How to Install a Replacement Window: Everything You Need to Know

How to Install a Replacement Window: Everything You Need to Know

August 2, 2018
By:
Martin Whitmore, President of US Window & Door
How to Install a Replacement Window: Everything You Need to Know

Got a broken window? Are you hoping to renovate and change the windows you currently have?

Regardless of your reasons, don’t try to handle it by yourself. You should always get the help of professionals.

Considering there are more than 27,000 window installation and repair businesses around the country, it isn’t hard for you to get a reputable one with the right experience. After all, there are a lot of things you need to do to know how to install a replacement window.

In any case, once you know when to replace your windows, it’s important to contact expert help. After all, these are the factors that need consideration when replacing them:

Measurements

The success of a window replacement installation depends on its replacement components having 100% accurate measurements. With improper measurements, all the other aspects of the replacement installation become affected. In this case, the expert you get will have to make a lot of other adjustments to accommodate the replacement.

If they’re making enlargements on the window openings, it’s a sure sign that the window size is wrong. When they’re changing the size of the jamb, it doesn’t mean that the size is incorrect. However, it might be possible that they’re having a bit of difficulty determining the wall’s thickness.

When installing replacement windows, if it fits snugly without the insulation foam or the shims, there’s a high probability that it’s too big.

Positioning

A window’s positioning is its placement in relation to the opening. There are two options for it: closer to the outside or closer to the house interior. However, if the exterior walls are 2 by 4, you don’t need to trouble yourself with these options since the window thickness fits the wall almost perfectly. For exterior walls thicker than this, the window’s correct placement will depend on the jamb size.

If you’re in a cold place, you need to ensure that the window’s position is as close to the inside as you can. It’s a necessity if you want to ensure that your window stays efficient in the long run.

If you want the short-term effects of this positioning, it helps lower the amount of condensation gathering on the glass if the humidity is higher than average. On a long-term basis, this reduces the rate of wear and tear on your locking mechanisms, maintain the sash integrity, and decrease the failure rate of the sealed unit.

Shims

When it comes to installing windows, the correct shimming ensures the long life of the replacements. It’s also important for the replacement window to function and perform as it should. After all, shims provide the window support at the anchorage point.

The location points of these depend on the style and design of the window installed. Placing the shims at these right locations will reduce the rate of window frame warping as time goes by. It holds the window in place and reduces the creaks and groans it makes when the material expands or contracts due to the change in temperature.

Always remember that shimming isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to knowing how to install a window. But no matter the situation, shims relate to the level installation as well as the insulation foam placement.

Level, Plumb, Square

In terms of installation, level, plumb, and square mean that the planes are both perfect horizontal and vertical. When your window satisfies this, it’s a perfect square. These three factors are critical to ensuring that your window parts function well as a whole.

If any of these aren’t met, the sashes will not close, the latches won’t function, and the crank mechanisms might become bent. These will cause the space between operable components and fixed ones to have gaps. The windows will let in drafts and let the heat out in the winter while keeping it in during the hot summer months.

Do you want to know how to determine if the window is level and plumb? You can ask the window replacement expert to use a level on each of the window’s surface. That way, they’ll know if it’s ready for the replacement procedure.

Insulation Foam

To get a proper installation for your windows, you need the right insulation foam. To get the right amount of foam, you need to ensure that the technicians measure the windows. If there’s a narrow gap between the window frame and framing, the foam you’ll insert won’t be enough to keep the insulation going.

Otherwise, if the gap is too wide, the foam will support most of the window’s weight. This can result in potential frame deformities as well as an eventual operating unit malfunction. The pressure made by the insulation foam can warp the window frame, which makes it harder for the sliding units to move, as well as closing crank units.

A good expert will make a pass with the foam gun on the window planes. It doesn’t need extra foam as long as there are no remaining gaps. They can use caulking to seal off any minor gaps.

Remember, insulation is important for your home. Even the Department of Energy has guidelines when it comes to determining the energy performance of your windows as well as doors and skylights. You need to follow this to ensure that your home has maximum efficiency.

Learn How to Install a Replacement Window Today!

Learning how to install a replacement window is no easy task. It’s quite complicated and can take years of practice to get it right. This is why it’s always better to get the help of professionals to do the job.

This is to ensure that all these factors get addressed properly with a little probability of mistakes.

In any case, most window installation and replacement companies offer refunds or redo’s if they made a mistake. You can’t hope for the same if you do it on your own. As such, the safest bet is to let the experts do the job and relax as they finish it without problems.

Do you need window replacement help? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you.