You’ve researched, talked with your contractor, and decided on the windows you want for your home. Now, installation day is fast approaching.

The first thing the contractor will do is inspect the window to make sure it fits correctly in the opening and that the sashes are even with each other. They also check to see that your windows have both the ENERGY STAR and NFRC labels. Visit https://www.windowinstallationwaukesha.com/ to learn more.

Adding new windows to your home is a project that will enhance your property’s curb appeal and boost its energy efficiency. It’s a big investment and you’ll want it done right. This is why it’s important to understand the process before it begins. Window installation is a time-consuming, messy, and sometimes invasive project. Taking the necessary steps to prepare your home and your belongings will make the process run more smoothly.

Unless you’re an experienced builder or have previous construction experience, you should always hire professional window installers to do your window installation. This way, you can be confident that the job will be done correctly and with minimal disruption to your life. It’s also best to check in with your contractor at least three days before installation day. This will allow you to confirm important details and eliminate any potential misunderstandings.

It is essential to clear away any furniture or other obstacles inside your home that could get in the way of the window installation team. This will ensure that they have easy access to the windows and avoid any accidents or damage to your belongings. Also, be sure to remove any wall hangings near the windows that may suffer from vibrations during the installation process.

The window installers will need to access most of your windows from the outside, so it’s important to clear out any areas where ladders might have to be set up. This will help them work faster and reduce any safety hazards for you and your family members.

You should also trim any trees and overgrown bushes that are blocking the area around your window. This will not only improve the appearance of your home, but it will also provide easier access for the installers.

After the window is placed, the installers will use a level to ensure that it lines up with the frame and the sash is even with the meeting rails. They may also add shims at the diagonal corners of the frame to reinforce it. After they are satisfied with their work, they will apply foam insulation and caulk around the window to create an airtight seal.

Nailing

During the window installation process, the installer will make sure the rough opening is clean and square. They will also remove any debris from the interior or exterior walls around the window opening, which is necessary to keep air from escaping and prevent moisture damage to the wood framing. The contractor will also vacuum the window frame opening and apply a layer of butyl sealant to the nailing fin to protect against mold and insect problems. Once the butyl sealant has set, the contractors will install the sill pan flashing and insulation. They will then nail through the pre-punched holes in the flange, spacing the nails according to the building code requirements for your area.

Nails are preferred over shims because they provide more holding strength and will not compress over time. However, the contractor must be careful not to overdrive the nails and cause damage to the framing or drywall. They will use a level to ensure the window is plumb and square before finishing up.

The nailing fin, sometimes called a mounting flange, is the thin strip installed on the exterior side of the window frame. This flange is designed to fasten to the wall sheathing, keeping the window in place while shims and screws are being secured to the framing. The nailing fin can also help to prevent water and wind infiltration, which is a problem for many homes with older windows that lack this feature.

Non-integral nailing fins must be sealed to the frames they connect to, but this is easy enough by running self-adhering flashing over the fin and up onto the frame. In addition, the backside of all nailing fins should be caulked with a high-quality exterior-grade caulk that is non-shrinking.

After the nailing fin is sealed, the contractor will caulk the flange to create a watertight seal. They will also fill any gaps between the flange and the casing with a minimally expanding foam. This is an important step that should not be skipped. Gaps that are too large can allow moisture and insects to penetrate the wall and cause rot and mold issues down the road.

Installing the Sash

Throughout the window replacement process, you have made a lot of detailed decisions about everything from energy-saving features to hardware. Installation day is finally approaching, and you want your new windows to go in smoothly. However, it’s important to keep in mind that installation may require some additional work before the window can be inserted into place. This includes removing protective bars or other blocking devices and re-caulking the frame, if necessary.

The first step in preparing the window for insertion involves heating the caulking around the edges of the glass. The crew will use a blow torch to do this, which helps soften the caulk and make it easier to remove. Once the caulking is pliable, they can pull off the sash, which includes the wooden part of the window that holds the glass in place. They may also use a hammer to break the glass into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove and dispose of.

Before the installers begin to install the new sash, they will check that the window is the right size for the opening. They will use a level to ensure that the window sits straight and even with the frame, and they might use shims to help keep it in place.

They will also add a jamb liner, which is usually included with the sash kit. The installers will put this into place in the gap that is created by the brickwork, and they will shim it in to prevent the frame from being pulled into the brickwork (bowing) as the screws are attached.

They will then start installing the sash itself. They will secure it to the jamb liner using nails, and they will shim the sides of the sash to ensure that it is snug against the frame. They will also put in the sash stops, which are placed at each side of the window to stop it from being opened too wide. They will also add a bead of caulk to the bottom of the frame to seal it. They will also re-caulk the window sill, if needed.

Final Inspection

It is important to check that the window has been correctly installed. This ensures the correct thermal and acoustic insulation as well as resistance to moisture, and it also prevents water from penetrating the wall plaster and damaging it.

In addition to the above, it is essential that the window sill is properly insulated. This is often not paid enough attention during the installation process, and this can result in a thermal bridge that reduces the energy efficiency of the whole window system.

This should be done by applying a special under-window profile filled with thermal insulation material or by using a ready-made underlay made of similar material. It is also a good idea to apply two continuous beads of caulking around the edge of the window sill. This will create a seal that is both watertight and flexible enough to flex with the building as it expands and contracts.

If a window is fitted to a timber frame, the gap between the wooden frame and the new windowsill must be filled with an elastomeric caulking. This will also protect the wood from damp and fungus, and help to maintain the thermal performance of the insulation.

Likewise, it is recommended that the gap between the window frame and the external casing is filled with an insulating foam to provide a watertight seal that is both waterproof and vapour-proof. This is an integral part of a proper installation and must be carried out according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Finally, it is advisable to carefully examine each new window to make sure that the glass has been fitted correctly and that the frame has not been damaged during the installation process. If any damage is detected, it should be repaired immediately.

Before the work begins, meet the job lead and walk through the house with them, going over each window in detail. This will give you a chance to catch any mistakes the company may have made in ordering your windows. For example, if you ordered ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement windows but the labels read otherwise, this needs to be addressed before the work begins.