The Continuing Saga Of Windows

After a few more days of hard work, we finally have both new windows installed in the back bedroom! Both have been secured, insulated, caulked, and partially trimmed. All that remains is to install interior trim for both sides. It was a long and arduous task, but ultimately, the rooms looks much nicer. And I swear that it stays cooler with the A/C on, though I'm sure scientifically that doesn't make sense.

We started by shoving insulation into the cavity where the old balance weights were. Should you ever wish to attempt this, I highly recommend long sleeves; that fiberglass insulation made me itch something fierce (and this was the "low-itch" stuff!). I just used a spare piece of trim to push it up as far as I could. At the end, the cavity was completely filled.

Next we framed out the window opening, since the windows we bought we slightly smaller than the original openings (such is the price we pay for not spending huge amounts of money on custom windows). Here's Amy screwing a 2x4 with a 1x4 on the bottom into the top of the original opening. Note the shims; as with any old house, the openings were anything but level.

By the way, have I ever mentioned how drop-dead sexy my wife is when she's using power-tools? That bulky respirator and the snazzy safety-glasses only add to the whole "Tool-Time Girl" appeal she's got. Honey, Amy-Wynn whatever-her-name-is ain't got nothing on you! :)

After all the prep work it was actually pretty easy to install the window itself. All we did was lay it into the space previously occupied by the sashes, and secure it with screws to the sides of the frame. We caulked around the inside and outside of the window to help seal it in place and prevent drafts (no point in buying a brand new window if there's gaps the size of a canyon around it).

The trim around the outside was actually so rotted that we ended up replacing it as well. We used 2x3 posts that were primed and cut to length, secured with screws. Before putting these up we used a good half-can of "Great Stuff" expanding foam in the space between the bricks and the inner frame. Hopefully that will help eliminate and air pockets. That stuff is great, by the way, albeit a pain to use after the initial run. The little delivery tube always clogs and is impossible to clear, and the stuff is impossible to get off anything it touches. Still not as bad as that blasted fiberglass stuff.

The second window actually was far easier to get in. Probably a mix of experience (from the first one) and pure luck that no unexpected twists came along, other than Amy's drill (Christmas present from our first year together) finally bit the dust. Hmmm... that brings our total "Tools Killed" count to three. No matter, it was quickly replaced by a brand new DeWalt heavy duty model. That thing could drill a hole through a tank.

Now all that's left is to paint the walls, put in the laminate flooring, hook up the electrical power, and we'll actually have completed our first big home project! It only took, well, let's see... errr... I'll get back to you on that one.