Vinyl Replacement Windows - A Basic Guide For Installation

New vinyl replacement windows can offer many energy efficient features with virtually no maintenance. A popular upgrade, homeowners can cut heating bills and enjoy smooth easy opening windows while increasing the value of their home. Once measured correctly, replacement windows can then be installed relatively quickly and easily.

Many features are available in new windows and can be purchased custom to fit your openings. Installing them requires very few tools, many of which you may already have. The list should include;

o Utility knife

o Flat bar

o Broad chisel

o Hammer

o Screw gun

o Caulk gun

o Putty knife

o Level

o Step ladder or extension ladder

o Safety glasses

A short list of materials should include;

o Shims

o Interior and exterior caulk

o Drop cloth

o Batt insulation or window and door expansion foam

Prepare a work area to remove the old windows by removing furniture and any window treatments around the old window. Be sure to lay a drop cloth or plastic down to work on, the old window sashes can be very dirty. Begin by removing the old trim around the perimeter of the window. This can be accomplished with a broad chisel or flat bar and hammer. Sometimes the trim has been caulked or painted in and it may be necessary to score the edge with a utility knife before removing. Carefully work the molding out and save the pieces for reinstallation. A common method is "walking" the trim out. Start at an edge and slowly pry a little at a time down the length of the board. With the trim removed the lower window sash can now be removed. Older windows were often fitted with a pulley and rope system. Cut the rope close to the window with your utility knife, letting the weight drop in the void. There should be enough rope to grab when you remove the pulley system later.

To remove the top sash, the parting bead, sometimes called a check stop must be removed. This stop runs between the two sashes. It can be pried out with a dull chisel or flat bar without concern, as it will be discarded. Often the bead will not come entirely out leaving some in the groove it rests in, that's fine as long as the remaining wood is flush with the jamb. Sometimes a small piece of wood is nailed under the window to keep it up in place (making it a single hung window) or there may be more counter weights (double hung). Remove either of these by prying the wood stop out with a flat bar or cut the counter weight rope as before. Care should be taken during this step as there is nothing holding the upper sash in place when stops are removed or the rope cut.

With both sashes removed, check the opening for any obstructions. The wheels that the counter weight rope rested on should be removed and discarded, along with any nails or debris. If possible, pull the weights out and stuff the void with batt insulation. Inspect the outside molding called blind stops. It should be in good shape and continue all the way around the window frame to the sill. This is what your new window will rest on to keep it from falling out. Vacuum the area and remove all the old window sashes, counter weights, parting bead and pulley system from the area, saving the inside window trim.

Unwrap the new window and put any hardware that came with the window and the expansion strip to the side. It should be noted that some units come with a header expander. This article does not include installing the header expander and if included should not be necessary if window is correctly measured and the exterior stops are continuous.

Locate the predrilled screw holes in the side jambs. Normally there are two or three per side, large windows may have holes in the top also. Cut the batt insulation to fit in the window well, approximately 1" thick and place it in the well. Making sure the window sashes are locked, lift the window and place bottom edge in the well. Then push the top of the window into place against the blind stops for a dry run. If the window is extremely tight, it may be best to not push it all the way in; it can be very difficult to take back out. This is where careful measuring pays off. Remove the window and set to the side. Generously caulk all the way around the inside surface of the blind stops. Install the window the same way as done in the dry run. Make sure the unit is centered in the opening and pressed against the blind stops. Now check for level by resting the level on the jamb not the window sash. Window sashes float in guides in the jamb and can give incorrect readings. Shims can be used for adjustments between the unit and the window opening. Use the screws that came with the unit and drive the top ones in first again check for level. Do not overdrive the screws. The lower screws can now be driven and checked for level one last time.

After screws are set, unlock the window and check the operation of the sashes. They should move easily up and down and then lock without much effort. If not, fine tune the screws and shims to adjust for correct operation. If you have tall windows, there may be adjusting posts on the sides to keep the jamb from bowing. Even if the jambs aren't bowing now, adjust these out so they can keep the jambs from moving in the future.

