How to: Instructions for Replacement Windows
Owning a home brings the responsibility of maintaining it. Replacing old windows is one part of maintaining your home. As your windows age, they not only begin to look worn but the seals around them wear out, making them less energy-efficient and allowing moisture to pass through. This can create condensation on windows and cause the growth of mold and mildew. Replacing your windows can eliminate these problems and help save on energy costs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pry bar
- Hammer
- Wire cutter
- Scraper
- Wood putty
- Putty knife
- Sandpaper
- Cleanser
- Scrub brush
- Gloves
- Safety goggles
- Mask
- Drill
- Drill bit, 3/8-inch
- Expanding foam insulation
- Caulk
- Replacement windows
- Head expander (if included)
- Carpenter's level
- Screws, 2-inch
- Shims
- Utility knife
- Elastomeric caulk
- Foam-rubber backer rod
- Window stops (if old ones can't be reused)
- 4d finish nails
- Paintbrush
- Primer
- Paint
- Stain
Instructions
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1
Measure the width and height of the existing windows between the window jambs at each end and across the middle. (The window jambs are the parts of the frame that the window is attached to.) Use the smallest measurement for the height and width for determining the size of the new windows.
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2
Remove the wooden stops inside the jambs by unscrewing them or prying them off, handling them carefully as you'll reuse them. Press the jamb liners inward and remove the window sash (the movable part) by tipping the top of the sash toward you and tipping it to one side. If the sash has cords or chains attached, cut them off the sash. The cords or chains would be attached to weights, which keep the sash open.
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3
Pry the jamb liners off the window frame. Remove the pulleys from the frame if the sash had weights attached to it.
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4
Scrape away any loose or chipped paint from the window frame and patch any holes in the frame with exterior-grade wood putty. Sand the frame smooth and scrub it with a cleanser. If there is mold or mildew on the frame, use a cleanser that contains bleach.
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5
Remove insulation from around the window frame. Wear safety goggles, a mask and gloves, avoiding direct contact with the fiberglass as you remove the insulation.
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6
Drill 3/8-inch-diameter holes in the sill and the head jamb. Drill a hole near each end and one in the middle.
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7
Spray expanding foam insulation into the holes, adding insulation until it comes out of the holes. Spray foam into the side jambs and allow the foam to set for the time specified on the packaging.
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8
Break the excess foam off the frame after it has hardened.
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9
Apply two thick beads of caulk around the window frame.
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10
Lay the bottom of the new window on the sill, leaning the top of it toward you. Place the head expander across the top of the window, if the window came with one. Lean the window back into the frame and lift the top of the window into place. Check the window for plumb (vertically straight) with a carpenter's level.
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11
Drive 2-inch screws through the jambs and into the frame near the top of the window and lock the sash to prevent the window from opening while you finish the installation. These screws are installed temporarily to hold the window in place.
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12
Center the window inside the frame. Measure the distance diagonally across the window in both directions, adding shims around the window inside the frame if needed.
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13
Drive screws through the pre-drilled holes in the sides of the window and into the frame and remove the temporary screws. If you used shims when positioning the window, trim them with a utility knife.
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14
Fill the gaps around the windows on the outside of the house. If the gaps are smaller than 1/4-inch, use elastomeric caulk; if the gaps are larger, use foam-rubber backer rod. Fill any gaps around the windows inside the house with expanding foam insulation.
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15
Install the window stops, nailing them into place with 4d finish nails.
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16
Caulk the gaps around the perimeter of the window inside the house.
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17
Paint or stain the interior frame and window sash (unless the sash is made of a composite material).
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References
- Photo Credit David Sacks/Lifesize/Getty Images
