Greetings all,
I think I made a big mistake!! Trying to do the right thing, may have caused a problem with my new Pella windows. A few months ago, I thought I carefully sealed the side, top and bottom jambs with LOW EXPANDING foam (in this case Pur-Fill). I now have 3 windows that will close, but not lock using the twin latches. The windows are 36″ x 60″. I really tried not to overfill the space between the window and the studs but…
I’m thinking I should try to scrape, cut or pry out all the foam that I can, and then just try to use regular fiberglass insulation. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions with this problem? Thanks.
Tim
Replies
Yes, unfortunately I have experience with foam. I had to take a blade and cut the foam out around the frame to get my windows to operate. It takes very little pressure to bind up the works.
Two choices. Somewhat linked together, and similar to the previous post.
The first choice would be to remove the casing to give you access to the foam. I'd use a drywall saw to get in the foamed gap and saw away. It does a great job of removing "just enough." You don't need to remove all the foam, just enough to provide relief.
Even after doing the above, it's likely that the window jambs/sills will not spring back to their original lines. If they do, you're done. If they don't, you could predrill and run screws through the jambs (or tops, bottoms, etc...whatever needs persuasion), throgh the foam, and into the framing. Tweak the screws in/out to bring the window frame into alignment.
You can hide the screwheads behind the jamb liners, or countersink and putty, then paint. Depends on your windows, and if they're paint or stain, of course.
Secondly, if the windows are already trimmed and you don't want to pull the trim, then I'd just try running screws through the window and into the framing to bring it back to square. Be very careful that you don't crack the jambs...a bugle head screw will work against you. If it works, great. If not, pull the trim and proceed with the first option.
Second thought, GRK makes 3 1/4" self piloting trim screws with small torx heads that work quite well when you're trying to hide little holes in window & door jambs.
It might be the foam but You mention being very careful and I have some Pellas that have the same problem on a customers job. It's a real effort to get them to close. There were like that from day one at delivery. Pella reps told me, "Yeah they do that sometimes, just let'em season in for a year and they'll be fine."
BS Four years later they still fit the same with foam only at sides, not top and bottom which is where they crowd.
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
I don't know a thing about these specific window's problems, but, I was once trimming a house with some Caradcos that wouldn't work. Opened one up, looked at the blown off exterior trim with foamy stuff oozed out, and lo n behold, the builder/architecht had had been showin' off to the homeowners about how tight his houses were, went and squirted Great Stuff (this was before low expanding stuffies) in between all the window and door jambs and the framing. Sawing the stuff out was one hell of an extra...it's still a company joke;-) It's okay, I can fix it!
I've noticed that Anderson and, I believe Marvin, in their install instructions have warned not to use foam. So I've gone back to fiberglass. I concur with the suggestion of opening up and "sawing" a kerf through the foam.
Hey everybody, thanks very much for all your comments. Makes me feel better when I'm not the only "expert" that makes mistakes. Drywall saw here I come...
Tim