Hi!
I’m a homeowner/DIYer with a few questions. My house is a wood framed colonial with painted hardboard siding on three sides and stained cedar on the back which faces the woods. This stuff needs to be replaced (tired of having it painted and stained every few years.) The original single-pane, double-hung windows with intergral storms are cold and condense in the winter, and they’ve got to go, too. I’d love to get them both done at the same time, but being neither independently wealthy nor having any rich, dying, and childless uncles to leave me their fortune, I can only get one done at a time, with the other to be done about one year later. Plus, this job is beyond my capabilities, both skills and time wise. So, here are the questions:
1. Which should I have replaced first, the windows or the siding, and why in this order?
2. Do the replacement windows get installed from the inside of the house or the outside?
3. Do the windows come with exterior trim on them, or do they have to be trimmed out?
4. I’m thinking of the insulation-backed vinyl siding. Is this a good choice?
Thanks in advance for the help, and I look forward to hearing from the best help on the web!
Wendell B.
Replies
Have you talked to any local contractors about your job? Since you say that it's beyond your capabilities (time and skills), you would probably be better off talking with a few pros who can answer your questions and advise you based on what they can see at your house.
If I were talking directly to you, one of my first questions would be what you want the finished job to look like. Double glazed, low-e, vinyl windows (either replacement or new construction) would probably be more economical, but not look very good if you're after a colonial "look".
Hi Wendell,
First off, windows can be tackled in two separate ways. The originals can be removed (which means the removal of the window trim from at least one side) and replaced with new flanged windows (most typically used in new construction; fastened from the outside via a flange). The other option is to choose "replacement" windows, which are designed to sit in your existing window opening after you remove the old sashes - this option won't require exterior trim removal, though interior might have to come down.
so, if you do the first option, the siding will have to be at least pulled back to allow room for proper flange nailing and flashing. At this point, you may as well take all of the siding off, put all the windows in, then just add a fresh layer of housewrap right over the old stuff before the vinyl goes up. The extra layer of housewrap will be important - Tyvek (and other brands) is only mean to be left exposed to harmful UV rays for a certain period of time (often a max of 90 days). Yours will be sitting in the sun for a year. It won't need to be torn down and replaced, but it should be topcoated with another layer before the siding goes on.
And for what it's worth, I'm a bit skeptical of Fullback and the other insulated vinyls. I think one of the only redeeming benefits of vinyl siding is the airspace between the siding and the sheathing - which allows water to drain/dry. Add insulation to that (even if it has a high perm rating) and you are reducing that drying potential.
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
1. It's best to do both projects back to back with the windows first, then the siding. You won't be able to properly flash the windows with the existing or new siding on the house.
2. Depends. I've done it both ways, but you'll still need to go out to detail the window flashing.
3. It depends on the type of window and if you're trying to matching ext. trim on windows that won't be replaced.
4. I don't like vinyl siding much because I rarely see installers properly detail flashing, but either way you'll need a wrb (water resistant barrier) behind the siding with the window and roof flashing details incorporated with that.
Don't forget sill pans under all the windows!
Here's the simple answer I think you where looking for.
Replacement windows can be done at any time not affecting performance or disturbing exterior trim/siding. If the installer is any good there will be little repair to inside trim, maybe a broken piece, scratched, caulk and paint.
Note on replacements--tougher and more expensive to maintain any given style other than stock/modern and they will shrink overall window view size a little but not by much, otherwise equal except you'll be relying on existing installed sills and flashing to do their job. Also not typically a big deal.
If you want new install windows to maintain a look or other reasoning than yes both projects should be done at the same time but don't have to be. I'd prefer to do windows first knowing if the siding gets banged up in removing to expose flashing and install windows and put back up it'll only matter for a year. Rather than putting on new siding and pulling back off again to do windows in a year.