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How to Install an A&L Double Hung Window
Aluminium Double Hung Windows offer a simple aesthetic that is ideal for a variety of different interior and exterior styles.
Correct installation is critical to ensure all windows and doors operate as they should—without any headaches—for many years to come.
Installing your Aluminium Double Hung Windows is a simple process; follow this step-by-step guide to ensure correct installation.
What you’ll need to get started.
Before you begin, make sure you’re wearing the right safety gear for the site you are working on, and the tools you are using.
The tools you will need are:
- Drill with 3mm bit that is used for pre-drilling the fixing holes
- Fixing nails or screws that are suitable to your specific installation
- Spirit level
- Tape measure
- Hammer
- Packers
- Mini pinch bar
- Flat head screw driver
- Staple gun and staples (for flashing)
- A second pair of hands (depending on the size and weight of the product)
Before the installation.
Before beginning your installation, measure the height, width, and depth of the product, and that of the opening you’re installing into.
The size of the opening needs to be 20mm wider and 30mm higher than the product to allow for a square and plumb installation. See below for an example of spacing requirements.
The overall depth of the product needs to match the cladding type it is being installed into. This will have been determined when the product was ordered, but it never hurts to check twice. You also need to determine the type of flashings required. We offer a range of standard flashings, but it is up to the builder to decide on how to make the building watertight.
Flashing needs to be pulled forward and fixed to the face of the stud. This can be done with a simple staple gun.
Finally, it’s a good idea to double check if any special installation requirements apply to the product you are installing. These could include specific head heights, special finishing details or coupling to other products.
Once all of the cross-checking is complete, it’s time to begin the installation.
Installing your double hung window.
Firstly, place the spirit level on the bottom plate, and pack level where the product will sit. If packers are required, fix them into position with brad nails so that they don’t move around.
Place a mark on the reveal of both jambs 100mm from the top and 100mm from the bottom.
Pre-drill a hole at each mark with a 3mm drill bit.
Place the product into the opening from the outside.
A standard installation allows for 10mm of plaster on the inside, so using a 10mm packer or the thickness of a simple brickies ruler as a guide, overhang the reveal back into the house by 10mm.
Fix a nail into the stud through the pre-drilled holes nearest the sill on both sides of the product.
Note: Do not nail them in all the way.
Fix a nail into the pre-drilled hole at the top of the reveal. Again do not nail it in all the way. Repeat on the other side of the product.
Holding your spirit level against the jamb, check that the product is both square and plumb.
Measure the product diagonally in both directions to ensure it is square. Ideally, you want both measurements to be exactly the same but within a couple of millimetres is okay.
Use the pinch bar to gently move the product into the correct position, if required.
Before packing and fixing off, it’s good to check how the product is operating. Slide the sash open and closed again to ensure it is functioning properly.
Finishing your installation.
Once you are happy with the product’s positioning, pack between the reveal and the start above the nails, and drive all the nails home.
For taller products, you may need to add additional fixings along the reveals on the jamb. If so, follow the same procedure of pre-drilling, packing and fixing, ensuring the reveals remain plum.
Learn more.
Want to learn more about A&L’s range of windows and doors? From sliding windows and sashless solutions to louvres and awnings, our family of products are designed for maximum durability, and to suit every style – from traditional to contemporary.
