How to Replace the Windows in a Bathroom
If the old wood windows in your bathroom have started rotting out from moisture and the hardware is starting to rust, maybe it's time to put away the wood putty and oil and just replace them. Modern replacement windows are much easier to install than their older counterparts. Because they come pre-hung in their casings, all you have to do is set the whole unit in the opening at once. Also, they're available in all-vinyl construction, a big plus for the wet environment of the bathroom.
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pry bar
- Hammer
- Window replacement unit (vinyl)
- Insulation
- Carpenter's level
- Shims
- Drill with screwdriver bit
- 3-inch mounting screws
- Trim nails
- Caulk
Instructions
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1
Order your new window with an adjusted height-by-width measurement of the window opening. Take the measurements in both directions from inside the tracks where the sashes move, adjusting the sashes up and down as needed to get the measurements. Subtract ½ inch from the measurement you come up with in both directions (vertical and horizontal) to leave ¼ inch of "play" on each side. Leave the old window in place until the new unit arrives.
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2
Use a pry bar and hammer to remove the narrow border of trim that's affixed around the interior edge of the window opening, holding in the sashes. Keep the trim intact and set it aside. Pull out the sashes.
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3
Set a strip of insulation on the bottom horizontal edge of the window opening. Set the new window unit on the insulation, bottom-first, then push the top up and in. Stuff insulation into the spaces around the edges and top. Push until the window unit is flush against the strip of trim bordering the exterior edge of the window.
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4
Level the window by inserting shims under and around the edges of it, while holding your level at various horizontal and vertical positions. When it's level, secure the unit by driving 3-inch mounting screws through the holes in the sides of the unit and into the house frame.
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5
Use trim nails and your hammer to put the trim back in place, trapping the window unit in place. Caulk around the edges of the unit.
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