Installing windows involves careful planning and execution, and when those windows weigh 500, 600, or 800 pounds each, the planning and execution steps are paramount.
The process of how we install these windows came from close collaboration between DP Juza and the window manufacturer, H Window Company in Ashland, Wisconsin, to ensure proper installation of these exceptional windows.
With the combination of window installation experience from the pros at H Window and the construction know-how from the DP Juza crew, we followed a comprehensive plan for installing these panoramic-view windows.
How We Install 500 lbs+ Windows
Preparation
First, prepare the window opening for the window. Crew members clean the window opening, then they measure and cut window sealer tape for the window ledge. Next, they apply the sealer tape to the window ledge, place shims on the ledge, and screw in pieces of thin tapered material, called shims, for stabilization.
Now that the window opening is prepared for the window, it’s time to get the window to the opening.
Installation
The first step of installation is getting the window to the window opening. We start by taking the window from the trailer and put it into the material handler’s basket. A material handler is a piece of equipment that mixes a boom lift, a forklift, and a tractor of sorts. We safely accomplish moving the window onto the material handler with six people, three on either side of the window, each lifting the window with a window lifting tool.
After the window is in the basket, a crew member drives the lull, with the window stabilized by three people on either side, to the window opening. All while carefully maneuvering through the construction site with the help of other crew members on the ground.
Once the window is close to its destination, the crew members align the window in the basket with the window opening. Their goal is to get the window in the basket, as close to and level with the opening as possible. Clear communication between crew members on the lull and inside the building is necessary for this.
After aligning the window with the opening, three crew members on each side of the window carefully lift and move the window into the window opening. Crew members adjust the window to ensure the flanges sit flush in the opening. Communication between crew members inside and outside the building is key to making this happen.
Securing and Sealing
Crew members on the outside and inside the building ensure the window is level in the opening. They secure the window in the opening with shims, screwing the shims into the studs of the window opening.
Finally, they seal the window by placing sealer tape around the exterior, where the frame meets the studs. This final step seals the window into the opening.
Summary
Following this carefully coordinated process, our crew installed six heavy windows, including two windows over 500 pounds, and two windows over 600 pounds, and two windows at 800 pounds.
From our experience, ensuring this process is successful involves placing crew members in roles they are skilled in and maintaining clear, effective communication as a team.
We hope this guide enhances your understanding of how we install large windows, giving a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind the floor-to-ceiling windows you enjoy.