Windows!

My windows finally arrived! It was really exciting to finally start closing up the space. Thanks once again to my father, I was able to install them all in just one day! (Well, one day plus an hour or so the previous evening).

The process with the windows started with a layer of flexwrap flashing that sticks to the bottom sill of the window opening and goes up the wall six inches on each side. We used quarter inch cedar lathing strips and cut spacers the width of the wall for the windows to sit in, then used the brad nailer to set them in place on top of the flashing.

Once the spacers were set we dry fit the window to see if would fit the space, checked on center, level and square, etc. When all seemed good, the window came back out and I applied a bead of silicone along the top and sides. The window then went back into the hole and was nailed in place with 1 inch roofing nails on all sides but the top, which wasn't nailed in the flanges like the sides and bottom. Instead, a nail is pounded in about half an inch above the flange and then bent own over the top. This, apparently, allows the window more flexibility with respect to movement or flex in the wall around it.

Finally, a strip of straightflash (yet another Dupont product) was applied down each side and along the top of the window and all the flashing was rolled to press out air and stick it firmly to the wall. Then it was on to the next window.

Here's what it looked like from the outside when done:

And a few inside shots

I really like the big picture window. The windows also make a big difference with noise. With all of the wall insulation and the windows, the inside is very quiet!

The windows all fit perfectly, except of course, these angled ones - which also happened to be the last ones that we installed.

The angle was a bit off and the windows were about 1/2 inch too big on the high end. The low end was also too high, but by less than 1/16th of an inch. Enough to not fit in the hole anyway.

It would have taken weeks to order new windows, and since these are irregular they are the most expensive windows in the house, surprisingly. Fortunately, a wall can be remodeled pretty drastically with a circular saw and an all-saw. The weight is well supported by the center post and supporting wall studs, so we just sliced 5/8 of an inch off the 2 x 4 sill under the windows and voila - they fit! It made rather a mess though, and I looked a bit like the abominable sawdust monster for a bit.

Dusty, dirty, tired, and happy.  :-)