DIY Framing a Window

• Framing an Interior Wall
• Wall Demolition
• Installing Doors and Windows
• Framing a Door

This is page 4 of this article. Go back to Framing Doors and Installing a King Stud, Cutting Studs and Building a Header or Installing Jack Studs and Cutting a Sole Plate.

The sole plate will not be cut to install a new window, instead the studs will be cut at two points, forming top and bottom cripple studs. In addition, a window frame has one component that a door frame does not: the rough sill. The rough sill doesn't support any wall weight but instead anchors the base of the window in place. Two 2x4's are nailed together to form the rough sill and cripple studs support it.

Set a new window about 30 inches from the floor in most cases. To match a new window installation to an existing one, locate and measure the existing sill location and use that measurement to set the new window location. It may be necessary to remove the trim to get an exact measurement.

If you choose to completely remove the studs and install new top cripple studs for this frame, use the procedure described on Page 2 of this article. To cut the existing studs to serve as the top cripple studs add: the header size; the window jamb height; ½ inch wiggle room and 30 inches for window placement.

It's best to save the existing studs for use as the bottom cripple studs rather than installing new ones. This will minimize repairs to the wall and baseboard when you're done. Even if you choose to install new top cripple studs the bottom should be preserve if possible. To make the cut, measure from the finished floor up 27 inches (30 inches for the new window height, minus 3 inches for the rough sill). Mark the stud with a square and cut as straight as possible using a handsaw.

See the Framing Doors and Installing a King Stud section on Page 1 of this article for help with the following procedures:

Choose and adjust the king studs for the new window installation. Build the header and cut the new jack studs. Add the jamb width, plus 1 inch and cut the 2x4's for the rough sill to this length. Install the cripple studs, header and jack studs, then install the rough sill. Secure all the new framing in place. See Installing Doors and Windows for help installing the new window.

Go to the Framing Doors and Installing a King Stud, Cutting Studs and Building a Header or Installing Jack Studs and Cutting a Sole Plate pages of this article.