How to Install a Vinyl Replacement Window by Removing It From Inside the House
Modern replacement windows are fundamentally different from the old wood-sash windows they replace. Those old windows were built into the opening piece by piece, while your replacement window will come in a single self-contained unit, with the sashes prehung and fully functional. You don't even need a ladder for this project, as most window-replacement projects can be done entirely from inside the house.
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Things You'll Need
- Flat bar
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Vinyl replacement window
- Level
- Wood shims
- Screw gun
- 2-1/2-inch galvanized wood screws
- Fiberglass insulation
- Finish nailer
- Caulking gun
- Caulk
Instructions
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1
Measure the window opening vertically and horizontally, working around the old window. Subtract 1/2 inch from each direction. Order your new window unit based on that measurement.
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2
Pull off the border of trim from around the old window, using a flat bar and hammer. Don't break the trim. Pull the window sashes out of the opening and into the room.
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3
Place the replacement window in the opening. Set a level alongside it. Slide shims between the outside of the window unit and the surrounding frame, getting it level and square.
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4
Shoot screws outward through the sides of the window unit and through the predrilled screw holes to secure it to the frame.
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5
Tuck fiberglass insulation into the spaces around the window unit.
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6
Reinstall your trim around the window unit to hide the space, using a trim nailer. Use a caulking gun to apply caulk around the trim.
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