So I’m playing with the idea of making my own casement windows. the reason why: half to save money and half for the challenge. I understand the it may be a little strange given the annual maintenance I am getting myself into but I think I am going to do it anyways. I was hoping to get some opinions on:
1) joinery for the window itself, as well as jamb and sill
2) wood type
3) hardware
4) exterior finish
5) weatherstripping details
The house is a brick rowhome and the windows are set back a good 10 inches from the face of the building (limiting exposure to the elements to some extent). There are four window openings: roughly 3’x6′. As always the budget is an issue so keep it in mind when recommending materials. If anyone has plans they are willing to share that would be great too.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Replies
I have actually made a pair for my next-door neighbor. IIRC, I got the mechanical parts online, and made the frames from 1-3/4" white oak. I had double-insulated glass panels made to fit the rabbets in the sash, and pinned them in with molding or putty - I forget which.
I used the weatherstripping that fits in a saw kerf - good think about casement windows is that they seal up TIGHT.
I can walk over maybe before dark and get a pic, if you want.
Forrest
is there any wood I should stay away from? I am going for a paint finish.
Natalie Wood.
No really - stay away from poplar; yellow pine holds up well but doesn't hold paint well. I like softwoods like Doug fir or Ponderosa pine here, but white oak is good and available.
I walked over and took pix - they always offer me a beer!
Remember - screens go on the inside. I think I just ripped and applied some strips to make a screen groove, and just made some screens with the little leaf springs in the top. To remove, you lift and swing in.
This all used to a storage room, with a blank wall!
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Forrest - used to do that
Edited 5/11/2009 8:43 pm ET by McDesign
Forgot the wide shot including both pairs -
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Forrest
Edited 5/11/2009 8:46 pm ET by McDesign
yep, natalie wood is not good with moisture
Nice! I'll bet those open and close better then the store jobbers.
Consider the possibility of making the casements open in instead of out. I did a bunch of those many years ago and I like the look and the ease of cleaning, but the biggest advantages are 1) no tricky crank hardware, 2) screen goes on the outside, where it belongs, and 3) best of all, the window is much better protected against the elements. Of course, it works better with narrow sashes, since they don't swing as far into the room. It's a classic old style you don't see much in the USA, but it's common in Europe.
There is one draw back with inswing. You can't put anything in from of them.. Beds, dressers, sofas, decorations on tables, etc.
Total PITA! ,but "pretty"
Thanks for all the responses. That old thread was helpful for design ideas and hardware.
Can anyone give me a top five for wood choices to build my casements out of ?
I'm starting to think twice about the whole idea though because I think the glass itself is going to way close to 100 pounds. And these windows are going on the second and third floor (a good 15-25 feet in the air). I was hoping to be able to detach the sash from the interior when future maintenance was needed on the exterior finish. However that sounds like it could be pretty difficult and dangerous with a 100 lb sash (3'x6') Any ideas on how to make this thing managable or just ways to mount it so that it will be not only be strong but also easy to disassemble?
3' x 6' is smaller than a typical patio sliding door panel, which only weighs about 60lbs or so. Unless you're planning to get triple-glazed 6mm plate your sashes shouldn't weigh even that much.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
white oak, pine, verticle grain fir, mahogany, among others. Mahog and pine seem to be the easiest to mill.
Also depends on where you live and the local access to materials. along with how much $$$ you have.
here's an older thread on the subject -
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=53734.1