Bay Windows Include Character And Area To A Home
It was the best spot. Our California ranch style home had a large picture window in the front room. The window extended from a few inches above the flooring to just a few inches listed below the cathedral ceiling. The walls and ceiling were redwood stained knotty pine and the floor was a matching wood. The window looked out over a flower bed, shrubs and the stretch of front yard. It was the ideal window to be changed with a bay window.
The window was nearly square. It was 72 X 72 inches. We thought about a bow window, however elected to install a bay window instead. We just felt that our particular house looked much better with 3 panel bay window instead of the several panel bow windows. Our intent was to fill the seat board of the bay with potted plants we had being in front of the present photo window. The new arrangement would offer us a little more area in the room and improve the general look of the house. It was time to go shopping.
Scratch vs. Pre-built
When we first understood of setting up the brand-new window, I started collecting prepare for developing a bay window. Thumbing through books and publications, and the Web online search engine, I discovered a number of prepare for constructing a bay window from scratch. I also found that undertaking such a task was going to be unnecessary. The majority of the significant window manufacturers, such as Pella, Milgard and Anderson make both completely pre-assembled bay windows in addition to pre-built elements for bay windows.
These days extremely few professionals will handle the project of constructing a bay or bow window from scratch. It simply isn't useful when for the very same or less money they can set up a high quality pre-built window. If the professionals use pre-built windows or components for new house construction or restoration jobs, then we could do the very same for our remodeling task, we reasoned.
Installing a bay window can quickly be a do-it-yourselfer job. Before you go the do it yourself path, however, you may want to line up a contractor to help out if needed. This is not going to be a job that you Discover more can finish during a Saturday afternoon. Opportunities are you are not going to finish it in a weekend, for that matter.
You are likewise going to wish to line up some assistance. Bay windows and window elements are heavy. At least they are too heavy for one person to manage.
Be sure and have a look at the weather forecast, including the long range projection. Setting up the window indicates 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 neighborhood construction codes. There may be unique regional requirements, such as having shatterproof glass in low profile windows. You are probably going to require a structure authorization anyway, so that is likewise a great time to inspect the codes.
Tools and Materials Needed
The tools you will need for this project include a tape measure, a framing square that you can likewise 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 gun.
The products you will require include the bay window system, the assistance brackets, nails, roof paper, shingles, roof nails, exterior grade silicone caulking and fiberglass insulation. You will likewise need 1X6 inch boards for the window skirting. If you are enlarging an existing window, or if you are setting up the window in an area that was previously the wall, you will also need 2X4s for cripple studs and additional framing.
Basic Installation Steps
1. Develop window position in the wall. Get rid of the existing window. Measuring the bay window, mark on the outside of the house the opening required for the brand-new window. Using your circular saw, cut the needed opening.
2. Framing. Build the framing for the new window. This will likely consist of cutting through existing studs and putting in a new header, rough sill, jack studs and maim studs.
3. Install the support braces. A window approximately five feet wide will take a minimum of two assistance braces. A wider window will require three.
4. Set the window in place. Lift the bay window on the assistance braces and slide it into the rough opening. Shim as essential to level the window. Anchor in place.
5. Construct the window roof. Set the roofing frame on top of the bay window unit and nail in place. Fill the space in between the roofing system and the top of the bay window with insulation. Attach the roof sheeting to the frame and cover with roof paper. Set up the drip edges and the flashing and after that shingle.
7. Seal the edges with silicone caulking.
This is a list of the basic setup steps and they have been abbreviated in the interests of simplicity and area. The window system you buy will have complete installation steps. Take it from the voice of experience; it truly makes the job go far more efficiently and it will be finished in much less time when you read and follow them.
In our case, I had two buddies helping with the job. We have actually interacted on other projects and interact well. We had the old window out and the rough framing completed on Saturday afternoon. We buttoned up the hole with plywood over night and went back to work the next day. By Sunday night we had the brand-new window installed and the roofing system and skirting finished. On Monday afternoon I finished sealing up the outdoors and completed the trim work for the within.
And, we were right. It was the best spot for a bay window. It looked great from the outside. Inside, it became the centerpiece of the space and added an unique beauty to your home. The window offered the house added character and value.
When it came time to offer the house, it was one of the features that were particularly attractive to the purchasers.