Doors and Windows - Need help with out-of-square windows!
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TomLusk
11-20-05, 01:47 PM
I'm in the process of installing new windows in my home (a converted cottage). The current windows are single pane sliders and with energy costs as they are, I've decided to replace with high-efficiency windows.
Over the past couple of years the current windows have become increasingly out of square. Actually, I guess it's not the windows, exactly, it's the wall? The following shot is from the outside - the right side of the photo is towards the corner of the house.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/Cancatchbass/MISC192.jpg
Obviously, before installing the new windows, I want to correct this problem. I thought the corner of the house had settled, so I jacked the corner up by placing a beam cornerwise under the plates on the front and side walls. This only made the problem worse??? Does the corner actually need to come DOWN to square things up? I've asked a couple of local contractors and they told me it needs to come UP, which is what I originally thought. I'm having doubts after the jacking episode...
There is a large oak tree (100 years plus) right beside the corner in question, which I think might be lifting the stone foundation (sitting on rock/gravel mix) with the roots possibly extending under it. But wouldn't this cause the gap to be at the bottom right/top left of the windows instead of the top right/ bottom lefts???
Hopefully this makes sense to somebody... :confused:
If this should be in another forum, let me know.
Thanks for any input/advice,
Tom
Over the past couple of years the current windows have become increasingly out of square. Actually, I guess it's not the windows, exactly, it's the wall? The following shot is from the outside - the right side of the photo is towards the corner of the house.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/Cancatchbass/MISC192.jpg
Obviously, before installing the new windows, I want to correct this problem. I thought the corner of the house had settled, so I jacked the corner up by placing a beam cornerwise under the plates on the front and side walls. This only made the problem worse??? Does the corner actually need to come DOWN to square things up? I've asked a couple of local contractors and they told me it needs to come UP, which is what I originally thought. I'm having doubts after the jacking episode...
There is a large oak tree (100 years plus) right beside the corner in question, which I think might be lifting the stone foundation (sitting on rock/gravel mix) with the roots possibly extending under it. But wouldn't this cause the gap to be at the bottom right/top left of the windows instead of the top right/ bottom lefts???
Hopefully this makes sense to somebody... :confused:
If this should be in another forum, let me know.
Thanks for any input/advice,
Tom
XSleeper
11-20-05, 05:58 PM
Judging from your picture, if the window sill is no longer level, it's likely that the left side of the window (not pictured) is sinking and needs to be raised. Either that, or the right side has been heaved up (by your tree) and needs to be lowered.
Picture your window is a piece of paper. If you could "stretch" the top right corner upward, it would make the distance longer from the bottom/left to the top/right. That's why the frame has a large gap on the top right... because the window frame is now longer in that direction, and shorter in the opposite direction, when measuring the diagonals.
The only other possibility that I might add, would be that it could also be that the studs on the right side of the window "could be" stationary (not sinking), while the rest of the wall to the right of the window was sinking. What would happen is that the sheathing (and the right side of the window, since it's nailed to the sheathing) would be pulled to the right as that entire section of wall sinks and falls to the right. The only reason I bring this up is because the reveal along the window edge seems to be "bent" to the right. The only real way to tell which way things are moving is with a level.
Picture your window is a piece of paper. If you could "stretch" the top right corner upward, it would make the distance longer from the bottom/left to the top/right. That's why the frame has a large gap on the top right... because the window frame is now longer in that direction, and shorter in the opposite direction, when measuring the diagonals.
The only other possibility that I might add, would be that it could also be that the studs on the right side of the window "could be" stationary (not sinking), while the rest of the wall to the right of the window was sinking. What would happen is that the sheathing (and the right side of the window, since it's nailed to the sheathing) would be pulled to the right as that entire section of wall sinks and falls to the right. The only reason I bring this up is because the reveal along the window edge seems to be "bent" to the right. The only real way to tell which way things are moving is with a level.