”, mark and cut the lower position and remove the cut pieces.

Without removing the building paper. Scribe a level line 3,½” below the upper cut, mark the center and lay out the exact dimensions of the window,+ ½”ea.way. Check this for square by measuring diagonally. Remove the building paper, cut through and remove the siding.

Construct a header using the removed 2x, if they are still intact, and a piece of the removed T1-11 sandwiched between and install between the perimeter studs, tight to the upper cut-offs, also precut the sill to fit. Below the sill and adjacent to the perimeter studs, cut and install cripples to support the sill ends.

Using an electrometric caulk, place an ample bead on the exterior of the the window nailing flange.
Install the window in the prepared opening by inserting the upper nailing flange between the header and the building paper. With the window in place, install the sill and shim the window up from the bottom corners, again check for square and adjust. When you’re happy, insert three nails at the top from the exterior, through the nailing flange. Firmly install the sill, then the jack studs. Re-nail the siding, clean up the caulking, patch and finish the interior.

Here is a helpfull link;http://www.awc.org/pdf/WCD1-300.pdf

 

"...electrometric caulk...", now thats a new buzz word for me.

But what does it mean?

 

Nag, nag, nag....elastometric.

 

oh, elastomeric, (rubbery). ( I had to look it up )

 

We are doing similar in our bedroom...how did the new window install turn out???

Hoping to see/hear...

Thanks,
RhainyC

 

I am also interested in putting in a window in our bedroom. We already have one window and I want to put one right next to it (side to side). The tricky part I think is moving the existing window over (maybe 16" + -) so I can sorta center the windows in the wall. The windows are 36" W x 46" H and I have aluminum sliding. I guess the easy way would be to just bud the new window up the the exsisting window but it would really look funny on that wall. The wall is 11 feet 6 inches. What is the best way to go about this?

Thanks.
JP