Finally got around to updating the windows on our house, and honestly, I didn't expect it to make such a difference. If you're thinking about doing it yourself, here's what I did:
First, measured everything twice (ok, maybe three times because I'm paranoid) and ordered vinyl windows online. Went with white frames since they match pretty much anything. Ripped out the old ones carefully—didn't wanna damage the siding—and cleaned up the openings really well. Then, put in some flashing tape around the edges to keep moisture out.
Next step was popping in the new windows, shimming them level, and sealing around them with expanding foam insulation. After trimming off excess foam, I added some fresh trim boards outside and caulked everything nice and neat.
It looks way better than before, but I'm wondering if anyone else has tips or tricks they've used to make this easier—or maybe there's something I missed? I'm no pro at this stuff, just figuring things out as I go along...
Sounds like you did a pretty solid job overall. One thing I'd mention though—be careful with that expanding foam insulation. I've seen folks get a little trigger-happy with it, and next thing you know, the window frame bows inward slightly. Happened to a buddy of mine...he had to redo the whole thing. Also, did you check the drainage holes at the bottom of the vinyl frames? Sometimes they come partially blocked from the factory, and water buildup can be sneaky.
Good heads-up on the foam insulation—I’ve seen that happen too, and it’s not pretty. Curious though, did you actually run into drainage issues with factory-blocked holes yourself, or is this more of a general caution? I've installed vinyl windows a couple times and never noticed that problem...maybe I just got lucky. Might be worth double-checking mine now that you mention it.
"Curious though, did you actually run into drainage issues with factory-blocked holes yourself, or is this more of a general caution?"
Ran into it myself once—noticed water pooling after a heavy rain. Easy fix though: just poked through the blockage gently with a small screwdriver. Definitely worth checking yours, but sounds like you're probably fine.