Window and door formulas of expansion foam are great way to fill any gaps and ensure an airtight seal. Care must be taken to lock the window when using expansion foam products and keep them locked and shut during the curing process. After 12 hours, the window can be opened and operated. Do not install trim before curing is complete as any excess foam needs to an escape route to expand. If the installer chooses batt insulation, it can be stuffed in any gaps with a putty knife. It is important not to stuff too much in, as it will bow the jambs and decrease R value.

The trim saved from the tear out phase can now be reinstalled. If new trim is chosen, it will need to be mitered and cut to size. Nail the trim tight to the new window. Caulk between the new window and trim, then between the trim and casings to provide an air tight seal. After the caulk dries, paint can be applied to complete the interior work.

The expansion strip, sometimes called a filler strip should now be cut to size and installed on the outside. This flexible vinyl strip is normally included to compensate for the pitch of the existing window sill and the lower exterior edge of the vinyl window. This strip may need to be cut with a utility knife to match the opening both in length and height. The correct sized filler can now be snapped in a groove at the bottom of the window unit. The installed strip should be tight as possible to the exterior sill and sides of the window opening.

Finally, it's important that no precipitation can penetrate the window opening and must be sealed. Weatherproof caulk must be applied continuously around the perimeter between the vinyl window and the house. Take care there are no gaps for water to infiltrate. With the exterior sealed against the elements and the inside window treatments reattached, you're done. That's it! Enjoy your smooth operating, maintenance free and energy efficient vinyl windows.

The author is a licensed contractor in the state of Michigan and owns and operates PHB Construction LLC.

Paul H. Bilodeau http://www.grandrapids-remodeling.com

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Bathroom Replacement Windows - Choosing Between a Glass Block, Acrylic, Wood or a Vinyl Window

Selecting a bathroom replacement window is not easy. Choosing between a wood, vinyl, acrylic or glass block bathroom window is made easier by considering 7 criteria based on the window's design, cost, looks and function. This article will provide seven practical steps to help compare window types and will help you make the right selection for your window project.

Step 1 - Determine how much operability you need in the window - If you need a window that can open completely, (whether it be a side to side slider - an up and down double hung - or a crank out casement style) then a vinyl, wood or acrylic block window will be best. These types are available with different opening options to maximize air flow. A couple in Cleveland Ohio recently replaced an old single pane metal framed bath window that was literally rusted shut with a vinyl casement window and are now able to get the steam out of the bath area while simultaneously reducing heating and cooling costs.

Step 2 - Think through your need for security - If you're worried about vandalism, break-ins, or theft a glass block window is an excellent choice. These blocks are very difficult to break (it would take a sledgehammer to knock them out) and gaining entry would require that each unit be broken out individually - a task that takes a lot of time and makes a lot of noise - something burglars aren't looking to contend with. Many of these windows are also mortared into the foundation for additional security.

Step 3 - Evaluate how much privacy you want - If the bath window to be replaced is directly in or by a shower or tub you'll want to use a glass package that offers the maximum amount of privacy. For vinyl and wood windows you can use an obscure and tempered glass assembly for maximum safety and privacy. Acrylic and glass block windows are available with high privacy frosted, diamond, ice, or wave patterns that can even eliminate the need for curtains in a wet area. A single mother in Columbus Ohio felt much safer after replacing the old and rotten wood frame double hung window in her daughter's bathroom with a high privacy block window pattern with an integral air vent.

Step 4 - Develop a budget for your bath window - When it comes down to the budget rarely does someone say the skies the limit. If you're looking for a more cost-effective window vinyl or glass blocks are best, next most expensive will be the acrylic blocks, and the priciest windows will be made of wood. The opening designs of the windows will also have an impact on costs. Double hung and slider windows are generally the cheapest and the casements are most expensive. Make sure to consider the life cycle costs of your window - a more insulated glass package will cost more today but can pay for itself with reduced energy costs down the road.

Step 5 - Get money back from the government with an energy efficient glass package and save money on your heating and cooling costs- With the $1,500 energy tax credit available on windows with a U value of.30 or better (that is comparable to an R value of 3.33 or better) you can get back your investment in new replacement windows in a very short period of time. Look for wood and vinyl windows with Low E/Argon or Krypton filled glass packages. Make sure your windows are tax credit eligible before making any purchase.

