Bay Windows Add Character And Space To A Home
The window was almost square. It was 72 X 72 inches. We thought about a bow window, but elected to install a bay window rather. We just felt that our particular home looked much better with 3 panel bay window rather than the numerous panel bow windows. Our intent was to fill the seat board of the bay with potted plants we had sitting in front of the current picture window. The brand-new arrangement would give us a little bit more area in the room and enhance the general look of the house. It was time to go shopping.
Scratch vs. Pre-built
When we initially understood of setting up the brand-new window, I began collecting plans for building a bay window. Thumbing through books and magazines, and the Web online search engine, I found numerous prepare for constructing a bay window from scratch. I likewise discovered that undertaking such a job was going to be unnecessary. Most of the significant window read this information makers, such as Pella, Milgard and Anderson make both entirely pre-assembled bay windows as well as pre-built parts for bay windows.
These days very couple of professionals will handle the task of building a bay or bow window from scratch. It merely isn't practical when for the same or less money they can set up a high quality pre-built window. If the contractors utilize pre-built windows or elements for new house building and construction or restoration jobs, then we could do the exact same for our redesigning job, we reasoned.
Installing a bay window can quickly be a do-it-yourselfer job. Before you go the do it yourself route, however, you might want to line up a professional to help out if essential. This is not going to be a job that you can complete throughout a Saturday afternoon. Opportunities are you are not going to finish it in a weekend, for that matter.
You are likewise going to want to line up some help. Bay windows and window elements are heavy. A minimum of they are too heavy for one person to manage.
Be sure and check out the weather report, consisting of the long range forecast. Setting up the window means opening a hole into your home. It can take a couple of days to get the new window in location and sealed. The last thing you want is for rain to come gathering on your floor, walls or furniture.
Be sure and check your city or community building codes. There may be unique regional requirements, such as having safety glass in low profile windows. You are probably going to need a building permit anyhow, so that is also a great time to examine the codes.
Tools and Materials Needed
The tools you will need for this project consist of a measuring tape, a framing square that you can also utilize as a straight edge, a circular saw or miter saw, crow bars, drill and bits, level, stapler, utility knife, tin snips and a caulking weapon.
The products you will need consist of the bay window unit, the assistance brackets, nails, roofing paper, shingles, roof nails, exterior grade silicone caulking and fiberglass insulation. You will likewise require 1X6 inch boards for the window skirting. If you are increasing the size of an existing window, or if you are setting up the window in a space that was formerly the wall, you will likewise need 2X4s for cripple studs and additional framing.
Basic Installation Steps
1. Establish window position in the wall. Remove the existing window. Measuring the bay window, mark on the exterior of your home the opening required for the brand-new window. Using your circular saw, cut the required opening.
2. Framing. Construct the framing for the new window. This will likely include cutting through existing studs and putting in a new header, rough sill, jack studs and paralyze studs.
3. Set up the support braces. A window up to 5 feet wide will take a minimum of two assistance braces. A broader window will need three.
4. Set the window in location. Lift the bay window on the support braces and move it into the rough opening. Shim as needed to level the window. Anchor in place.
5. Build the window roofing system. Set the roofing frame on top of the bay window system and nail in location. Fill the space in between the roofing system and the top of the bay window with insulation. Attach the roofing sheeting to the frame and cover with roofing paper. Install the drip edges and the flashing and after that shingle.
6. Set up the window skirting around the bottom of the window. Fill will insulation and after that connect the skirt bottom to seal the below side of the window.
7. Seal the edges with silicone caulking.
This is a list of the fundamental setup steps and they have actually been abbreviated in the interests of simplicity and area. The window unit you buy will have complete installation actions. Take it from the voice of experience; it really makes the project go much more smoothly and it will be completed in much less time when you check out and follow them.
In our case, I had 2 buddies assisting with the task. We have worked together on other projects and work together well. We had the old window out and the rough framing finished on Saturday afternoon. We buttoned up the hole with plywood overnight and went back to work the next day. By Sunday evening we had the new window installed and the roofing and skirting finished. On Monday afternoon I finished sealing up the outdoors and completed the trim work for the inside.
And, we were right. It was the ideal spot for a bay window. It looked great from the exterior. Inside, it became the centerpiece of the space and included an unique appeal to your home. The window provided your home added character and value.
When it came time to sell your house, it was one of the functions that were particularly attractive to the purchasers.