Doors and Windows - Replacing windows
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KateBernard
04-24-02, 12:33 PM
Hello!
I'm about to start replacing the el cheapo single pane windows on my house with double pane American Craftsman vinyl windows. I live in Central Florida and my house was built in 1996 and is concrete block. There's no trim to speak of inside, and it LOOKS like a pretty straightforward process from the outside, but I've never done a window replacement before so I'm not quite sure what to prepare myself for. Can anyone give me any specific tips or things I should watch out for?
Thanks!
I'm about to start replacing the el cheapo single pane windows on my house with double pane American Craftsman vinyl windows. I live in Central Florida and my house was built in 1996 and is concrete block. There's no trim to speak of inside, and it LOOKS like a pretty straightforward process from the outside, but I've never done a window replacement before so I'm not quite sure what to prepare myself for. Can anyone give me any specific tips or things I should watch out for?
Thanks!
Tn...Andy
04-24-02, 04:30 PM
Mo info, Kate:
What type window do you have now....describe thoroughly.
What type of inside trim is there, if any ?
What type window do you have now....describe thoroughly.
What type of inside trim is there, if any ?
KateBernard
04-25-02, 09:14 AM
Hi!
It's a vertical slider, single hung single pane aluminum window--as they all are on the house. Like I said, totally cheapo! They barely lock, and I have wooden dowel in there to prevent anyone from opening them from the outside--all you'd have to do is jiggle it a bit and it opens. There is no trim inside, there is however about a 4 inch recess inside, they do not sit flush inside or outside. There is a cultured marble windowsill, too. There's a sill outside and about an inch recess all the way around. The house is concrete block with stucco. The window I purchased is made especially for block construction, so I got that right! It appears the existing windows are just screwed in from the sides into what I'm assuming is wood framing--I hope! Thanks for replying, and let me know if you need more info!
Kate
It's a vertical slider, single hung single pane aluminum window--as they all are on the house. Like I said, totally cheapo! They barely lock, and I have wooden dowel in there to prevent anyone from opening them from the outside--all you'd have to do is jiggle it a bit and it opens. There is no trim inside, there is however about a 4 inch recess inside, they do not sit flush inside or outside. There is a cultured marble windowsill, too. There's a sill outside and about an inch recess all the way around. The house is concrete block with stucco. The window I purchased is made especially for block construction, so I got that right! It appears the existing windows are just screwed in from the sides into what I'm assuming is wood framing--I hope! Thanks for replying, and let me know if you need more info!
Kate
Tn...Andy
04-25-02, 10:55 AM
I was more curious about the inside.....I'll assume you have sheetrock that wraps around the corner of the window opening and runs to the existing window ??
A typical replacement window is 3 1/4" thick, probably more than the aluminum windows you have in there now, so you are going to have to set the extra depth to the inside or the outside.
As to having wood framing, if the house is concrete block on the exterior, it was probably just stripped inside with 3/4" furring strips to mount sheetrock. To mount your new window, which are normally screwed to wood thru the side jambs in pre=drilled holes, you are going to have to use a masonary anchor, like a Tapcon screw, to mount them.
A typical replacement window is 3 1/4" thick, probably more than the aluminum windows you have in there now, so you are going to have to set the extra depth to the inside or the outside.
As to having wood framing, if the house is concrete block on the exterior, it was probably just stripped inside with 3/4" furring strips to mount sheetrock. To mount your new window, which are normally screwed to wood thru the side jambs in pre=drilled holes, you are going to have to use a masonary anchor, like a Tapcon screw, to mount them.
KateBernard
04-25-02, 11:24 AM
Hi Andy,
Yes, it is sheetrock that wraps around--sorry! Thanks so much for the info--it will help greatly. And yeah, the new window definitely looks thicker to me.
Good thing I have a hammer drill already! I was afraid that I may have to drill into the block. Unless I get lucky and they framed the rough opening with 2x4. I had a sliding glass door replaced, and the original framing was done pretty well. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks again--and if you think of anything else I might need to know please let me know!
Kate
Yes, it is sheetrock that wraps around--sorry! Thanks so much for the info--it will help greatly. And yeah, the new window definitely looks thicker to me.
Good thing I have a hammer drill already! I was afraid that I may have to drill into the block. Unless I get lucky and they framed the rough opening with 2x4. I had a sliding glass door replaced, and the original framing was done pretty well. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks again--and if you think of anything else I might need to know please let me know!
Kate
ssp
04-29-02, 11:47 AM
Kate,
I live in South Florida and know exactly what you are dealing with. I am currently preparing to remove the existing cheapo aluminum windows from my house and installing impact resistant windows from CGI. I don't know if this will be an issue for you, but I found that the outside of my windows were buried up to 1 inch in stucco. I just finished chipping the stucco out around them with a masonry chipping hammer. (NOT FUN) What I have found so far is that there is a wood frame inside the opening that the windows are actually attached to. I don't know if it is 2x4 yet as I am not taking the windows out of the openings until this Thursday when we are ready to install the new ones. The wood box frame and some of the window frame were buried pretty well in stucco. My biggest concern now is how difficult it will be to re-stucco around the new windows. I will probably get a few bids on that work and then decide if it is worth it to try it myself.
Good luck,
Scott
I live in South Florida and know exactly what you are dealing with. I am currently preparing to remove the existing cheapo aluminum windows from my house and installing impact resistant windows from CGI. I don't know if this will be an issue for you, but I found that the outside of my windows were buried up to 1 inch in stucco. I just finished chipping the stucco out around them with a masonry chipping hammer. (NOT FUN) What I have found so far is that there is a wood frame inside the opening that the windows are actually attached to. I don't know if it is 2x4 yet as I am not taking the windows out of the openings until this Thursday when we are ready to install the new ones. The wood box frame and some of the window frame were buried pretty well in stucco. My biggest concern now is how difficult it will be to re-stucco around the new windows. I will probably get a few bids on that work and then decide if it is worth it to try it myself.
Good luck,
Scott
KateBernard
04-30-02, 07:52 AM
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your reply! Sounds like we are definitely in the same boat. I had one of my sliding glass doors replaced last year, and it was exactly the same thing with the stucco! So I was afraid of that again for sure. It took my friend about an hour and a half to chop all that out! I bought some ready mix stucco patch at Home Depot and just kind of patched around where the new door is--it looks just fine, albeit not the same--it's squared off now instead of angled. Once I painted it it looked like it had always been that way.
Again, thanks--and good luck too. Can you believe how cheap those windows are?? It should be illegal!
Kate
Thanks for your reply! Sounds like we are definitely in the same boat. I had one of my sliding glass doors replaced last year, and it was exactly the same thing with the stucco! So I was afraid of that again for sure. It took my friend about an hour and a half to chop all that out! I bought some ready mix stucco patch at Home Depot and just kind of patched around where the new door is--it looks just fine, albeit not the same--it's squared off now instead of angled. Once I painted it it looked like it had always been that way.
Again, thanks--and good luck too. Can you believe how cheap those windows are?? It should be illegal!
Kate