Bay Windows Add Character And Space To A Home
It was the perfect spot. Our California cattle ranch design home had a big photo window in the front space. The window extended from a couple of inches above the floor to just a few inches listed below the cathedral ceiling. The walls and ceiling were redwood stained knotty pine and the flooring was a matching hardwood. The window kept an eye out over a flower bed, shrubs and the expanse of front lawn. It was the ideal window to be changed with a bay window.
The window was almost square. It was 72 X 72 inches. We thought about a bow window, however elected to install a bay window rather. We simply felt that our particular home looked better with three 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 being in front of the present photo window. The new plan would provide us a bit more area in the room and improve the general look of the house. It was time to go shopping.
Scratch vs. Pre-built
useful tips for homeowners When we first got the idea of setting up the new window, I began collecting prepare for constructing a bay window. Thumbing through books and publications, and the Web online search engine, I discovered several plans for building a bay window from scratch. I also found that undertaking such a job was going to be unnecessary. Most of the major window makers, such as Pella, Milgard and Anderson make both totally pre-assembled bay windows along with pre-built elements for bay windows.
These days extremely couple of specialists will take on the task of building a bay or bow window from scratch. It just isn't useful when for the very same or less money they can install a high quality pre-built window. If the contractors use pre-built windows or parts for new house building and construction or renovation tasks, then we could do the exact same for our redesigning job, we reasoned.
Installing a read this bay window can quickly be a do-it-yourselfer project. Before you go the do it yourself route, nevertheless, you might want to line up a contractor to help out if essential. This is not going to be a task that you can complete throughout a Saturday afternoon. Opportunities are you are not going to complete it in a weekend, for that matter.
You are also going to want to line up some aid. Bay windows and window parts are heavy. At least they are too heavy for someone to handle.
Be sure and have a look at the weather report, consisting of the long range projection. Installing the window implies opening a hole into your home. It can take a couple of days to get the brand-new window in location and sealed. The last thing you want is for rain to come pouring in on your flooring, walls or furniture.
Be sure and examine your city or community building and construction codes. There might be special local requirements, such as having shatterproof glass in low profile windows. You are most likely going to need a structure authorization anyhow, so that is likewise a great time to check the codes.
Tools and Materials Needed
The tools you will require for this task include a tape measure, a framing square that you can likewise use as a straight edge, a circular saw or miter saw, crow bars, drill and bits, level, stapler, energy knife, tin snips and a caulking weapon.
The materials you will need include the bay window unit, the support brackets, nails, roofing paper, shingles, roofing nails, outside grade silicone caulking and fiberglass insulation. You will also require 1X6 inch boards for the window skirting. If you are enlarging an existing window, or if you are installing the window in a space that was previously the wall, you will likewise need 2X4s for cripple studs and extra framing.
Basic Setup Steps
1. Develop window position in the wall. Eliminate the existing window. Measuring the bay window, mark on the outside of your house the opening required for the brand-new window. Using your circular saw, cut the needed opening.
2. Framing. Develop the framing for the brand-new window. This will likely include cutting through existing studs and putting in a new header, rough sill, jack studs and maim studs.
3. Install the assistance braces. A window as much as 5 feet large will take a minimum of 2 assistance braces. A larger window will need 3.
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 roof. Set the roof frame on top of the bay window system and nail in location. Fill the space in between the roofing and the top of the bay window with insulation. Secure the roofing system sheeting to the frame and cover with roofing paper. Set up the drip edges and the flashing and then shingle.
6. Install the window skirting around the bottom of the window. Fill will insulation and then attach the skirt bottom to seal the underneath side of the window.
This is a list of the standard installation actions and they have been abbreviated in the interests of simplicity and space. The window system you buy will have complete setup steps. Take it from the voice of experience; it truly makes the project go much more smoothly and it will be finished in much less time when you check out and follow them.
In our case, I had two friends helping with the project. We have actually worked together on other projects and work together 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 evening we had the brand-new window set up and the roofing and skirting finished. On Monday afternoon I finished sealing up the outdoors and finished the trim work for the within.
And, we were right. It was the perfect area for a bay window. It looked terrific from the outside. Inside, it ended up being the focal point of the room and included a special appeal to your home. The window gave the house included character and value.
When it came time to offer your home, it was one of the features that were especially attractive to the purchasers.