Step 6 - Consider the interior and exterior design look you desire - For a classic and traditional look it's hard to beat the wood window (which looks very nice with fancy trim packages to finish the window on the inside). For a more contemporary design the sleek look of the block window will generate a more modern appearance.

Step 7 - Use decorative, frosted, etched glass or colored glass block to add style to your bathroom window - Why be boring when you can add a cool and distinctive look to your bath or shower window? You can use decorative etchings or mural designs in vinyl, wood and block windows. In addition there are frosted and colored glass blocks that can brighten up a room and add a one of kind style. A family in Cincinnati Ohio put an etched glass block window tree mural into an area that was formerly an inefficient single pane metal picture window in their master bathroom.

Making the right choice of the best bathroom replacement window is not the simplest thing to do. Develop your selection by examining the function, design, and cost of the window for your specific remodeling project.

Mike Foti is President of Columbus Glass Block, Cleveland Window Company, Clear Choice Window & Door, Mid America Glass Block Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron & V.P. of Eastern Glass Block New Jersey & New York. These companies are nationwide suppliers and regional installers of bathroom wood, vinyl, acrylic and glass block windows.

Tel. 614-252-5888 Nationwide 877-668-5888. bathroom replacement window & replacement windows.

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Benefits of Vinyl Replacement Windows

Vinyl replacement windows are a great way to increase the resale value, curb-appeal, and style of your home. Early vinyl replacement windows were not very popular, but advances in design and improved technology have made vinyl windows a desirable addition to homes everywhere. Many of today's replacement windows meet requirements that older wood-frame and metal windows couldn't possibly match.

Frames

Probably the greatest benefit of today's vinyl windows is the quality of construction. These high-quality windows are fusion-welded at the corners to form a structurally sound frame. The frames themselves are strong, watertight, and airtight.

Another great benefit of vinyl windows is that they will never need sealing or painting, as traditional wood windows do. The vinyl window frames are extremely durable and will withstand fading and discoloration much better than wood frames.

The high quality of today's vinyl windows can also offer superior security over older windows. Many vinyl replacement windows are available with a wide range of locking devices designed to give your home exceptional security.

Glass

Today's vinyl replacement windows use high-grade products and ingenuity to deliver high-performance. Most vinyl windows use double or triple-paned glass units. These units create an insulation barrier of air, which provides protection from damaging elements, higher energy-efficiency, and greater sound protection.

These airtight layers of protection are key to the high standards of energy-efficiency that today's vinyl replacement windows offer. Each manufacturer's windows are submitted to an energy-efficiency test conducted by a government-backed program. These tests are meant to determine the window's U-value, or U-factor.

The U-value is a measurement that represents the rate in which heat passes through the window. The lower the U-value assigned to the window, the lower the amount of heat allowed to pass through the window. The windows with the lowest U-value receive Energy-Star ratings, which can be claimed as a tax write-off. These windows can offer tremendous savings on monthly electric bills, by keeping in heat or cool air.

Ease of Use

The function of vinyl windows also typically last longer than wood-frame windows. This is because wood will tend to swell and retract in reaction to changes in temperature and humidity. Over time, this swelling and retraction may cause the wooden window frame to become misshapen. If this happens, the window will become more difficult to slide or close properly.

Choice of Options

Vinyl replacement windows come in a large variety of styles, sizes, and colors. All replacement windows are custom-made in order to properly match your home's existing windows, so size is no hindrance.

Replacement windows are available in many styles, including casement windows, double-hung windows, bay and bow windows, and sliders with two, three, or more sashes. At first, vinyl windows were only manufactured in white, but today most manufacturers offer many color options to match the existing features of your home. Windows can be ordered with solid colors, two-toned, or with wood-grains. You can even purchases windows with one color on the exterior, and with a wood-grain finish on the interior.

Vinyl windows offer the same style features found on other top-quality windows. Divided light grids, decorative glass, tilt-out sashes, and high-efficiency locking systems allow for many options.

