Installing heavy windows by myself

[branimal]

I've got to install 4 sound reducing windows by myself. They are super heavy. Installation is from the inside. I could handtruck it over to the rough opening, but not sure I can lift them into the rough.


I'm thinking leaving the straps on will give me a decent grip point. But I'm worried the straps could break.

Any hacks I can use?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Lay into back of a truck, then back up to the rough opening and stand into place on top of blocking? Have all tools at the ready on something the right height within reach. You might could attach a short piece of wood on each side of the opening with one screw in the center to act as a rotating latch to hold the window in place temporarily for you. I have used the latch method to hang 4x8 panels overhead by myself when I was a bit younger.

 

[The Cobbler]

remove the sashes , rough install the frames, reinstall the sashes & level & plumb .
or get a helper

 

[PCustoms]

remove the sashes , rough install the frames, reinstall the sashes & level & plumb .
or get a helper

Ditto.

 

[rlitman]

remove the sashes , rough install the frames, reinstall the sashes & level & plumb .
or get a helper

All the new windows I've installed* came with shipping blocks between the sashes and the frames, to keep the frames perfectly factory square in shipping, but also to allow you to easily shim the frames into the rough framing without bowing the frames. Taking the sashes out before installation runs the risk of tight or loose or jamming sashes later on. It's a risk I'd really want to avoid. I'm very pro DIY, but this is one of those tasks I'd reach out for more hands.

*To be fair, I'm most familiar dealing with wood framed windows with an outside install and a full flange. Brickmold installation is a bit different.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Remove the openers. Install, shim, reinstall opener, check operation and final install.

 

[The Metric System]

I would absolutely not lift by those straps, both because they're not reliable handholds and because they would be in the way when trying to place the assembly. Suction cups that stick to the glass will be more reliable and easier to work with.

In your shoes my first approach would be to acquire more help, paid if necessary.

If that's truly not feasible I'd look at building a wood jig that indexes off the bottom of the wall and holds the window at the right height for installation. Place jig against wall, place window on jig, stand jig up, and find that the window is now vertical and supported in space in position to be pushed horizontally into the opening.

Depending on how heavy the window is you may be able to lift the loaded jig by hand. If not you could push/pull it up using whatever mechanical assistance is most convenient for you.

No way I'd try to just brute force those windows off the ground by myself.

 

[PCustoms]

All the new windows I've installed* came with shipping blocks between the sashes and the frames, to keep the frames perfectly factory square in shipping, but also to allow you to easily shim the frames into the rough framing without bowing the frames. Taking the sashes out before installation runs the risk of tight or loose or jamming sashes later on. It's a risk I'd really want to avoid. I'm very pro DIY, but this is one of those tasks I'd reach out for more hands.

*To be fair, I'm most familiar dealing with wood framed windows with an outside install and a full flange. Brickmold installation is a bit different.

The windows I did this summer had a larger sticker warning to remove the red shipping blocks BEFORE installing.

Pretty simple to pull the sash, loosely set the frame, install sash and get everything dead nuts.

It's comical that the OP keeps renovating apartments (in NYC?) but apparently doesn't have actual experience, based on all the threads he posts.

 

[tarmy]

remove the sashes , rough install the frames, reinstall the sashes & level & plumb .
or get a helper

This sums it up OP.

The older I get the LESS likely I am to screw things up or hurt myself. I would hire somebody for a few hours for the lifting part.

 

[pcmeiners]

Would agree to remove the sashes but if you have never installed many windows before you better know how to level and square the window frame.

 

[Viper98912]

phone a friend

 

[gleman]

Get a couple of friends and some six packs.

Knock out 95% of those problems.

 

[manwithtools]

It's comical that the OP keeps renovating apartments (in NYC?) but apparently doesn't have actual experience, based on all the threads he posts.

I wouldn't call it comical at all. I would call it determined and resourceful. The OP asks questions because he wants' to learn. How else is one supposed to learn the things he has asked about?

BTW, I think your statement is a bit of an insult to the OP, not called for at all. It kind of goes against the whole purpose of Garage Journal if you think about it.

 

[whateg01]

Hydraulic lift table?

 

[Hank11]

If you can install some sort of stop on the outside to keep them from falling through, I would move them over to the window opening, stand them upside down, then lower the bottom of the window into the opening and pick up the top and swing it into place. But there must be someone around who can help you with the muscle work. Somebody must need $100 cash.

 

[Copymutt]

Been there, done that, but I had a tractor w/ a gin pole.

 

[branimal]

I think I'm going to phone a friend. If no one is available, I do have an electric hoist. Thanks for the help.

 

[cgrutt]

Order a pair of these Blackfriday deal $38. Note I haven't used this brand but it had a lot of positive reviews. My set is German and I paid several hundred dollars for them twenty years ago really helps with lifting heavy glass. Good for granite too.

https://a.co/d/eYCahvk

 

[shoot summ]

Order a pair of these Blackfriday deal $38. Note I haven't used this brand but it had a lot of positive reviews. My set is German and I paid several hundred dollars for them twenty years ago really helps with lifting heavy glass. Good for granite too.

https://a.co/d/eYCahvk

Absolutely, I had some cheaper HF units we used to install a 6' Anderson slider. I can't imagine trying to do it by myself though, youngest son helped, that door was heavy.

I'll add that I have moved some heavy things by lifting one end at a time. Lift a little, block that end, lift the other end, block it, continue until you have the item at the right height. Moved and installed the top to a large/heavy cabinet that way. Did have the Wife putting the blocks in for me.

 

[cgrutt]

If you don't have room above windows for comelong may be able to rig some pulleys and pull off to side.

 

[afinepoint]

I've got to install 4 sound reducing windows by myself. They are super heavy. Installation is from the inside. I could handtruck it over to the rough opening, but not sure I can lift them into the rough.


I'm thinking leaving the straps on will give me a decent grip point. But I'm worried the straps could break.

Any hacks I can use?

I strongly advise getting help. Installing a double unit alone later landed me with orthoscopic surgery on a knee. It's never been the same and I'm approaching bone on bone due to the damaged and lost cartilage. GET HELP.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Get a couple of friends and some six packs.

Knock out 95% of those problems.

Do the job before the six pack. I saw where a plumbing crew in a house with the hot and cold reversed in washer room halfway down the house. They had busted out every wall behind tub, toilet and sink, in three bathrooms down the hall instead of reversing it behind the washer. There was over a six pack of empties in the bathroom trash can. Bank repo house with half the dry wall in the house having to be redone and floors beat up too. Do get help it's too much for one.

 

[Jazz1]

Windows are too expensive and awkward to handle alone. I helped 2 guys get a 9’x7’ window off a truck. We recruited 3 more guys so 6 pairs of hands glided the window into place effortlessly