new const windows as replacements…….
Did something new to me today. Used new const. windows….with fins……as replacement windows. Kinda. For old double hungs.
The customer had all the windows in the house replaced a year or so ago. Except for 2 side by side in the dining room…because that was gonna be where the new slider was to go…..’cept all that’s changed now. The original window installer was no where to be found……so he just found his old order and got 2 more of the same.
I went today to install……also first time I saw the windows he ordered. They had fins. All he wanted is for those 2 to match everything else. The house is brick.
So, after taking a close look at those already installed…I dove in. I think the whole idea was to work from the outside…..and leave the original moulding untouched. Nice original trim.
I tore off the exterior trim/brick mould. Measured from the outside of the outside stop….and saw that the new window would set too far in……so after some more checking….I saw that he installed the others so the inside jamb met the inside of the inner stop…and he added a picture frame of stop(1/2x 3/4) inside the wider inside stop…to hide any gaps. Kinda stepped it down.
So…..working from the outside…out came the outter stop…..outter sash……parting bead…inner sash…….not to mention the weights/pulleys/cord……
I then just placed the window tight to the inside and measured how much fill I needed so the fins would set tight. In this case…it was 1 1/4. So I ripped that…..added it to the original jamb….like an exterior extension jamb…….reset the window and nailed it off.
Went inside to do the little 1/2x 3/4 detail and was set. I can see the logic when the homeowners wanted to save the interior trim and plaster…and wanted the exterior flat and wrapped. Original installer did a real nice job on the wrap too.
I have never seen this. Must be some old window guy trick! Confused the hell outta me for a second……then it all made sense! Jeff
…….Sometimes on the toll road of life…..a handful of change is good…….
Replies
Jeff,
We have done this alot but without the fins. Remove parting stop and either int. or ext. stop. Screw the window to old jambs. Gotta measure real carefull and check diagonals.
KK
Jeff:
removing the nail fins gives you a lot of flexibility. the hung type of alnu. window can be difficult to screw off because of the plastic sliders and guides in the track but you can countersink the screws and paint them and you'll be fine
Out here in Western Washington we can order windows without the fin for retrofit installations, we call them "H-channel jambs". No problem to remove the fins on vinal windows either by scoring with a razor knife and snapping them off.
Brinkmann for president in '04