An older home’s window openings rarely fit today’s standard sizes. Measuring your window openings
for replacement windows is not difficult, but it is imperative that it is done correctly. For
Grand Rapids remodeling measuring can be tricky. Although there are many companies that will
deliver your windows, custom orders are not usually returnable or refundable due to incorrect
measurements.
Consider buying a new quality tape measure. Sound silly? Remember one tool is used in this
crucial step of your investment, so make sure it’s accurate. Older tapes can easily have 1/8” to
1/4” play in the tongue and have obscured increments on the tape, making it hard to read and
potentially record a bad result. A house of new windows can easily cost $8,000.00 and up. A new
quality tape that can be used for many more projects afterwards may run $25.00. Many professional
home builders and remodeling contractors realize the huge cost of inaccurate measurements and
purchase new tape measures for every project.
Start with a clean pad of paper. On a full sheet draw your home’s floor plan with window openings
called out by using a number or letter referencing each specific window. This step will eliminate
confusion not only during the measuring process, but with installation process as well. Remember
the delivery truck will come full of windows in no specific order. Do not try to write the window
dimensions on the floor plan page as there is never enough space for all the necessary information.
Pick your first window and raise the bottom sash. Measure the width at the bottom of the window
opening from jamb to jamb. Do not measure from the inside stops (parting bead), but rather the
opening where the window sash rests when closed. Now close the window and measure at the middle
then top. Write each measurement down on a second piece of paper. This second piece of paper
will be your scratch paper. Determine the smallest of the three measurements and subtract a 1/4”.
This 1/4” will give you 1/8” on either side for “wiggle room” during the installation and if the
window opening is out of square, the room needed to adjust for level. Circle the measurement for
added visibility.
The process is repeated for determining the height by measuring from where the current window sash
rests (window well) when closed to the upper window jamb. Do not measure from the top of the
stool (window sill). It may help to remember that the replacement window will rest in the window
well, not on top of the sill. Again, determine the smallest measurement and now subtract 1/2”.
Most quality replacement windows are approximately 4” in width. The 1/2” will allow the new window
to be placed on an angle and pushed upright in the opening also allowing space for the window unit
to be leveled.
On a third sheet of paper, write down the circled measurements next to the room and the
corresponding letter or number. This is your master copy, so keep it neat and easy to read.
An example might be: LIVING ROOM (A) 35 ¼” X 68 ¾”
(B) 35 ½” X 69”
(C) 35 ¼” X 68 ½”
If there is any doubt, go back and re-measure. Give yourself wiggle room for your installation.
It is no fun chiseling out space for a window that is too big for an opening. With that said, a
window that is too small will lose R value due to large gaps. This defeats the purpose of
installing energy efficient replacement windows to begin with. Having correctly completed the
above steps your
Grand Rapids remodeling project should be a breeze.
