Tips for Home Window Installation
Replacing your home's windows can be very beneficial for any homeowner. For one thing, new windows can add value to the property you own. Later, if you decide to sell your home, you will be able to ask for a much higher asking price than you could have gotten previously. You can also get tax credits of up to $1,500 on your federal taxes if you use Energy Star windows for your window installation. For most people, it's not that difficult to replace windows. It normally about an hour to replace a single window and keep in mind it's much easier if someone is helping you.
When you are planning to do window installation, remember that it is easier to install new windows from the inside. It is also much safer, because you do not have the risk of falling or other dangers that you would have if you tried to install the window from the outside. If you prefer, you can certainly do window installation from the outside.
When you remove the sash stops during your window installation, be very careful. You will reuse these same sash stops. A utility knife will cut the paint and a flat putty knife is useful to pry it off. A flat pry bar is perfect for removing the sash. Pull each nail up a little at a time all along the trim's length so that you can avoid breaking it in half.
When doing window installation, be careful with your new replacement window. Installing the sill adapter and drilling weep holes is best done with the window lying on an old towel on the floor. This is to help avoid dirt scratching the window. The sill adapter should fill the gap that exists between the outside bottom edge of your window and the wooden sill under it. You can trim this to the right height. Then drill a 1/4 inch hole at the bottom of the adapter an inch from each corner.
Using a level or long straight edge, make sure the jambs are flat and not bowing in either direction. This is called shimming. If the jambs bow out the window will be loose and not weather sealed and if they bow inward the window will stick. A utility knife works well to trim shims and is safer and faster than a hand saw.
A low-pressure polyurethane window and door insulation foam is perfect for your window installation. Avoid using high-pressure expanding foam to fill the gap between the old frame and the new replacement window, because it can expand too much, causing the jambs to bow and the window to stick when you try to open it. Even a low-pressure foam expands a good bit. Use just one inch deep beads and allow it to expand. This will make window installation much easier because foam is hard to clean up if it squeezes out.
When you are planning to do window installation, remember that it is easier to install new windows from the inside. It is also much safer, because you do not have the risk of falling or other dangers that you would have if you tried to install the window from the outside. If you prefer, you can certainly do window installation from the outside.
When you remove the sash stops during your window installation, be very careful. You will reuse these same sash stops. A utility knife will cut the paint and a flat putty knife is useful to pry it off. A flat pry bar is perfect for removing the sash. Pull each nail up a little at a time all along the trim's length so that you can avoid breaking it in half.
When doing window installation, be careful with your new replacement window. Installing the sill adapter and drilling weep holes is best done with the window lying on an old towel on the floor. This is to help avoid dirt scratching the window. The sill adapter should fill the gap that exists between the outside bottom edge of your window and the wooden sill under it. You can trim this to the right height. Then drill a 1/4 inch hole at the bottom of the adapter an inch from each corner.
Using a level or long straight edge, make sure the jambs are flat and not bowing in either direction. This is called shimming. If the jambs bow out the window will be loose and not weather sealed and if they bow inward the window will stick. A utility knife works well to trim shims and is safer and faster than a hand saw.
A low-pressure polyurethane window and door insulation foam is perfect for your window installation. Avoid using high-pressure expanding foam to fill the gap between the old frame and the new replacement window, because it can expand too much, causing the jambs to bow and the window to stick when you try to open it. Even a low-pressure foam expands a good bit. Use just one inch deep beads and allow it to expand. This will make window installation much easier because foam is hard to clean up if it squeezes out.
