Had a similar issue when I replaced windows in my old place—thought I'd just shim a bit extra to compensate for the uneven framing. At first, everything looked fine, but over time the window started sticking and became a pain to open smoothly. Turned out the heavy shimming was putting stress on the frame, causing it to warp slightly. Ended up having to redo it properly anyway...lesson learned about shortcuts, I guess.
Did you check if your rough opening was square before you started shimming? I've found that even a slight misalignment there can cause headaches down the line...might've been part of your issue?
Good point about checking the rough opening, but honestly, I've found vinyl windows can be pretty forgiving even if things aren't perfectly square. A slight misalignment isn't always a deal-breaker—sometimes it's more about how evenly you shim and secure the window frame itself. I've installed a few in older homes where nothing was square, and careful shimming usually did the trick. Just gotta take your time and double-check as you go...
Yeah, vinyl windows are definitely forgiving, but I dunno...I've had mixed luck myself. One time I installed one in our old farmhouse—I swear, nothing in that place was square—and even with careful shimming, the window still sticks a bit when opening. Maybe it depends on just how "slight" the misalignment is? Or maybe I'm just not as patient as you, haha. Curious if anyone's tried using a laser level for this...might make life easier?
I've tried the laser level method, and honestly, it was a total game changer. Our house isn't exactly an old farmhouse, but whoever built it clearly wasn't big on right angles either...🙄 Anyway, I struggled with shims and a regular bubble level for my first window—same issue as you, it always felt a bit off no matter what I did. Finally borrowed my brother-in-law's laser level for the next one and it made a huge difference. It gives you a clear reference line across the whole opening, making it easier to spot issues before you're halfway through installing.
One other thing that helped me was checking diagonals corner-to-corner. If those measurements aren't equal, you'll know right away something's wonky. A little extra prep work upfront saved me from tons of frustration later. I mean, windows are expensive enough without having to redo them twice, right?
Laser levels are definitely handy, but honestly, I've always managed pretty well with just a good-quality bubble level and patience. Maybe it's partly because I'm stubbornly old-school, but I feel like sometimes relying too much on laser lines can make you overlook the basics. Had a buddy who swore by his fancy laser, and we spent half a Saturday chasing tiny red dots around uneven drywall...turned out the wall itself was slightly bowed, and no laser was going to magically fix that.
What I've found most helpful is to dry-fit the window first and mark out exactly where I'll need shims. Then I set the bottom first, making sure it's dead-level side-to-side. After that, I square up the sides using a framing square and double-check diagonals like you mentioned. Sure, it might take a bit longer, but I've never had to pull a window back out once it's in.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess—lasers are great, but sometimes good old-fashioned prep and double-checking measurements does the trick just fine.
I hear you on the laser thing—had a similar experience myself. Borrowed one from my neighbor thinking it'd speed things up...ended up spending more time fiddling with the tripod than actually installing windows. Bubble level and patience for me too, lesson learned.
I've had the opposite experience actually—once I got comfortable with my laser, it became second nature. Trick was ditching the tripod altogether and just setting it on a sturdy ladder or shelf. Way less fiddling around, but yeah, there's definitely a learning curve...
I feel this! Took me forever to figure out my laser, kept knocking the tripod around and losing the level. Eventually just propped it on an old bookshelf—game changer. Vinyl windows are tricky enough without fighting your tools...
Haha, the laser struggle is real. I remember when I first tackled vinyl windows at my place—I thought I'd be smart and use a fancy tripod setup too. Ended up bumping into it every five minutes and having to recalibrate the whole thing. Eventually, I just duct-taped the laser level to a ladder rung (not my proudest DIY moment, but hey, it worked). Honestly, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Vinyl windows are finicky enough without adding extra frustration from tools that won't cooperate. Glad you found your bookshelf trick—wish I'd thought of that sooner.