Hi All,
I have a window installation situation I hope someone can help me with. I have a large barn that I am currently building a workshop in. The barn has board and batten siding nailed directly to 2×4 studs 24″ OC. The portion of the barn I am sectioning off for the shop currently has no windows. I’d like to install a few double-hung window units, but I’m not sure of the best way to approach this.
The inside of the barn/shop is unfinished, so framing the rough openings from the inside is no problem at all. One option I considered was to simply install a new-construction unit with a nailing flange, caulk like crazy around the flange and trim around the window with 1x stock. Having the flange on the outside of the siding, even though it would be trimmed over, just doesn’t seem right though. Eventually the caulk would fail and the window would probably leak.
I’ve thought of just using replacement windows, but don’t they require more than just a rough opening?
Ideally I guess I’m looking for a complete unit that could be installed in a rough opening, and provide an effective means for sealing out the weather. I live in Maine, so this is an important consideration!
Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Replies
if the in side is open as you say you could build your frame header kings and jacks as a unit, remove studs blocking and so forth for the new frame, stick the new window frame unit in and the mark out the R/O on the inside of the boards. remove the frame adjust the marks you made on the boards to give you less gap around the window say an 1/8th or 3/16ths all around, put your window in the new frame nail it off put a bead of good caulking around the flange or some peel and stick or both and stick it back in the hole and nail it of. just a thought
why not frame the opening to proper size but cut the sheathing 3 1/2" wider all the way around to accept a 1*4 trim peice and hide the nailing flange beneath it. That way you can flash the head properly.
thats the way I do it,but I also cut 4 strips from the opening scrap and glue and nail them in on top of the flange.
Don't forget to rabbet the backside of the trim to go over the nailing flange so it will stay flat, otherwise, the trim will "tip" away from the window.
If you can, you should also put some type of membrane around the window before the trim goes on. I would also cut the opening in the siding slightly larger than the window first, install the window, then measure 3 1/2" all the way around and cut away the remainder of the siding for a much better finished product. It is a little more work but well worth the extra time.
Thanks for the advice. I have a plan of attack now!
Happy Thanksgiving..
This is similar to the problem of openings in a house sided with T1-11. The suggestions to nail the flanges to your existing siding and cover them with rabbeted and caulked casings is probably as good as you can do under the circumstances. The key, however, is a good head flashing. This must go up and under the existing siding and out over your new window and casings. If you make your own flashings from coil stock, they can be generously sized, stiff and even colored.
Don't forget to make a sloped sill with a drip groove in the bottom.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA