How to Install New Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows are the typical replacement windows used today. Vinyl is sturdy, cleans easily and is weather and energy efficient. Installing new windows can improve the look and value of your home. Installed properly, vinyl windows will lower energy costs and last for many years. Installing new windows is a task that most homeowners can handle themselves with some basic skills. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Razor knife
- Pry bar
- Electric saw
- Level
- Screwdriver or screw gun
- Batt insulation
- Wood shims
Instructions
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1
Remove any interior and exterior trim. Cut through the caulk with a razor knife where the exterior window trim meets the exterior finish and where it is caulked to the window frame. You should be able to pull the trim free. Interior trim may or may not be caulked but should pull free fairly easily with a small pry bar to get it started.
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2
Cut around the outside of the window frame to free the window from the opening. Use an electric saw to cut through the screws that hold the window into the frame and through the nailing flange, if present. The nailing flange will be behind the exterior finish, if the existing window has one, and can be left in place once cut away from the original window frame.
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3
Replace any damaged or rotted wood that makes up the window opening, known as the buck frame. If replacing any or all of the buck frame, be sure to use a level to make sure the frame is square and a tape measure to verify the frame's size to ensure that the new window will fit. A slight gap of about 1/4 inch around the window, between the window frame and buck frame, will allow for the window to fit in easily and give room to add insulation around the window.
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4
Place the new window in the buck frame and use shims in two or three places, on each side of the window, to create a snug fit. The shims should not be forced in place. If they are too tight, they will bend the vinyl frame and cause the window to not operate properly.
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5
Screw through the vinyl window frame with the screws provided with the window, to secure the window in place. Most vinyl replacement windows have small, vinyl inserts on the top and bottom of the inside of the window frame that can be removed to access the screw locations and replaced to hide the screws. Once the window is in place, check to see that the unit operates properly.
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6
Cut small strips of batt insulation from a roll, about three inches wide, and fill any gaps between the window and the buck frame. Use a shim to push the insulation into the smaller areas. Complete the installation by re-trimming the interior and exterior of the window.
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Tips & Warnings
When measuring windows for replacement ordering, it is best to remove some or all of the interior trim to get an accurate measurement to the existing buck frame.
Be sure to wear heavy gloves when working with exterior trim, as it can be very sharp on the edges.
