take to instal a new window ? We ’ll show you how .

Many steps are involved in learning how to frame a window , so our guide will take the air you through them from commencement to conclusion . To begin , it ’s important to lie with that when framing a windowpane in a new location , it ’s usually easiest to cut an hatchway in the interior drywall that ’s quite a minute larger than the window porta . This will postulate you to patch the walls afterward , but set up frame — particularly the lintel — inside a wall is gainsay .

It ’s also commonly easiest to leave the exterior sheathing and side in place while you bring down the stud and build the framing . This prevent having toreplace the siding . However , if you ’re supercede it anyway , you may dilute a large hatchway in the exterior at the same time you cut the interior opening . If the window has brick molding or a flange , you must cut back the siding to adapt it .

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Hire a professional James Mason to cut an opening if you have abrick bulwark . When frame , always exploit carefully to produce a social organization that gift a smooth fount for the wallboard . Install adjoining pieces perfectly wealthy with each other .

look to pass a whole day on this task — you’ll take to remove national drywalland create the frame . Though it reckon frighten off , this project is pretty childlike . We recommend DIYers learning how to frame a windowpane porta have experience measuring , marking , and cutting before attempting to frame .

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Frame a Window Opening

Better Homes & Gardens

Prep Space and Examine Studs

Before you begin , place drop textile on the floor and varnish the doorway to prevent dust percolation . Place a fanin a nearby window and point it outwards .

Then , probe your stud . In this arrangement , an live wall stud is used as a king stud on one side , and a 2x2 or 2x4 cleat is attached to the stud on the other side to provide a nailing surface for patching the drywall after the windowpane is installed . ( This is comfortable and stronger than trying tocut the drywalldown the middle of a stud and then using half a he-man ’s thickness for the nailing surface . )

Place Studs

You will ask at least one novel king rivet , which is the same duration as the other be studs . trim down twocripple studs ; the sill will rest on their peak . ( A jack stud will be fastened above so it and the cripple stud sandwich the sill . ) Drive a fastenerevery 12 inchesor so in an alternate formula .

Install Studs

Install a king - and - cripple stud combo by wedging the business leader stud between the top and bottom plates . If draw up a cavity , push the king - and - cripple stud midway behind the dry wall and drive angle 10d nails or 2 - inch screw . ( holdfast will probably move the studs over slimly , so start with the studs offset by ¼ in or so . )

Mark Stud Placement

Mark the bottom ( sole ) home plate to indicate where the Rex and jack studs will go . The distance between the sea dog studhorse is the breadth of the harsh scuttle .

Mark for the Header

Hold a levelatop the jack stud and mark across the stud to indicate the bottom of the header . Measure upwardto home run where the top of the head will be . Make cutlines about ⅛ inch eminent than the measurement . If there is a gap , fill it with shim . Make the bottom cut ( step 7 ) about ⅛ inch abject than the mensuration .

Mark Middle Studs

Also mark the in-between stud for cutting at the bottom . They should be marked for the needed rough porta attribute plus 1½ inches ( for a single bottom plate ) or 3 inches ( for a duple bottom home plate ) .

Complete Marking

fill out your marking using a second power to tick off across each stud to ensure a hearty cut . If you have not already done so , instal a temporary supportfor the wallbefore you start cutting .

Cut Lines

Set the blade of acircular sawto full astuteness , and check to make certain it is square to the saw ’s baseplate . Cut a scrap bit to confirm that the blade is cut square . wear upon capitulum and center protection , cut the phone line with the orbitual saw .

Finish Cuts

Finish the cutsusing a handsawor a reciprocating proverb .

Build the Header

To build the heading , trim back two pieces of 2x6 or 2x8 to the width of the possibility plus 3 inches . Cut strips of ½-inch plywood as spacers . Lay the 2xs on top of each other to square off which focus ( if any ) they " cap " ( bend upwards in the centre ) . See that their top face the same way . Position a spacer every 8 or 10 inches , rest the second 2x on top , and drivetwo or three 3 - column inch nooky .

Attach the Header

Set the header on the sea dog stud with the tip face up . You may have to hammer it into position . sequester the header with 16d nails or 3 - inch screws .

Create the Sill

edit out one or two piece to duration for the sill . Nail or cheat the sill in plaza . If using two pieces fasten one patch to the top of the cripple rivet , then total the 2d piece .

Check for Square

Check the possibility for square . As long as the opening move is ½ inch wide and taller than the windowpane , it ’s okay if the first step is ¼ inch or so out of square . As a final check , fructify the window in the openingand see to it it for square .

Bore Locator Holes

Once you are sure the opening is right , employ a drill equipped with a foresightful ½-inch spade bit to bore locater holes to the exterior at each corner .

Cut Wall

Ifpatching wallswill be difficult ( as when you haveplaster walls ) , you may choose to slip the newfangled framing in . Cut a section of the finished paries that is the correct size of it of the opening . Use a reciprocating byword to slice through the studs above and below , taking into account the breadth of the lintel and sill .

Cut Studs

Cut through the stud halfway and pluck them out . Carefully clean out the opening to permit room for the header and the sill .

Slip in Header and Sill

skid the novel header into the opening and slide in a seafarer stud at either end to hold the header up . Slip in the sill as well . slant - drive screws to deem the frame pieces together .

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