Window installation details

By the time you reach the framing stage, most questions about solar orientation preferred views have been resolved. When you see the actual opening in the wall, it may give you second thoughts. You do have the right to change your mind. But be aware that the larger and more complex the window(s) in question, the more expensive the change. If practical, consider exchanging the objectionable window for a larger or smaller unit rather than restricting the entire opening.         

                                                                       The process of setting windows closely parallels that of hanging doors. The builder created a rough opening, covered it with house wrap, dropped it in the window, shimmed it plumb and level, and secured it to the frame. Unlike doors, however, banks of windows often employ more than one different operating system. For example, double-hung units that slide up and down frequently share wall space with hinged casement-style windows that swing open like doors. On the same elevation, awning windows may tilt out on a horizontal axis.                                                  The margin for error allowed when setting a window with moving parts is generally only about 1/4 inch. Improper shimming or an un-level sill may cause sliding windows to stick their frames and cause casements to swing awkwardly or show uneven gaps.                                                                                                                                                  If you take time to open all movable windows shortly after installation, flaws will become apparent at once. Your builder usually can fix them and should be happy to do so by adding another shim or two.                                              

Final Inspection- Before closing the door on this construction phase, look at your windows and doors. This time, think about some potential problems you may not have considered during the planning stages:                                                                                                                                                                                     

The immense window stretch- Windows that are too difficult to reach often become overpriced fixed glass. A custom builder, Main, for example, put several transom windows near the top of a 16ft window wall, hoping to ventilate excessive heat                                                                                                                                     

The narrow escape—Although building codes require a bedroom window egress, a hole big enough to allow escape from a fire, they may not specify the window type. For example, a double-hung unit in an older person’s bedroom may prove challenging to operate, and a sill set 44 inches from the floor might create an imposing obstacle.                                                                                                                                                                                        

Overexposure- prolonged exposure to unfiltered ultraviolet light ca

3 layers glass window

n damage rugs, furniture, wall coverings, and hardwood floors. It’s worth including UV-filtering glass in windows or patio doors that admit several hours of sunlight daily.                                                                                                                                                

Although many people agonize for hours about the views inside their homes, they forget that neighbors may have intimate perspectives on their bedrooms or master baths. Draperies and blinds can solve the problem easily, but if a window is covered most of the time, does it serve your intended purpose?                         

Restricted passages- If you have an idea how air should flow through your home when you open the windows, keep an eye out for windows (particularly casements) that, when open, restrict this natural flow. The builder may be able to reverse them.                                                                                                                                                   

Anticipating intangibles—With careful planning, you can solve most problems likely to arise from window or door placement mistakes. Suppose you discover later that the glare from that circle window renders the television useless during the day, for example. In that case, you can make that plain patio door into an architectural detail. Properly functioning windows and doors enhance living areas and protect against the elements.