Hi, Though I’ve been a FHB subscriber for years, I’m new to the discussion group. I’m not a pro builder but rather a musician by trade. I live in N. California and enjoy working on my house.
Several years ago I replaced a couple of bedroom windows with new aluminum ones on my wood frame, plaster exterior home. This required cutting through the existing plaster (being careful to avoid cutting through the metal lath backing) then patching around the new window. I never quite got around to putting on the finish coat of plaster and when the aluminum windows failed (Viking from Home Depot!) I decided to replace the replacements(!) with vinyl. I should have used vinyl retrofits to begin with so please don’t clobber me with that one.<g>
So now I have the new vinyl windows in and have a decision to make:
1) patch the plaster as I did before and try to match the surrounding finish plaster as best I can
2) have a pro try to match the surrounding plaster
3) forget patching with plaster and install wood trim with flashing
4) some other solution
Any guidance on this will be greatly appreciated!
TIA,
Mark
Replies
Ideo,
I expect that you could really do either one...patch with stucco plaster, and/or install wood trim.
You didn't say exactly why your last set of windows failed, but I guess its due to water infiltration of some sort...since you metioned you never really finished the plaster job the first time around.
I would say, decide which "look" you think would go best with the design of your house ( plaster vs wood) and then hire the appropiate contractor to finish the job.
Davo
Thanks for that Davo.
The aluminum Viking windows were poor quality to begin with with insulation strips coming off and locks that didn't quite lock properly. My mistake: I pulled the old windows before picking up the new ones so I was stuck with them. Eventually, it got so bad that neither window would open. Luckily, water infiltration was not a problem.
My main concern when patching around the new vinyl windows is matching the surrounding stucco. I've heard of homeowners calling the stucco contractor back to re-stucco the entire wall because the patch is so obvious.
Guess it probably has a lot to do with the skill of the guy doing it?
Thanks,
Ideo/Mark
Fortunately for you stucco is a very malleable and slow setting material and since you'll be buying a 80# bag you'll have more than enough for trial and error. Use sand mix for the base coat, then your decorative stucco.
Use scrap sheets for your trials.
Like music, practice, practice.
We don't have much stucco around here so I don't know much about it, but I happened to be watching "Curb Appeal" on HGTV just last night. I assume it's a California-based show. They were giving a stucco house a make-over.
They pulled out some cheap aluminum windows and put in beautiful new Andersens. As is always the case with windows like this, the nailing flanges had to be covered. They patched the stucco around the windows. Even with a new paint job and all the tricks of modern TV, the patching was clearly visible.
I'm guessing that matching stucco is a real skill and not everyone has it. Choose carefully.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA