I need some suggestions and ideas. I own and live in a modest home that I would like to do some work on. I would like to close up a window in a spare bedroom. The window looks out to the carport. From the inside it just chops up the wall as there is also an exterior door to the north of the window. The window is framed with 1x4's. Should I just fill in the window or tear out the the 1x4's too? I know that will make the project more $$$ but seems the only way to make it look like a blank wall. Sounds kinda stupid now that I have put this in writing. What should the window space be filled with? Thanks.

 

Hi madill and welcome to the forum,
There is a home in my neighborhood that I plan to sneak a picture of. It clearly shows the image of where a window used to be, outlined in peeling paint. My suspicion is they simply filled the space and forgot to provide a continuous vapor barrier, assuming one was already there. But years later, that remodel has now become an obvious problem.

The other issue is thermal bridging. Any extra framing left behind, will increase the heat loss on that wall. During infrared inspections, I often find such work, as the stud/framing pattern stands out clearly and the related heat loss.

Remove what you can. Keep in mind any load bearing issues and leave the header and supports if necessary. But do install a vapor barrier, sealed to the framing exposed for new sheetrock.

Bud

 

I agree with Bud, you should remove the old window and jamb. Frame in the perimeter of the rough opening with additional 2x4's. I like to put construction adhesive between the original rough opening and the new perimeter framing to try and help stop air infiltration. Add one or two studs in the middle of the opening as needed- if you wanted to get fancy you could determine the spacing of the studs on the existing wall and position yours 16" OC to match the original layout. (nice for whoever comes back later to do paneling, drywall, siding, etc)

The 2x4's around the perimeter will give you something solid to nail your drywall and sheathing to. Match the thickness of the existing exterior sheathing with something similar. Then you'd insulate and install VB as Bud mentioned.

As for the siding, you often see people fill in windows with siding, stacking one seam on top of another. It's one thing if that is a temporary fix, but if you want to repair that area permanently, you will likely need to remove additional siding in order to patch it in properly. You never want to have a seam on top of a seam with lap siding. But I guess you didn't mention what type of siding you currently have.

 

Since this is a bedroom, may we assume that there is another window in the room? If you are going to close off the only window - aka escape route - that is a No No.

 

if you reread the message he said there's also an exterior door.... as long as no one closes up the door in the future....