Vinyl replacement windows offer many great values for your home. They are an excellent way to add value to your home, giving them a positive cost-to-benefit ratio. If you desire to add security, style, and savings to your home, vinyl replacement windows should be one of your first considerations.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent for Richmond Window Corporation. The Renewal by Andersen replacement window dealer provides window installation throughout the central Virginia area. For more information on their replacement windows Richmond Virginia please visit their website.

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Measuring For Your Vinyl Replacement Windows

Let's say you're tired of those old wood windows, and you decide it's time to upgrade to vinyl replacement windows. You get 2 or 3 contractors to come out and give you an estimate. After they leave, you can't believe windows can cost so much. I mean, having to get financing to replace your windows just doesn't seem right. Let me explain to you why the windows are so expensive. You have to pay the salary of the salesman who comes over to give you your "free" estimate. Then, you have to pay the salary of the installers. Finally, you have to pay the owner of the company. In some cases there is a broker who acts as a middleman, and he or she gets a cut too. No wonder you need financing!

Now, imagine if you already knew how to shop for windows, how to measure for new windows, how to remove the old windows, and how to install the new windows. You just eliminated everybody except the owner. All of a sudden you can afford to replace your windows without taking out a loan! The next few articles are going to cover this process. This article is going to discuss the proper way to measure for your double hung replacement windows.

It's important to properly measure for your windows. If you order them too small, you're going to end up having to improvise in order to get them to work. Even if you do get them to work, you're probably going to have problems. And if you order them too big, you're really in trouble. Chances are you will be ordering more windows. So, measuring is very important. Fortunately, it's also very simple. We are dealing with old double hung wood windows here, so if that doesn't apply to you, don't worry. Future articles will discuss other types of windows. In the case of the wood sash windows, you want to measure the width first, and height second. When you go shopping for windows, always give the dimensions as WIDTH X HEIGHT. To measure your width, you want to pull a tape measure from the top right corner to the top left corner. Put the tape measure in that 1 1/2" pocket where the window frame slides. Measure to the sixteenth of an inch. Do the same thing at about the midway point,right above where the window locks. Then, raise the bottom sash and take the same measurement at the bottom. If you can't raise the window for whatever reason, go outside and measure from there. You will have to remove the screen though.

The majority of the time all three of those measurements will be the same. If they're not the same, use the SMALLEST measurement. Now subtract 1/4" from that measurement. This is your width for the new window. The height is a bit tricky. If your window sill outside slopes downward for water drainage, you have to make sure that you measure from the HIGHEST Point of the sill. You want to measure from the top right corner to the bottom right corner. Put your tape at the top where the upper sash closes. If the bottom has a 5/8" high inside wood sill piece to prevent water from coming inside, you need to raise the bottom sash and run the tape past the 5/8" sill and down to the high point of the sloped sill. Do this in the middle and on the left. Once again, take the smallest measurement, but this time deduct 3/16". This is your height. If you order your windows using these dimensions,they will fit right in, and leave just enough room to adjust if needed. The final step is to measure the depth of the pocket where both sashes slide. By depth, i mean from the point outside where the top sash rests against the outside wood stop to the point inside where the inside bottom sash rests against the inside stop. This measurement should be between 3 1/4"- 3 1/2".

The reason you need to know this dimension is because not all replacement windows have a 3 1/4" depth frame. You want a replacement window that's going to fit right into the existing pocket of the wood frame. If you purchase a window with a 2 5/8" frame depth, you're going to have approximately 3/4" to fill. That means buying new wood stops for the inside of the house that are 3/4" wider than the existing stops. Get the 3 1/4" frames and save yourself a lot of extra work. Now, if you're on a really tight budget, the lower grade windows will be the 2 5/8" frame, and you will have to get the wider trim. But that's something you should weigh in your mind, whether the money saved on the lesser grade window is worth the extra expense and time of installing new stops around the inside of all your windows.

