Installing Multiple Windows
Windows serve a multitude of purposes in your home, such as letting in fresh air and light, adding character and blocking out the elements. However, if the windows are not installed properly, they will defeat their purpose. Whether you are installing multiple windows in your home or you hire an expert to complete the job, it is important for you to know all you can about windows and installation.
Components of a window
There are many types of windows, double-hung, sliding, encasement, and bay windows are just a few popular styles. However, most of these styles are made up of the same components. The part of a window that we think of first is the windowpane. The pane itself is glazed into the window and serves the purpose of keeping hot and cold air trapped either inside or outside. Windowpanes that are Energy Star rated are listed as having "low e glass" panes. Low e glass means that the windowpane is coated with metal or metal oxide, which works to emit little radiation. This means the window will have low heat loss in the winter and low heat gain in the summer. Therefore when searching for the best window for your home, look for the Energy Star rating. An additional component that will ensure an Energy Star rating is a gas filled window. Gas filled windows are insulated with gases, argon and krypton. These gases fill in the air spaces between the layers of glass in some double or triple paned windows. When the space is filled with argon and krypton, it reduces the chance for heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.
Other components of the window include meeting rail interlocks, which is in between the trim and the pane of the top and bottom windows, this helps keep the air out when the window is locked. The part that the window is encased in is the window frame. The window frame holds the window components together. Weather stripping and insulated foam wrap is installed around the windows to add barriers against the elements.
Installing windows
Items needed:
- Tape measure
- Caulk gun and caulk
- Drill and bits
- Level
- Polyurethane foam insulation
- Window and components
- Hammer
- Nails
- Waterproof membrane
- After you have removed the old windows and before you begin, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for installation of your windows. This is a general installation guide to follow. It is best to only install one window at a time and easier if you have someone to help you with the installation with multiple windows.
- Set up a waterproof barrier. Start by cutting a 6-inch-wide strip of waterproof membrane 24" longer than the width of your window you are installing. Most membrane is self-adhering, therefore it will be sticky on one side and easy to install. Install the membrane under the rough opening to the house wrap. By following the same cutting techniques, cut strips for the height of the window and follow the same installation instructions around the perimeter of the window.
- Install the window. When you place the window in the rough opening, the window's nailing fins will be perpendicular to the frame. Check for gaps.
- Level the window. Once the window is level, tack the nails to the wall of the window.
- Ensure the window is square. Use your tape measure-to-measure diagonal from corner to corner to ensure the measurements are identical.
- Nail the window. The sides, tops and bottoms can be nailed into the positions that have been pre-drilled into the window.
- Waterproof the perimeter. Following the same instructions in step 2, seal the perimeter with your waterproof membrane.
- Install the flashing. Caulk the flashing to the window frame.
- Insulate the inside of the window. On the inside of your home, apply a layer of polyurethane foam to the gap between the window and the frame.