Extreme How-To - November/December 2009

optional insulated seat board to place at the bottom of the unit, which will help increase the R value of the window for cold climates. Instructions will arrive with the seat board for easy assembly and installation.

INSPECTING THE WINDOW

After placing the window order and receiving the unit, carefully inspect the Garden Window. If you’re installing this unit as a replacement window, make sure to do this before removing the existing window. Double-check the dimensions of the unit to make sure they match up accurately with the dimensions ordered for the window.

Make certain you have received 12 screws with screw

covers. You should also receive two brackets and a tempered glass shelf for the window. If you ordered the flashing flange, make sure you received the trim piece that will snap in at the top of the exterior of the unit to help prevent water infiltration.

If the checklist for your Garden Window comes up good, then move forwards and remove the existing window right down to the rough opening. Re-measure the opening. Repair any damaged areas in the rough opening caused by rot before fitting the new window in place.

DRY FITTING THE UNIT

From the outside of the home, place a sturdy jack stand directly below the exterior of the rough opening. Make sure the stand is level with the bottom sill of the rough opening so that it can support the unit during installation.

Have two people dry fit the window into the opening, using the jack stand to help steady the unit. While one person remains outside, have another person go inside. Double-check to make

sure the operable sidelites are fully operational and can easily open while the unit is dry fitted into the home.

SECURING THE WINDOW

Still working with one person outside and one person inside (and using the jack stand for support), position the window and secure it with screws at the top of both sides of the interior of the Garden Window. Go approximately six inches down

from the top of the window for installation of the initial screws.

As the screws are being installed, make sure the unit is flush to the interior. Pre-drilling the screw areas will make the installation go faster. With the initial screws in place, measure to ensure the Garden Window is plumb, level and square.

To check if the unit is plumb, place a level vertically on both the interior and face of the left and right jambs. If the bubble indicator is centered, the unit is plumb.