How necessary is proper installation?
Installation is critical to the performance, durability, and maintenance of your replacement or new construction windows. For this reason, most manufacturer’s warranties specifically exclude improper installation, caulking & fasteners. Caulk can be interior or exterior-specific and cost from $3.99 – $11.99/tube. You do not want a contractor to cut corners with cheap caulk; it is the sealant between your walls & windows against water & air infiltration. Better caulk will form a weathertight seal for many years with permanent elasticity, without shrinking, cracking, sagging, or slumping. It adheres to most building materials, is waterproof, and mold/mildew resistant. Some brands proven to stand up are OSI Quad, PowerHouse & NovaFlex. Our installers choose premium caulk to fit each project, color-matched to the manufacturer’s window, door, and/or siding.
The first step in professional installation is proper measurements of each window opening. Remember, your brick, stucco, and/or siding was installed by the builder after your windows. Therefore, correct measurements may vary from one opening to the next, even with the same size original window. Brick openings can be out of square and uneven due to either the original masonry work or the settling of the home.
Several width measurements are taken along the vertical plane, and height measurements are taken along the horizontal plane of the opening to find the shortest distance. 3/8” is then deducted to allow room to insert the new window leaving only 3/16” on each side, where a bead of caulk is applied inside and out for a double barrier, weather-tight seal.
On the interior side, your drywall or wood window casing will cover a portion of the window frame, therefore most measurements are taken from the exterior. However, it is important to caulk the seam where the new window frame meets drywall or wood casing.
Now that we’ve covered width and height, depth must be considered. Most single-pane aluminum window frames are approx. 2 ½” in depth where vinyl replacement windows are, with few exceptions, 3 ¼” in depth. In a brick opening, this difference in depth usually does not require any modification as the new window simply covers ¾” more of the exterior brick return than the old frame. Where the siding is present, the outer edge of the original window frame sits approx. 1/8” inside of the 1×4 siding trim. Therefore, the new window would protrude past the siding trim and neither look appealing nor perform properly. The most common way of handling this depth difference is to cut back the drywall and wood window stool approximately ¾” so the new window is seated further inside with the exterior frame edge sitting where the old frame did. Professional installers have vacuum hoses attached to some of their saws. Upon completion of cutbacks, dust, and debris should be vacuumed and cleaned up, as cutting drywall and wood stools creates a dusty environment. Proper exterior and interior caulk are then applied.
Before deciding to cut back openings in siding, you should consider your window returns, that 3-6” interior drywall or wood trim inside the house where some windows may have granite stools, tile returns, and/or window treatments that cannot be cut back or moved to accommodate the additional depth. Some homes have only a 3- 3-1/2” drywall return. When the brackets for the blinds are 3” wide, a cut back may push the brackets out into the room and look less than desirable or cannot be fastened securely In some cases, the usual solution is a 1×2 build out of siding trim material fastened to the existing 1×4 so the trim steps nicely as it builds to the depth of the new window. Often, a single build-out, say where a granite window stool is located over the kitchen sink or the master bathtub, will look fine. Other times, homeowners may want all their windows built out for a more consistent appearance. You will want to consider additional costs of material and carpentry for build-outs and for painting your new trim. Your consultant should go over the options considering all windows visible from each elevation of the home.
Finally, you’ll want to ensure the fasteners used to install your new windows will not rust or corrode. Though many window manufacturers included screws with the product, our installer discarded the included fasteners in favor of 3” deck screws which have a hex head to prevent stripping and are specially coated to avoid rust and corrosion. These better fasteners help ensure a lifetime installation with the manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.
Professional installation is the key to a quality turnkey project. Poor installation negates the benefits of even the highest quality window. Ask your consultant to fully explain the installation process and what is and is not included. Replacing and/or painting rotting or termite-infected exterior trim and/or framing and/or improperly installed or wet drywall usually entail additional labor and material costs to the homeowner. Read the fine print and ask questions. Larger companies use many installation crews. Some crew members are excellent, some mediocre, others inexperienced or incompetent. Better installers typically take more time and care during the measure, removal, and replacement process to ensure a better fit, proper seal, and a cleaner install. Inexpensive windows usually entail cheaper material and labor costs to leave room for profit. The bottom line – you usually get what you pay for.
While much information is available to the consumer, most homeowners will benefit from a professional consultant with experience solving installation problems.
- Ask your consultant how long he or she has been in the window and door business and how many installations they have been on recently.
- Ask them to describe an installation where they experienced a problem and how they resolved it to everyone’s satisfaction.
An experienced pro should be willing to put aside sales and marketing to provide objective information you can use to decide which window, installation and company best suits your needs. An objective expert should be willing to point you in the right direction even if the product they offer is not the right fit for you and your home. Our choice of manufacturing partners may not fit every situation, but if you plan to stay in your home or to leave behind a saleable asset for your children, we offer better windows and doors from several top manufacturers with professional-grade installation at aggressively competitive prices. At Truwin Windows, Doors, and Siding, we are committed to our mission statement: An honest, transparent process.
Our phone and in-home consultations are free.
For more information, contact Tom@Truwin.com or call to discuss your project at 713-870-1688.
Our mission: ~An honest, transparent process.
