Window Installation Instructions

Fixing or replacing your windows can be one challenging task. Got questions about all that is involved? Do you have concerns about the length of time it will take? Do not worry much, we have step-by-step information on how to go about it, and we hope it helps you through your window replacement project. 

Installation plays a huge role in the ultimate efficiency of your new windows. If properly installed, your windows will perform to its maximum capacity, but a poor installation can ruin the window as quickly as the old one.

Installation Methods

The installer should follow the product's manufacturer's recommended process. Generally, there are three ways to install a new window. Two includes tearing out your old window frame while the other provides procedures for installing a new window frame over your old one. Before you purchase your new windows, make sure to ask your installer or dealer how they plan to fix them and decide if or not you're comfortable with it.

·        Full Tear Out:

Here, the glass is removed from the old window frame. Afterward, the exterior material of the home around the window and the house wrap, or weather barrier, is removed or pulled back to expose the nail fin of the window frame. The type of exterior material your home is made of will determine how much is removed. The old frame is disengaged, and the new window is installed using the nail fin. The house wrap, or weather barrier, is reapplied following building code guidelines and the siding of the home is replaced or repaired.

·        Modified Full Tear Out:

Following the example above, after removing the glass, the installer will cut off the nail fin around the window frame by using a reciprocating saw. This method allows the installer to remove the frame without having to cut back the house façade material. The old frame is then removed from the opening, leaving the original nail fin and weather barrier in place. The replacement window is mostly installed using a block frame with trim accessories. One of the advantages of this method is that the weather barrier on the home is not disturbed.

·        Covering the Existing Window Frame

The glass is first removed from the old window when you choose to use the existing window frame in your installation. Then the old window frame may be trimmed down with a reciprocating saw by removing the lips and tracks that held the existing sash or the frame might be left alone. In any case, the new window is fixed over the existing frame, sealed and secured to the home. This method would use a flush fin window frame that covers the old frame to provide a look of completion from the outside. The benefits to this method are that the home’s weather barrier is left untouched. The installation process is naturally shorter than any of the two. It takes about 2-3 hours to install.

Installation:

Preparing Your Home

Most dealers will ask that you remove all window coverings. You should also remove items on walls adjacent to the windows to be replaced to avoid them falling off during installation. Also clear all furniture away from the window space to allow installers sufficient space to work. Always make sure to keep children and pets away from the work site to prevent accidents. If you have an alarm system set up, make sure to notify your alert company to turn off your alarm sensors.

Installers Arrive

When the installers arrive, they will set up a workstation in your home. They should use a tarp to seal the interior and exterior of the window space to minimize damages done to the area during work.

Removing Your Old Window

The installation will be focused on one or two windows at a time. Once the old window is removed using one of the processes above, the area is cleaned and prepared for the installation of the new window.

Installing Your New Window

The new window is fixed into the opening, sealed and secured to the home. The window is completed by caulking the interior and trimming as necessary. The exterior façade of the house is replaced if it was removed during the installation. The new window may also be finished off with brickmould or other trim accessories if necessary.

Clean Up

After installation, the work area is cleared as well as the exterior and interior of your home used during installation. Afterward, the remains of your old frame are packed up to the workshop for recycling. Your installer might ask for a work review to get your level of satisfaction as to the standards of his work.

Possible Tools Needed

Depending on the particulars of your installation requirements some of the following tools may be used:

·        Caulk Gun

·        Pry Bar

·        Drill

·        Hammer

·        Saw (s)

·        Skill Saw 

·        Reciprocating Saw

·        Utility Knife 

·        Chisel