Wall Prepped for New Window

the only water view window at purchase

window framework built, window awaiting installation

dismantled wall, cleared of all materials to create the window cavity

I present this collection of photos to document the process of installing the new window. This little project isn't so little, and it gets bigger by the day. As my sister says "its the might as wells that get you". The "might as wells" on this project grew to be removing an old soffit that didn't have cabinets under it, putting an exterior flood light on the corner of the house, and installing an interior light switch to operate the kitchen ceiling light from the kitchen table, instead of having to walk to the other end of the room to turn it on or off. Once a meal is prepared, and you are beat from a project like this, its difficult to get up from the dinner table to turn off the big florescent overhead light. We also knew that there was a bunch of extra wiring in the wall because the previous owners had the kitchen cabinets along the waterside wall. Those cabinets had outlets along the wall under the upper cabinets. Obviously the 6'4" husband found the "porthole window" comfortable for his dinner time water viewing, but his 5'5" wife didn't share the privilege.  She could not see out the window while sitting at the dinner table. Their kitchen sink was under a side window, but the rest of the water view was covered with cabinets and wallboard. It definitely was an opportunity missed.

window was lifted onto a plank, then
was lifted into place....

Getting that water view into the kitchen has been the focus of many a planning session, and now it is fully in motion. We have a big window to install. Its sitting on the ground in the photos.  What you see here in the top photo is the window space cut out, and fitted to size to accept the new window. The tan/gray surface in the photo, inside the black square, is the back of the wallboard in the kitchen.  At this point the only thing between the kitchen interior and outside is gypsum board. You can see why it was pretty cold overnight.

Everything inside the wall was removed except the sheet rock dry wall board which was left on the interior to provide some protection from the wind and the cold.  The structure to hold the window into the wall had to be built to fit perfectly to the size of the window. The window we bought is a single hung window which does not have a screen on the upper sections of the window. If you want a clear full view of the water you get it by looking out the upper area of the window. In the third photo from top, the window prep is not completed yet, above it you can see the vacant space ready to accept the window.

At left note the boards ready for the set in of the window on the wall.  Below the window is being edged into place in its future home..