Installing windows in thick walls
codehacker
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
In the March issue of FH, article entitled “Foam Shrinks and other lessons” Joe Lstiburek describes window installation using “masonry straps” (in the annotation to the photo of the cantilevered plywood window mounting).
What do you think he means by “masonry straps”, even with Google’s help, I can’t figure it out. What are these straps and how are they used to install windows?
TIA Les
Replies
When windows are set inside a brick or concrete opening they are held in place with 4 simple metal straps say 5/8" wide by 3" or 4" with a screw or two holding one end to the widow and the other end is bent out and secured with a screw to the opening. I've installed windows in wood openings with these clips and foamed the gap completely. While somewhat of a new thing to install windows this way, in scandinavian countries they've done this for a long time with a good track record.
What I don't like about it is it's necessary to shim the window if it's not wanting to sit square on it's own. So now when I'm wanting to be able to foam all around the window I"ll simply use long deck screws which allow exact positioning yet an unabstructed gap all around the window with no shims.