Replace a Window | |
Basic Steps of Window Replacement 1. Remove both the left and right inner stop with a pry bar and hammer. You can break the stop since this piece of molding will not be reused. After you remove both stops, be careful that the lower inner sash does not fall out of the jamb. 2. Remove the sash from the jamb by pulling the sash weight cords out of the channels in the side of the window sashes. Some sashes will have their cords tacked or nailed in place. Just cut the sash cords with a utility knife and allow the sash weights to fall to the bottom of the sash weight compartments. 3. Carefully remove the outer casing. We found it easier to drive a wonder bar between the old window jamb and casing. You don't have to worry about messing up the jamb and any marks on the casing will be against the new window, and not show. After the casing is loosened from the inside of the window will then work it loose from the siding. 4. The old window required a wide rough opening to accommodate the sash weights. To assure a solid nailing surface behind the new window's installation flange, we installed 2x4's across the top and sides of the old jamb. The window was shorter than the old so a new sill was installed. Cripples are nailed to the outer 2x4's, the new 2x4 sill, nailed in place, then the center cripple toe nailed in place. This space is filled with fiberglass insulation. 5. The new window is placed into the rough opening and held in place with a nail in one top corner. Then, the window is squared up. 6. Shim at sides where necessary. Make sure the new window jamb is not bowed at the meeting rail. This window has removable sashes that can fall out if the center of the new jamb is badly bowed out. 7. When both the window and the jamb is square, complete nailing the window from the outside with 1 3/4-in. roofing nails. 8. The new window was about 8 in. shorter than the existing window so new cedar siding was installed under the window. 9. The new window was slightly wider than the old window so the exterior casing was cut down to fit. It is nailed in place with 8d galvanized casting nails and all joints caulked. 10. Top, side, and sill extension jambs are available from Andersen to allow the window to be installed in just about any wall. The extension jambs must be cut to fit the thickness of the existing wall. Put them in position and mark the top and bottom, then rip to width. 11. The width of the new window was chosen to fit inside the old trim. Replacing the fancy crown molding at the top of the window would have been very difficult. Since the window was slightly wider, the old casing must be cut down to maintain the same overall width. Since the window was shorter, the side casing is cut off short to fit the new window and a new sill is fabricated. Written by the editors of HouseNet. Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |