Find a Dealer in Your AreaIs DIY Window Installation Possible?
Can a handy homeowner complete a DIY Window Installation? Maybe! While it is impossible to answer this type of question on an individual basis, we will attempt to provide the best general sense of whether windows can be installed by a very handy homeowner.
There are several major considerations that will help you answer the question yourself in our video below. The old adage “measure twice, cut once” is an applicable saying when it comes to more advanced home improvement projects, like DIY Window Installation.
What Are Some Of The Top DIY Window Installation Critical Points?
Besides the video above, we offer some specific tips to a successful window installation on our YouTube Channel, where you can learn some of our tips and tricks we have developed over 40 years of window installation and construction.
- Measurements: It’s not quite as simple as just getting width and height dimensions and ordering your windows. Window opening are not completely square – even by the most skilled builders. You’ll need to measure at several locations along the height and width and order windows with the smallest measurements arrived. This could be as small as 1/16th or 18th of an inch differences.
- Stock Windows: Stock sized windows on the showroom floor at the big box home improvement stores, are average sizes. These will not fit right without modifications to the framing, sheetrock and, sometimes, the brick exterior walls!
- Leveling: Windows need to be level for a couple of reasons: Water shedding through the weep holes, smooth opening and closing, and proper sealing when closed and locked.
- Plumb: Windows also need to be installed absolutely plumb (consistent true vertical position). You’ll need long enough levels for successful DIY window installation.
- Depth of Walls: Windows of different materials and from various manufacturers are not all the same depth. Consideration must be made concerning the window sills/stools, interior blinds and shutters and sheetrock cutbacks.
Weatherproofing And Sealing DIY Window Installation
Tackling a DIY window installation and not getting a proper seal can lead to disaster. This can be in the form of mold in your walls, sheetrock and insulation damage, and damage to your flooring.
Saving money to do-it-yourself only to find out you now have a window leak is an alarming and expensive discovery.
Not only the cost of repairs to water damage but potentially also need to hire a professional window installer to come in and redo the installation.
So, What’s The Best Way To Avoid The Problems?
There are several steps that will help make your DIY window installation successful:
- Proper training
- The right tools
- Strong, experienced helpers
- Careful measurements
- Having all materials ready and availble
Why? For one, windows can be heavy! You’ll need manpower to help lift and place the window in the correct position, get it level and plumb while the fasteners are installed. Once fastened, you’ll need the correct flashing and caulk available immediately. You don’t want to leave a window partially installed for very long…in case of rain or insect infiltration.
Finally, If you have a multi-story home, this just compounds the installation. Only the most experienced DIY should attempt installing a window above ground level.
What’s The Alternative?
Why, professional installation of course. The Window Experts has professional teams throughout the Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth metro areas. Multi-member teams with the right ladders, tools, skills, and supplies to handle most homes in a one of two day installation schedule.
If you’re not from around Houston or Dallas, we have some great companies around the country that we can recommend to you. We’ve been to manufacturers and industry trade events where we have met and evaluated some reputable installation companies.
Experts: It’s Not Just In Our Name!
The Window Experts is not just some name we thought would be catchy. Our company was founded over 15 years ago and we have hired some of the Best People in the industry! We’ve installed a lot of windows but, our lead installer has been at this over 40 years.
We truly have mastered the art of window installation and have scripted it into the Best Processes so that every window installed gets our exclusive Lifetime “Leak-Free Guarantee”!
Also, since we claim to be experts, we have studied and tested many, many window and door manufacturers and have settled on almost 2 Dozen of the Best Products in the marketplace. Industry stalwarts like: Infinity by Marvin, Western Window Systems, NT Windows, Anlin, and many more.
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