Installing house window

Or, sometimes we just accept that drafts are part of the charm of an older home. The reality however, is that energy and therefore money, are being wasted by allowing these drafts to literally suck conditioned air from your home.

In years past, builders attempted to eliminate or reduce these drafts using roof underlayment, better known as tar paper. The tar paper was wrapped around the entire home, or at least around doors and windows to help reduce unwanted air from entering the building.

However, because tar paper was not designed for this purpose, over time it tended to dry up and crack, creating the very problem it was trying to solve. Windows and doors became more energy efficient with the addition of interior insulation and double paned, low energy transfer windows. In turn, this led to better installation methods such as the use of house wrap and thermal tape around these features to retard air and moisture penetration.

Answering this question will depend on the type of exterior facade you have. The installation of house wrap around an existing window will require the removal of the facade, so those attempting this repair on masonry homes like brick and stucco will find this step extremely difficult and in many situations, infeasible.

However, on homes with siding like vinyl, aluminum, hardboard, T, shakes, and other forms of lap siding, the project will be relatively simple. The steps required to install house wrap around existing windows will vary slightly from window to window, but the basic process will remain the same. Here we will describe the common window types likely to be encountered and offer tips for how the house wrap should be applied :.

Wood counterweighted windows were some of the first window designs that did not require hinges. However, these windows lacked any form of flashing and being made of wood, tended to allow leaks around the frame.

Since these windows do not include a mounting fin, the house wrap and tape should extend from the rough opening, over the gap and onto the window frame. In most instances, removing any trim such as brick molding will make the job easier. Both vinyl and aluminum replacement windows are designed to be installed within the existing frame of an older window. Due to this design, replacement windows generally do not include a mounting fin and are simply attached with screws inside the existing window frame.

As such, new house wrap will not extend to the actual window, but to the original window frame. If the window has brick molding surrounding it, the molding should be removed and the new house wrap installed under it. Adding house wrap to a home with new construction windows, whether vinyl or aluminum, is very simple. In most circumstances, the nails are gently removed from the nail fin one side at a time and the house wrap is slid underneath.

The order is important, so the bottom should be installed first, then the sides, and lastly the top. Here are the steps to follow:. From outside the house, rest the bottom of the window on the spacers, and then slowly push the top into the opening. Be sure it is right-side up—it may have drain holes at the bottom that allow moisture to drain.

Drive a nail partway through the trim at one of the upper corners. Check that the window is level, make any necessary adjustments to the shims, and then finish driving the nail. Re-check the level. Insert shims along the sides near the top and bottom of the window and at the midpoint, and adjust them as needed until the window is plumb. Check to make sure the window is operational, and then secure the window to the opening by driving nails into the brick mold or casing.

On the inside, check the window for level and add shims around the sides until the window is snug in the opening. Add insulation between the jambs and the trimmer studs, cut the shims so they are flush with the wall, and then affix the interior trim. Inside, you can apply molding to complete your project: a stool, apron, and side casings for single- or double-hung windows.

Don Vandervort writes or edits every article at HomeTips. NOTICE: Buildings constructed prior to may contain lead paint which could be disturbed during window replacement. For more information on proper management of lead paint, visit www. Installation Instructions. Installation Instructions Get installation instructions for your window or door. Find Installation Guides. Project Examples Sometimes you just want to know what to expect. To help, we've created videos that provide an overview on the installation process for different types of products.

Watch Installation Examples. Plan Your Project. Should You Do It Yourself? A Realistic Schedule Do you have enough time to set aside for your project? A full-frame window replacement requires at least 4 to 6 hours per window on the ground level—and more for windows on upper floors.

Insert windows may require less time. Window Types.