Hey guys, first time poster long time lurker. I have run into a situation that I am unable to figure out.
One aspect of our business is installing vinyl windows in new construction.
I looked at a job today that had two rough openings for windows that measured 6’x8′ roundtopped fixed glass. Windows in this model home are Andersen 200’s- heavier than the standard 3’x6’vinyls we normally install.
These openings are in a great room wall twenty feet in the air. I am not sure how to get these monsters off the ground and into the holes.
If any one has come across this before, I would love to know how you set windows of this size at that height.
-chris
Replies
Here's some suggestions and methods that I used to get a 9' slider up. Might pique your interest.
Slider
Other than that, I used scaffold and walkboards (planks) to lift window units a couple ft. at a time. Lift it up onto one, stand up there and lift it up to another.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittintime
Calvin thanks for the link. It got me thinking about alternatives. I guess the scaffold and plank deal is mason's scaffolding?-chris
The scaffold I rented was 5x10x5 ft high/section. Got the scaffold platforms and utilized planks for leverage/staging. It's slow going one level at a time. The crank up lift was a godsend.
A lift if you can get it in there would be nicer too-once you remove some of the safety rail to accomodate the loading of the windows.
I take it you're setting these with fins from the outside?A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Yeah, fins, set from the outside. Usually the inside guy will hand the window out, bottom 1st. The outside guy grabs it to help get it into position. Inside guy centers it as much as possible, while the guy outside checks for level. (Inside guy) Shim up off the sill, (outside guy) pin bottom corners, (inside guy) adjust frame for even reveal at sill, and lock rail.What are you talking about: crank it up?-chris
We used a crank up HD Duct lift-Genie. Capacity 650 lbs, IIRC. We put that at the base of the deck, set the 9' slider on it and cranked it up. Lift comes with outriggers (if you have the room) so it's pretty safe if you can balance the window on the forks. The window soon leaves the tip safety of the tower so it becomes a balancing act with a guy keeping it standing up.
You know the site and the sash, good planning will get you through this.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Is crank it up= pump jacks-chris
Like this:
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I didn't believe in reincarnation in my last life, either
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The lift is a Hand Crank Genie Lift. Commonly used to set ductwork or to raise units.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Chris, working alone I've come up with some harrowing and strenuous ways of doing things. With a couple borrowed helpers you can do even more. The clincher is-you have to make it as safe and lucrative as you can. Easier is icing on the cake.
We set all the windows on our hillside house off a 24'' pic and pump jacks. We were able to carry up the units inside, sliding 'em out the window to the staging. Still, a little rythm on that pump plank necessary.
best of luck.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
It might be worth renting a lift for the day to set those windows. It'll give you a place to stand, as well as a way to get the windows into place.
Plus you can use it to set the rest of the windows in the house. I'd expect that by using a lift, you'd get all the windows in much quicker than off ladders.
Shep, you mention a lift, so... I guess call the rental yard, tell 'em what I'm doing and go with their recommendation? Or is there a specific type you were thinking of?If we did use a lift, will I have to come up with a bracket to attach to the basket to set the window on to ride it up? They may have an attachment already, I'll call around tomorrow to see what I can find out.Thanks,
-chris
I've only had 1 job where renting a lift for windows made sense, so I haven't had all that much experience with them.
But the time I did, I talked to the rental place, told them what I needed, and took what they suggested. It was a small boom lift of some kind ( it's been years, so my memory's a bit fuzzy) that we could drive around the house and position where we needed it.
Pull all the sashes out that you possibly can. It's still going to be top heavy but at least managable.
Setup scaffolding outside and have 2-3 guys on the plank.
Have 2-3 guys inside sliding the window out to them and everyone work together to slide it in.
I have done too many of this size windows this way.
Biggest one was a 12' bow window on the 3rd story of a house. Went up scaffolding with that one. Took almost half the day just to get it near the hole.
If you have pump jacks, you can set the window on the scaffold and jack the windows upo into place. I've done this with bay and bow windows.
Joe, I don't have pump jacks, but it may be time to finally break down and buy a set.I worry about the weight of the window, which I'm guessing may be 150 lbs. or better and two beefy guys maxing out a five hundred lbs. rated plank.Setting up scaffolding and stepping it like Calvin suggests seems safer, but more time consuming. Thanks for the input.-chris
Just wanted to thank you all for the responses. I haven't decided which way I'll go yet, but will let you know if it pans out.
-chris
That's easy, at least for the majority of residential builders and carpenters I've worked with. We would set up the standard heavy duty scaffolding and pass it up level by level.
Other ways may be quicker, but they lack the stability of scaffolding. Usually our windows are heavy, big and expensive so it's not worth the carps safety or the cost of a new window.
If there is easy access, then perhaps a mechanized lift makes sense, but that's unlikely.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Pump jacks make it easy. Set them as close as the window will allow, get one guy and each side, and crank them up slowly. Or if something is in the way of placing the poles, try a block & tackle...
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We use a wench that has been welded to the bottom a ladder jack. As you can see in pic. 2513. There is a pulley at the top of the ladder (pic. 2514). picture 2517 is a close up of the wench assembly. We use Woods Power Grip 8" suction cups to attach the rope to the window. See picture 2518.
You will need to have enough height above the r.o. for the pully that is attached to the top rung of the ladder. The window we were lifting that day is a 6060 tempered unit and took 3 guys to get it in place. We can usually wench it right into the opening without to much effort. We have lifted quite a few windows with this set up and haven't lost one yet. Just make sure the suction cups are in good working order. If you would like more pix or have any questions let me know. Hope this helps.
...but the wench complains a lot...
I'm still looking for the close ups of the wench assembly...._______________________________________________________________
I didn't believe in reincarnation in my last life, either
In regards to my previous post I should have written winch instead of wench. Guess I should use spell check more often. It is amazing what a wrong vowel will do to a word.
Depending on the size we either set up two levels of scaffold, lift it onto the first, then the second. Of if it's really heavy we use our pump jacks, set the window on the walk board and jack it up there.
Just double check the max weight of the jacks/board agains the weight of the two guys on it plus the window
Whew! You guys all work too hard. I'm tired just from reading about it all!
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That's the thing I was trying to describe.
Sure was handy. I wish I could have convinced my dad to rent it more than 1 time.