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Odd Shaped Window

| Posted in Construction Techniques on December 4, 2002 12:49pm

Hey All,

I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I’m working on a project for my construction class and I need to know how to frame and odd shaped window. The wall in which the window must be placed is non load bearing. Here’s what the window looks like. Don’t have all the mesurements with me, but I know the overall lenght and width.. not sure of the angle or length of the angled piece off the top of my head.

Would I make the header equal to the angle piece of the frame? Never framed anything like this before. Any suggestions would be appreciated it.

Thanks a ton.

Brian


Edited 12/3/2002 4:54:10 PM ET by freefall

Reply

Replies

  1. kdinger3 | Dec 04, 2002 03:06am | #1

    hey free

    as long as you have the room in the wall frame the opening as you would if the window was square but make the opening 3 inches wider put the header in the opening as you would if it were a square window than put in another set of jack studs cut to length so you can put a 2x at whatever your top angle is then just stud in between the 2x and the header that way you will have no problem installing your int/ext trim or your wallboard

    good luck

  2. andybuildz | Dec 04, 2002 03:40am | #2

    Free

          Frame it as if you were framing in a square window then add the jacks to a rough opening..maybe an extra half inch. No matter if its round or triangle or anything..frame first like its square and add your jacks to come close to the window for nailing and rocking. Doesnt matter how many 2x's you need to do this.

    Be well

            Namaste

                       andy

    It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

    1. stanlakeb | Dec 04, 2002 04:10am | #3

      Thanks a ton,

      That's what I thought but the assignment is worth a fair bit so I thought that it would be better not to guess.

      Brian

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Dec 04, 2002 04:16am | #4

        same reply here....frame it off square.....same goes for the next lesson......round and/or arch tops!

        Make the RO 2 1/2 wider that the window.....what'd that make for....a 46" RO....did I remember those measurements right?.......then your header would be 49" long......to bear on the trimmers..or jacks..what ever ya call them there......

        Let us all know how we scored.

        JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

         Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

      2. Piffin | Dec 04, 2002 04:54am | #5

        OK,

        Here's the extra credit portion.

        Why frame it square first and shim in?

        I always frame as though a bearing wall just for consistancy. It's good to have that wood all around the window for nailers when you do trim later.

        On load bearing wall, you want the header load to be transfered equally to both side legs of the frame. An angled header would create lateral stresses on the jack studs and king studs which might twist or otherwise deform the frame and/or the wall. In a small window like this, it would not likely be unequal enogh to be of consequence but good habits start small.

        Cutting square is easier and generally more accurate than angled so you save time.

        .

        Excellence is its own reward!

        "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

        The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

        --Marcus Aurelius

        1. User avater
          jonblakemore | Dec 04, 2002 04:56am | #6

          Another benefit:  Frame what you know or can reasonably guess now (square) then fill in later with window on site.  Fewer problems down the road.Jon Blakemore

          1. stanlakeb | Dec 04, 2002 06:23am | #7

            Thanks a lot to everyone...

            Man I love this site :-)

            Cheers,

            Brian

          2. Piffin | Dec 04, 2002 06:55am | #8

            You're fixin' to love it more!

            Take a look at this exercise. Here's your assignment;

            See if you can identify what is different about the jacks on the right side as opposed to those on the left. ( It should be done one way or the other for any window. I showed both for the exercise)

            BTW, the brown studs are on layout @16"OC.

            Excellence is its own reward!

            "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

            The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

            --Marcus Aurelius

          3. User avater
            JeffBuck | Dec 04, 2002 09:43am | #9

            Ohh..ohh...I know..I know!

            The left is what ya shoot for........and the right's what sometimes happens when you're tired!

            Or..the purple sticks are wider than the red ones??

            Jeff

            Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

             Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

          4. vandeweg | Dec 05, 2002 01:27am | #10

            The one on the right side is the wrong way to do it, with the jack stud interrupted by the rough sill. It looks almost as bad as what I tore out of my bathroom (added by a previous owner in the 50s), except that in mine the jack stud was interrupted by the whole window frame.

            The one on the left is correct, with the jack stud carrying the load from the header all the way down to the floor.

            Mike

          5. JohnSprung | Dec 05, 2002 02:42am | #11

            If I'm seeing it correctly, both are wrong.  On the left, the header has a jack, but there's no trimmer between it and the rough sill.  On the right, the trimmer carries the load of the header through the rough sill, and there's no jack.  But stranger things abound in old framing.  In my place, they carried headers way far thru the next stud bay on one side, to the next king on 16" centers.

            Another good reason for framing for a rectangular window and then filling in:  Three years from now the homeowner will get tired of the wierd window, and want to replace it with a normal one. 

            -- J.S.

          6. Piffin | Dec 05, 2002 04:37am | #12

            I won't comment yet. This is supposed to be a homework assignment for freefall. We can't let him get all this help for free just 'cause of his name.

            ;)

            We gotta build character in young men by letting them work for what they get.( as tho' framing odd windows in sub-freezing weather won't do that for him) He's gotta think about it. So no more from the back of the class, LOL.

            Excellence is its own reward!

            "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

            The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

            --Marcus Aurelius

          7. stanlakeb | Dec 05, 2002 06:41am | #13

            LMAO...

            I'm drawing up a rough sketch of what I gotta do tomorrow and if I can get to a scanner I'll show you all what I've come up with. (decided against drawing a second on paintbrush, I gotta get me a real sketching programme)

            Thanks a lot for all the help... I have no problem with a little help from the "back of the class" (liked that post a lot piffin LOL).

            Still lovin every minute of this stuff.

            Thanks again all!

            Brian

          8. Piffin | Dec 05, 2002 07:05am | #14

            But what's your answer about the jacks?

            For a free CAD program...scroll down to Download IntelliCAD 2001 evaluation version

            http://www.cadopia.com/products/icadStandard.asp

            It's ACAD clone so not easy to learn but help and tips included and more help at that site

            .

            Excellence is its own reward!

            "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

            The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

            --Marcus Aurelius

          9. andybuildz | Dec 05, 2002 09:51am | #15

            Personally I think as long as the header is supporting the roof/wall loads then the rest of the framing is for sheathing and trim work. I kind of dont get why everyone says this pix is off. Spose I'd fail school and never become a builder.Wahhhhhhh Rickyyyyyyyyyy.

            Be well

                Namaste'

                            AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

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