Replies

1. 
   Bruce_Sherrod | Jul 20, 2001 05:45am | #1

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   Best Way, Make the rough opening from the inside of the house. After the rough opening is fairly complete, drill hole in all four corners of the opening, go outside and square the hole up with a pencil and level. Cut the siding with a sharp blade or draw knife and remove along with the underlayment or substrate. Set the window in the opening (temporarily) and level/plumb the window and have someone scibe a line around the brickmold of the window. Cut the rest of the siding out and alow for the j-channel for the siiding. The rest is easy

1. 
   Davo_ | Jul 20, 2001 07:31am | #2

   *Ranger,Bruce pretty well summed it up. You may still have to pull out some nails out of the siding near the cut out in order to nail in the new "j" channel pieces. You may also have to buy a vinyl punch (looks like a hand held paper hole punch) and punch a few new holes in the tab area nearest the "J" channel locations if your vinyl is not sufficiently nailed down in those areas after your window openings are cut out.A lot of windows can be bought with the "J" channel already affixed to the new window. This might save you a step.Just a thought.Here's another thought....after cutting your window opening, dont forget to install some sort of flashing around the window's perimeter; such as felt paper, or self-stick rubber (winterguard, etc.) before permanently setting the window in place. Water can get behind vinyl, and so long as you protect your window area, the water will pass by and eventually find it's way back out through the vinyl; instead of collecting in and around your window jamb/sill cavities.LOL.Davo.

1. 
   Vincent_Carbone | Jul 20, 2001 11:51am | #3

   *Ranger,I'd remove the siding where the new window is to be cut in.Vinyl is so easy to take off and put back on that it's not worth the effort to try and work around it.Unlock a panel just below where the window will go and remove to just above window.Cut the wall put in the window add flashing "j" channel and cut the siding to reinstall.Vince

1. 
   Vincent_Carbone | Jul 20, 2001 12:27pm | #4

   *I should add that the siding is removed from the top down it's easyer to get to the nails that way.Vince

1. 
   Mike_Willms | Jul 22, 2001 01:40am | #5

   *I'm with Vincent. It's more work, but it's much easier to flash and J-channel around the window if the siding's removed. There is a tool available for unlocking vinyl siding, might make it easier if you've never done this before..

2. 
   Vincent_Carbone | Jul 22, 2001 03:06am | #6

   *Ranger,One other point, if you're using a window with a nailing flange it will be a real pain to install the window without removing the siding.Vince

2. 
   RangerM | Jul 22, 2001 03:06am | #7

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   My home is covered in vinyl siding and I would like to add windows on the side, but I'm unsure about the best way to handle the vinyl. Do I have to strip it off the wall or is there a way to leave the majority of it up. I don't have any extra siding and the majority of it has faded due to exposure to the elements. Therefore, I would prefer not having to use new vinyl if possible. I don't have any problems installing the windows, but this is the first time I've had to deal with vinyl. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.