[dirtmcgirt]

So, I've decided to add two new windows to the living area of our house. The wall currently has no windows on it at all, but opens to a porch on the rear of the house. The house is wrapped in cedar.

My question's are...
1) Should I use new construction windows or replacement windows? I'll be removing the drywall from the interior, but I'd like to keep this as clean of a project as possible.

2) What is the best option when it comes to ease of install? Buying two completely separate windows and butting them up against each other? Or buying a double unit? I would think that a single double unit would be easiest, but I've heard the opposite from some people in the past.

3)What's the easiest way to salvage as much of my siding as possible? I would rather not pull all of the siding down if I can avoid it, but I also don't want to cut away too much in an effort to get the windows installed correctly.


Thanks for any help you can provide.

Chuck...

 

[GottaFixIt]

So, I've decided to add two new windows to the living area of our house. The wall currently has no windows on it at all, but opens to a porch on the rear of the house. The house is wrapped in cedar.

My question's are...
1) Should I use new construction windows or replacement windows? I'll be removing the drywall from the interior, but I'd like to keep this as clean of a project as possible.

2) What is the best option when it comes to ease of install? Buying two completely separate windows and butting them up against each other? Or buying a double unit? I would think that a single double unit would be easiest, but I've heard the opposite from some people in the past.

3)What's the easiest way to salvage as much of my siding as possible? I would rather not pull all of the siding down if I can avoid it, but I also don't want to cut away too much in an effort to get the windows installed correctly.


Thanks for any help you can provide.

Chuck...

I've done a couple of these DIY. I'll answer from my experience, but I'm not a window guy, so you may get better advice. I'm going to assume vinyl siding.

1) New construction - in particular, one with the J-channel built in.

2) I'd be shopping for a single unit with a continuous nailing fin / J channel. Otherwise, you're going to have to mullion them yourself and I think you'd be better off separating them into 2 different openings.

3) Get a siding removal tool and a flat bar. You've got to open it up to the next seam and 1 course above and below the window. Pop the siding loose, get up under the nail and pop them one at a time. It's actually not hard to take it down or put it back up. Much easier than trying to cut it tight and jamb it into the channel. This is one of those situations that you'll probably save time by pulling more siding.


EDIT - just re-read that you have cedar siding. Sorry, my advice won't be applicable here.