A NEW WINDOW IN ONE DAY

It can be intimidating, but replacing a window is just a series of simple steps

- MIKE BERNER

The kitchen in our new house featured a garden window that was stealing useful cabinet and countertop space. We didn’t like its exterior look either, and ultimately my wife, Steph, decided to take the lead on replacing it. Doing it herself saved our family about $1,200, and with my help she got it done in just a day. At first she thought she was biting off more than she could chew, but she quickly realized that—like most carpentry jobs—window replacement is just a matter of following simple steps. Here’s how to do it:

WHERE TO START

Before you can shop for a new window, you need to know the size of the “rough opening,” the framed opening the window jamb sits inside. So your first step is to remove the window’s trim on the inside of the house and measure the opening.

You could take those measurements to a lumberyard or home center and order a custom window or a replacement window that fits inside the existing window jamb. But we went with a simple stock window, one that was available on a shelf at the home center.

With a stock window, we were limited by size and style options, but for us, that wasn’t a problem. We wanted a smaller window for space to install more countertops and cabinets when we remodel the kitchen. There’s some extra work involved in adjusting the opening, but we took this path for a few reasons:

Save Money: We found a good-quality window for $200. A similar custom-sized window would have cost us twice as much.

Save Time: The last time I ordered custom-sized windows, it took six weeks to get my hands on them. We chose our window, took it home and got to work, all on the same day.

1 REMOVE THE TRIM

Cut the caulk around the trim and the window. Pry the trim away from the window and the siding. Remove the trim from the inside of the house as well.