Proper window and door installation
Printed from: http://pressroom.pella.com//fast_facts/128/
Proper installation is critically important with windows and doors. Poorly installed windows and doors won’t perform effectively, or last as long as they should, no matter how well they’re built.
Think of a house as a big, solid box. Every time you cut a hole in that box for things like vents, exhaust fans, pipes, wires, doors and windows, you’re either letting something out or inviting something in – like wind, rain and snow.
Installation specifics:
• When it comes to windows and doors, one major key to installation is keeping the unit level, plumb and square. This means that the window or door must be uniform horizontally, vertically and diagonally within the opening.
• Shims are crucial to the performance of the window or door installation. Shimming under the sill of a window keeps it up off the rough opening, allowing incidental water to drain to the exterior. Shimming around a window or door helps hold it uniform in the opening, plumb, level, and square. Wood/Plastic Composite shims work very well, they are easier to use and will not absorb water, unlike some wood shims.
• The installer fastens the window or door to the home’s framing. There are many different options to fasten the unit to the home. Nails through the fin, screws through the frame, or installation clips are just a few of the more common fastening techniques. Which is used will vary based on building and window type, or per local code requirements.
• Helping to prevent water and air infiltration around windows and doors is a vital step. Pella’s SmartFlash® aluminum backed butyl flashing tape, combined with properly installed house wrap, helps prepare the rough opening and creates a long-lasting water management system for the installation package of the window or door.
• Once the window or door is fastened and flashed, the installer will insulate the interior between the window or door and the rough opening with a bead of low-expansion polyurethane foam sealant. Foam sealants such as, Dow® GREAT STUFF PRO™ Window and Door Insulating Foam Sealant, will help create an interior air and water seal to lower the risk of water and air infiltration. Low-expansion polyurethane foam provides superior moisture protection versus fiberglass insulation in window or door cavities, and helps prevent bowing or warping of windows or doors.
Installation instructions, classes
Understanding installation’s critical role in product performance and customer satisfaction, Pella developed a simpler, more effective way to install its windows and doors and make homes and commercial buildings weather-tight. To encourage builders, installers and do-it-yourselfers to use this proven technique, Pella offers installation classes through its network of Pella® Window & Door Showrooms in the United States and Canada. To connect with your nearest local representatives, consult the “where to buy” tab on www.Pella.com.
Pella windows and doors feature comprehensive installation instructions to make it easy for you to install Pella products yourself, or for those who do it for you. In addition, most of Pella’s installation instructions are available in English and American Spanish language. Pella’s Window & Door Showrooms also work with a nationwide network of Pella Certified Contractors® professionally trained to handle your installation needs.
Pella will measure, order and provide complete installation instructions designed specifically for your Pella windows and doors. And, if you choose, Pella replacement experts can even complete the entire replacement process for you. For more information on what to expect during the window replacement process, visit www.pellareplacement.com.
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