How Do You Install Vinyl Windows?

Vinyl windowsDeciding to replace your old windows and install vinyl windows will not only provide you with energy-efficient, low maintenance windows for years to come, it will also improve the curb appeal and market value of your home.

What You Will Need

  • Screwdriver
  • Drill
  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Utility Knife
  • Tape Measure
  • Square
  • Crowbar
  • Caulking Gun
  • Tube of Caulk
  • Shims
  • Replacement Window

Measuring For the Window

For any window you’re installing, you need to take accurate measurements first. This will help ensure that the new window will properly fit into the opening. This will make installation easier and provide the maximum energy benefit, according to Discount Door and Window. These measurements should always be taken outside the home. Doing so will help ensure that the new window will fit correctly inside the existing opening.

  1. Start by measuring the width of the window on the inside from one jamb to the other. Make sure that you take several measurements, including the top, bottom and middle. The shortest measurement is the one you want to use as the width measurement for your replacement window.
  2. Find the height by measuring from the bottom of the head jamb to the top of the sill. Again, you want to take multiple measurements, including the right, left and middle. As before, the shortest measurement is the one you should use for the height.

Removing the Old Windows

Since the replacement window is designed to the placed inside the already installed window frame, it’s only necessary to take out the uninstall the existing sashes (as well as the parting bead and inside stop) when you’re putting in the new window. Remember that it’s far safer and easier to do this part of the project from inside your home.

  1. Start by removing the inside stops. Try not damage these pieces as you remove them, since you want to use them again when you install the new window.
  2. Take off the inside sash. If you’re removing an older window that employed weights, simply cut the chains or sash cords and let the weights fall down into the wells. You can just leave them there.
  3. Pull the outside sash down so that you can remove it. Remove the parting beads and discard them. Leave the exterior stops in place, since these will be used to support the new window once you install it.
  4. Carefully clean the sill and the window jambs. If the window you’re removing used weights, push the pulleys inside the frame or take them off completely. Then use a caulking gun to fill any holes in the sill or jambs with caulk.

Installing the New Window

Badly positioned or installed windows are hard to use and waste energy. Properly installed vinyl windows will help keep the temperatures inside your home cool and reduce the amount of moisture and noise entering your home from the outside. This is why it’s so important to do the job right.

  1. Use a caulking gun to run a line of caulk on the outside edge of the stops. Mark where the sill angle should go, apply some caulk and install the sill angle.
  2. Center the bottom and top window sashes inside the window frame. Position the bumper stops at the frames center so that the mounting holes located in the side jambs (there are two at the bottom and two at the top) can be seen.
  3. Install the header at the top of the window and caulk it at the top.
  4. Position the window inside the window opening and use a square to make sure it is properly lined up. If it is a property square inside the opening, use shims to square it. Next, put in the mounting screws at the bottom and top of the side jambs. Be careful not to over tighten the screws, since this could form or damage the side jambs.
  5. Push the header up to seal the gap between the old frame and the top of your new window.
  6. Check the operation of the bottom and top sashes by sliding them up and down. Make sure there are no gaps. If the sashes are operating correctly, adjust the window frame by turning the side jamb adjustment screws. It’s very important to get this exactly right you want your new vinyl windows to be efficient and easy-to-use.
  7. Finally, use a caulking gun to add caulk to the inside of the vinyl window and reinstall the stops you saved from earlier.

Once you install vinyl windows, you can expect them to provide useful service for you and your family for many years. Maintenance requires little more than simply cleaning them from time to time.

Related Resource: Installing a Wooden Window