How To Measure Rough Opening For Window Replacement
7 Tips for Measuring for Replacement Windows
Salvage large on replacement windows by measuring correctly and installing them yourself.
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Replacing one-time windows with new energy-efficient ones is a great style to weatherproof your home and heave its resale value. While many replacement window manufacturers offer professional installation services, if you lot're a skilled DIYer, yous can relieve anywhere from $150 to $600 per window past tackling the projection yourself. Measuring for replacement windows isn't hard, but it does require precision. The tips here will aid you go the accurate measurements you need to install great-fitting windows.
RELATED: The vi All-time Reasons to Install New Windows
Are your window frames in shape?
Before measuring for replacement windows, you must ensure that you tin install them in your dwelling house. Replacement windows are more than DIY-friendly than new-structure windows, but they're non suitable in all situations. The condition of the wood frame around the existing window must be in good shape because the replacement window attaches to the frame. If the wood frame has water impairment or rot, information technology won't be structurally sound enough to support a replacement window, and a new-construction window will take to be installed instead. But if the existing frame is solid and "in foursquare" (discussed in particular below), you should be skillful to go.
1. Tape your measurements.
Accurateness is vital when measuring for replacement windows—you'll save time and coin by ordering the right windows the beginning fourth dimension. Whether you're replacing a single window or every window in your dwelling, carefully record the measurements as you lot accept them. Y'all tin download a measurement worksheet, such every bit this i from Windowstore.com, or you can simply write the measurements on notebook paper or a estimator file. If ordering multiple windows, label each set of measurements with their verbal location, such every bit "North Kitchen Window" or "Southwest Master Bedroom Window."
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2. Cheque for square.
Your outset measurement will decide whether the existing window frame is in square—which means all four corners are ninety° angles. Installing a replacement window in a frame that's out of square (i.due east., lopsided) can issue in a window that won't open.
Holding the tape mensurate taut, measure diagonally from the inside of the upper left corner of the window (where the horizontal and vertical trim boards meet) to the inside of the lower right corner (where the horizontal and vertical trim boards encounter) and tape the measurement. Then, measure in the other diagonal management and record that measurement as well. If the two numbers are inside ¼-inch of each other, the window frame is suitable for a replacement window. If the difference is greater than ¼-inch, opt for a new-structure window.
3. Mensurate window width.
Measure the width of the existing window in three places—at the bottom, at the center, and at the summit. When measuring for width, position the tape mensurate against the window jamb on both sides. The jamb is the vertical board forth which the outer frame of the window (sash) slides when yous open and shut the window.
- For the bottom measurement, slide the window up and measure from jamb to jamb at the everyman point.
- For the heart measurement, slide the window all the manner open and measure from jamb to jamb as close to the middle as possible.
- To take the elevation measurement, close the window and mensurate from jamb to jamb at the highest bespeak.
Tape each measurement, and so circumvolve or otherwise highlight the shortest measurement.
Considering window replacement?
Discover licensed window installers in your area and receive free, no-commitment estimates for your project.
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iv. Mensurate window peak.
Measuring to decide the right height for the replacement window is like to measuring the width. Again, you'll demand to take iii measurements, each extending from the summit horizontal lath above the window (caput jamb) to the bottom sill. Have i measurement on the far left, one on the far right, and one in the center of the window.
To measure correctly, empathise that the sill is the horizontal lath that the bottom of the window sash rests on when the window is closed. The sill is not the horizontal trim board that extends into the room. While many call that board the "windowsill," it'due south really the "stool" of the window. You'll accept to open the window in club to access the actual sill.
Again, record all three measurements and circle or otherwise highlight the shortest 1.
five. Measure window depth.
When you lot order a replacement window, the depth measurement will not be included, and in most traditional houses, window depth isn't an issue. The only time information technology will be a problem is if the depth is too narrow to accept a replacement window, such as some windows in mobile homes and modular homes. To make up one's mind depth, open up the window and measure the sill space from the trim in the front to the trim in the back. This space should be a minimum of 3¼ inches in order for a replacement window to fit.
6. Circular downward the numbers.
Now that you've measured each window, take the circled or highlighted measurements (the shortest ones in each set) and round them downwards to the nearest ⅛ of an inch. For example, if one of your measurements is 32-15/xvi inches, round it downwards to 32⅞ inches. If your original measurement is already in an eighth-inch increment, don't change it. These last numbers are the ones y'all'll use to order your new replacement windows.
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7. Purchase custom replacement windows.
You can buy replacement windows online or from your local home improvement store. While habitation improvement centers sometimes stock a pocket-size assortment of replacement windows on their shelves, it'south usually improve to have a customer service technician place a custom order based on the verbal measurements. A window on the shelf might be close in dimension, but it's rarely going to be aperfect size.
Custom orders are best considering window manufacturers subtract ¼ inch from both the height and width measurements, and then construct the new replacement window to within ⅛ inch of those measurements to give you lot the best possible fit. Ordering online is too a practiced choice, since the manufacturer uses your measurements in the aforementioned way to construct your windows.
Considering window replacement?
Find licensed window installers in your area and receive free, no-commitment estimates for your projection.
Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/measuring-for-replacement-windows/
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