House Projects: Front Windows Done!

Our project after the holidays was to replace the last of the front windows and put up new siding.

The big question was whether or not the project would require structural repair similar to what we had to do on the back wall of this room. So the first thing Dan did was to remove that bottom board of siding to get a better look at what was underneath.

Amazingly, the sill beam was quite solid, not rotting away like the other wall. Equally amazing, was that the brick foundation was level.

Assessing from the inside:

The first step, then, was to remove the old windows.

The sashes are identical to all the others originally installed in the house. The difference was that all the others had their own casing, whereas these were framed together, as one unit. Dan separated the two with his reciprocating saw, and also used it to cut the nails holding the frame in place.

Window out. The only damage we found was to the original rough opening sill.

No matter, that came out too so Dan could build a new rough opening, because the new window is longer anyway.

It is also narrower.

Next the gaps were filled in.

We had some old subflooring to fill in the spaces. That and the old siding became the sheathing. Then new siding panels went up and window trim.

Once that was done it was primed and painted.

It’s almost like a picture window, isn’t it? I’ll have to get used to this larger look, just as I had to get used to the smaller look of the new front bedroom window. I’m also thinking about a window treatment; the curtain may or may not stay.

Still to do:

• trimwork along the top of the siding panels 
• trim for the corners
• install the new crawlspace vent (old one was broken)

I’d also like to get somewhat around the outside corner on the right as well, to protect it from rain and such.

We’ll see though, because as winter gives way to spring we need to shift gears. Anyway, it’s a relief that there wasn’t damage to repair and that the job was done so quickly.