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I’m renovating my basement. I’ve cut an opening in my poured concrete foundation and installed a 2-6 x4-0 window in the opening. The distance from the inside of the window to the wallboard is 11 inches. Is there some rule of thumb/convention about finishing a window that’s recessed in the wall as far as mine? Seems like the choice is a “picture frame” case or a traditional stool with the casing resting on it. My wife feels strongly both ways.
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James,
I don't think that there is any rule of thumb as to how deep jamb extentions have to be or the "picture frame vs. stool" issue. Use your imagination and pick what you like best, and not what seems to be any norm. Who knows, you may come up with some new application that no one ever thought of before.
Ed. Williams
*... if you can find some interior pictures of say, Penn dutch stone houses, they have some great examples of windows set into very thick walls....depending on your interior design.. might be a good place for louvers and other window treatments..especially with it being a basement..
*...another thing we've done is return the sheet rock all the way to the window, and use something like oak flooring to cover the sill area..
*James,If you go for wood extenders, use banded plywood for the sake of stability. If paint grade, exterior MDF is ok, but has to be well supported or it will sag. Mike's idea of the drywall return is a good one. I have done that with tile in place of the oak on the sill. It holds up better than wood when people put house plants on that wide sill, then overwater....If neither you nor your wife have an overriding preference for stool or pictureframe, it is usually safe to simply match the motif found in the rest of your house. After a little questioning, my customers generally discover that they do, in fact, have a preference. In a skinny wall, stool is better for putting things on the sill. Although it is probably too late for this on your project, a flared return on both sides can dramatically increase the light reaching the room (as well as access to views)when the wall is thick like yours. Bill