In this section you can see the how the project moved through the different stages of construction. With each major phase or ” STEP” I like to include a gallery, as well as some description of the processes and challenges in that particular part of project.

In the first step for this project, we located the interior corner of the exterior framing walls by carefully cutting a small hole in the drywall where the window will be. After removing the siding from the outside of the wall area where the window will be located we can start making our opening from the inside. Once we can safely mark out our window rough opening, and see how the framing is going to work, we can get the reciprocating saw and begin cutting through the sheathing after the insulation is removed.

With our rough opening made, it’s time to frame in the window opening and set the window unit in place. Setting the window to the proper depth is critical to allow for drywall and then trim to sit flush on the window. Also, I put 3.5 in stainless steel screws in the jambs of the window, through shims, into the framing. This little extra step will add lots of strength to the window unit and make sure that there is no movement under load. Because I knew that the use was going to be primarily for a window AC unit, which are heavy and would be major safety hazard if it was to fall from the third floor, I took some extra care to reinforce the window unit.

This new construction style window was manufactured with a flange on the outside of the frame to mount directly to the sheathing of the building. It also had a built in J channel to receive the old vinyl siding pieces and make it look seamless, or like it was always part of the building. So I had my assistant working on the outside of the window, caulking and nailing the flange to the sheathing, and then installing the siding courses on either side of the window. And I worked to piece in the drywall and re-routed a pesky electrical supply line that would have been in the way of the framing for the window had I not moved it.

Last step of course for any exterior or interior carpentry project… trim and paint! In this case the owner had agreed to paint the wall areas once we were done, so all there was left was to cut the window trim and install, and then clean up.