Man, the “good enough” approach has definitely saved my sanity more than once. I replaced my kitchen window last fall and honestly, I spent more time fussing with shims than actually getting the thing in the hole. My house is early ‘80s and I swear nothing is square—makes you wonder if the builders were just eyeballing it after lunch.
I totally get what you mean about composite shims. I grabbed a handful thinking they’d be an upgrade, but trying to trim them down was like wrestling a greased eel. Ended up digging through my scrap pile for old cedar ones anyway. The soggy shim issue is real though... found a couple under my bathroom window that looked like they’d been soaking in a kiddie pool. Lesson learned: check your flashing twice.
At this point, if the window opens, closes, and keeps the rain out, I’m calling it a win. Perfectionists can have their laser levels—I’ll stick with “pretty close” and a cold drink when it’s done.
Man, I hear you on the “good enough” route. I spent hours trying to get my bathroom window level and finally just said, “good enough for who it’s for.” My place is a ‘70s ranch and nothing lines up either. At a certain point, you just have to accept the quirks and move on. Those composite shims are a pain—never again. If it’s dry inside and the window works, that’s a win in my book too.
At a certain point, you just have to accept the quirks and move on. Those composite shims are a pain—never again.
Man, I hear you on those composite shims. They're supposed to be easier, but half the time I end up trimming or snapping them weird. Honestly, with older houses like your '70s ranch, nothing is truly square—sometimes you’ve got to pick your battles. Did you end up caulking inside and out? I’ve seen leaks sneak in around a “good enough” window if that step gets rushed. Dry inside is definitely a win, though.
Honestly, with older houses like your '70s ranch, nothing is truly square—sometimes you’ve got to pick your battles.
Right? I spent more time arguing with out-of-plumb studs than actually setting the window. Composite shims just crumble under pressure—literally. And yeah, caulking inside and out is non-negotiable for me now... learned that one the soggy way.
Composite shims just crumble under pressure—literally.
Yeah, composite shims are a joke for anything bigger than a minor tweak. Wood shims might swell if you get moisture, but at least they don’t snap in half mid-install. And about caulking—totally agree, but don’t forget about sealing around the rough opening with low-expansion foam too. Makes a bigger difference than I expected for drafts and energy bills.
don’t forget about sealing around the rough opening with low-expansion foam too. Makes a bigger difference than I expected for drafts and energy bills.
Low-expansion foam is a game changer, but you’ve got to be careful not to overdo it or you’ll bow the frame—seen it happen more than once. I’m still not sold on wood shims for exterior walls unless you’re diligent about moisture barriers. Ever tried composite shims with a vapor barrier, or do they just not hold up for anyone? Curious if anyone’s found a workaround that doesn’t involve going full custom on every window.
I get the hesitation on wood shims, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with them than composite ones—especially after a couple of freeze-thaw cycles. The composites I tried seemed to compress or get brittle over time. Maybe it’s just the brand? For moisture, I just make sure to wrap the shims with flashing tape. Not perfect, but it’s held up so far in my 80s split-level.
Funny, I was convinced composite shims were gonna be my “forever shim” after the first couple installs, but then winter hit…and yeah, they just didn’t hold up. Wood’s been more forgiving for me too, especially if you’re not afraid of a little flashing tape or even a dab of caulk on the ends. Only thing I wish I’d known is how much those old window frames can be out of square—shimming turns into a weird game of Jenga real fast.
I ran into the same thing with my 60s ranch—none of the window frames were actually square, which I didn’t realize until I was halfway through the first one. Composite shims seemed great at first, but once it got cold, they got brittle and started cracking. Wood shims just felt more forgiving, and a little caulk covered up my less-than-perfect spots. If I could go back, I’d definitely spend more time checking for level and square before yanking out the old windows...would’ve saved me a lot of fiddling around.
That’s a common headache with older homes—framing just wasn’t as precise back then. I’ve seen composite shims fail in cold snaps too, especially in drafty spots. Did you try using spray foam around the frames? Sometimes that helps fill odd gaps, but it can also push things out of alignment if you’re not careful. There’s always a tradeoff... I usually double-check for plumb and square with a big framing square before touching anything, but even then, you run into surprises.