I just finished putting in a couple of new windows myself, and man, I learned a few things the hard way. First, measure twice—scratch that, measure like four times, lol. Then make sure the window opening is actually level and square before placing the window in. Shimming is your friend, trust me. And don't go crazy with the foam insulation; it expands way more than you think (ask me how I know...). Anyone got other tips or tricks that work better?
"And don't go crazy with the foam insulation; it expands way more than you think (ask me how I know...)"
Haha, been there myself. I remember my first window install—I thought I'd save time by eyeballing the measurements. Big mistake. Ended up spending twice as long fixing my "shortcut." You're totally right about shimming too; it's amazing how much difference those little wedges make in getting things level and square.
One thing I've found helpful is using painter's tape around the edges before applying foam insulation. It keeps things cleaner and makes trimming off excess foam way easier afterward. Also, if you're working alone, suction cup handles can be a lifesaver for maneuvering heavier windows into place without breaking your back or dropping anything expensive...
Sounds like you've got the hang of it now though—nice job tackling it yourself!
Painter's tape is a good tip—I wish I'd thought of that earlier. Ever had trouble with the foam curing unevenly? I once trimmed too soon and ended up with a sticky mess everywhere... patience isn't my strong suit, apparently.
"Ever had trouble with the foam curing unevenly? I once trimmed too soon and ended up with a sticky mess everywhere... patience isn't my strong suit, apparently."
Yeah, foam can be tricky. Honestly though, painter's tape never really did much for me. I found it easier to just spray a little less foam than I thought I'd need—expands more than you'd expect anyway. Learned that one the hard way after spending an afternoon scraping cured foam off my window frames. Patience isn't always the issue, sometimes it's just about knowing when to stop squeezing the trigger...
Ha, I've definitely been there with the foam disaster. One time I got impatient and tried trimming it before it fully cured—ended up with sticky foam bits all over my hands, my tools, and somehow even in my hair. Took forever to clean up. Now I just spray a little at a time and wait it out.
Also, totally agree on the painter's tape thing. Tried it once thinking it'd help me get cleaner edges, but nope, just made things messier when the foam stuck to the tape and pulled away chunks of insulation as I peeled it off. Lesson learned.
One other thing I've found helpful is having a few extra shims handy. Even when you think you've got the window perfectly level, sometimes tightening screws or adding foam shifts things slightly. Having a couple spares nearby saves me from scrambling mid-installation.
"Even when you think you've got the window perfectly level, sometimes tightening screws or adding foam shifts things slightly."
Yep, been there too. I remember one install where I had everything dead-on level, then as soon as I tightened the screws, the whole thing shifted just enough to drive me nuts. Ended up loosening and re-shimming twice before it sat right. Definitely second your advice on extra shims—those little wedges have saved me more times than I care to admit.