Putting In Windows

One of the big advantages of building a tiny house out of SIP panels is the fact that you don't have any framing in the walls.  What this means is that you can add a window just about wherever you want and any size you want, with a few parameters.  Of course you can't put a window there if there is wiring in the way, unless you re-route the wiring. And you have to leave a "header" of 10 inches above the window unless you plan ahead and add extra header support. 


Since this was my first tiny house build, I liked this because I wasn't sure how big I wanted my windows and where exactly I would want them.  So when the tiny house shell arrived, I started taking measurements and finalizing my window plan.  I had already used Google Sketch Up to get an idea of where the windows would go and what size would look best, but I was able to finalize that plan when the trailer arrived.


Putting in a window is relatively easy.  You just cut out the rough opening with a circular saw (to cut through the OSB) and then a hand saw or sawsall to cut through the insulation in between the OSB.

 

Here's a wall where I decided to add a 2x4 window.  I measured, marked it, and cut it with a circular saw.

 

Once cut, the center section just pushes out.

The process is quite messy.  I learned that screwing a board to the outside helps contain the Styrofoam insulation.  I had to dig out enough to frame in the rough opening.  A shop vac helps a lot to clean up the Styrofoam bits.

Letting light in made a big difference in the feel of the tiny house.

I ordered my windows from a local window shop, appropriately called "Al's Windows."  I was hoping to deal directly with Al, but Butch was the salesman I spoke to and ordered my windows from.  I believe all my windows totaled $1800 dollars.  Of course I considered putting in used windows to save money and for environmental reasons, however, it is difficult to find the windows you want in the sizes you want.  Well, it takes time.  I didn't have a lot of extra time, so I went with new.  Plus I know the windows will last a long time and be water tight.  I think if I had a lot more time and if I had a place to store windows as I found them, I might have gone the used window route.  The brand I bought was PlyGem and they seem like great windows. I went with beige.


After doing a couple of windows, I got the hang of it and they went pretty quickly.  I might go with larger windows in the loft if I could do it over again.  The rough opening of my loft windows was 1'x2', which sounded pretty big, but the reality is that the actual glass size on a window that size is pretty small.  The loft windows are horizontal sliders and I think they each have two pieces of roughly 6"x6" glass.  Not big enough to climb out of, that's for sure!  I'll have to post a few up close pictures of the windows in the loft with something for size reference.