So, now you have the measurements and it's time to go shopping. What should you look for to know you're getting quality windows? A top quality double hung replacement window will have tilt-in sashes that allow you to clean the outside glass from inside the home. All double hung windows have a mechanism that keeps the window in the open position. The better windows use a state of the art mechanism known as a constant force balance coil. All replacement windows will have double glazing, meaning there will be two panes of glass in each sash separated by a 1/2"-5/8" spacer material around the edge of the unit. A quality window will use an intercept spacer or something called a super spacer. Find out the U-Value of the window. The lower the number, the better insulating properties. You want a window with a U-Value under .40. There is a special glass called LowE that will lower that U-Value number. In fact, most quality windows include LowE as standard. Those are the main things to ask about when window shopping.

On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, you can buy an economical replacement window that will not have the tilt-in feature.The mechanism that holds the window open will consist of a block and tackle assembly made up of a spring and string. Another mechanism in lower quality windows is called a spiral tube balance. These lesser grade assemblies are notorious for failing after 5-10 years. The spacer material used on lower quality windows will be aluminum or something called swiggle seal. And many times the U-Value of these lower grade windows will be up around .50. The thing to remember is that a window that uses a super spacer more than likely isnt going to use a block and tackle balance system. It would be like buying a new car with leather interior and no power window and door locks. Follow those guidelines and you will have a good idea what quality you are buying. Once you make the decision and purchase your windows, it's time to get them home and take out your old windows. Next week I will tell you how to remove the old wood windows...

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

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Styles of Vinyl Replacement Windows

Replacement vinyl windows are an excellent way to add style, charm, and resale value to your home. Today's replacement windows are made in a variety of different styles, which allows you to choose the specific window type to meet your unique needs.

Single and Double Hung Windows

Probably the most popular and commonly used style of window is called a single-hung window. These traditional designs can be found in most window fixtures and most houses around the U.S.

The design of these single-hung windows is quite straight-forward, with one sash positioned over another. On single-hung windows the lower sash can slide up and down, allowing for ventilation and air-movement.

Double-hung models are very similar; however both sashes are operational, allowing you to slide the top sash down. This is beneficial because it can allow for more efficient ventilation, allowing hot air to escape the house through the upper sash, where the hot air is. Some of today's manufacturers offer their double-hung windows with the additional benefit of tilting sashes. These sashes can be tilted in to the interior of the house, allowing for easy maintenance and cleaning.

Sliders and Gliders

No, not hamburgers and aircraft. Slider-windows, sometimes called gliders by some manufacturers, are the second-most common window type. These windows have two or more sashes that slide from side to side in the frame. These windows are available with any number of sashes, and any amount of these sashes are operational. Check with your window provider to see what options they offer.

Casement Windows

Casement windows open like a door. They are hinged on one side, and usually operate with a hand crank. These cranking devices make this style of window one of the best when it comes to protection from air escape. The combination of crank and seal make casement windows superior at keeping in heat or cool air.

Picture Windows

Picture windows, sometimes referred to as fixed windows, are just that- fixed. They do not open and close. Picture windows are usually either large aesthetic features of a home, or are part of a multi-window system.

Bay/Bow Windows

Bay windows are large multi-window units. They are typically comprised of three or more windows that project out form the wall. Most commonly, they are made up of one large window in the middle, with two smaller windows flanking at 30, 45, or 90 degrees to the wall. Any angles may be used, and any number of windows can be incorporated into these window units. For example, bay units made of five windows are also common, with one large window flanked by two smaller ones on either side.

Bow windows are very similar, but have a more elliptical pattern. They, too are comprised of three or more windows, and have a radial, or bow formation.

Window Combinations

All of these window types have their own strengths. However, these windows' advantages and beauty become even greater when they are incorporated into window combinations. If wanting vinyl replacement windows, consider using window combinations to add even greater style to your home. For example, if you have a large window in your living room that needs replacing, consider replacing it with a double-hung and two casements, or a three-lite slider flanked by picture windows.

In Conclusion

Vinyl replacement windows are available in many styles to suit your specific needs and tastes. All of these styles also offer several features and options, such as grids, specialty locks, and more.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent for Richmond Window. For more information on their vinyl replacement windows in Richmond Virginia please visit their website.

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