How to fit a window into this framing

[Listless]

Hello,

We have moved into a 1920s Semi and was surprised to find that the upstairs bedroom window has been fitted into a wooden frame and is not supported by any brick underneath. This is how it was built much like bay windows being located in timber frames between floors. I'd like to replace the window as it has bowed badly and the frames have distorted so that the windows do not shut properly. It's also letting the cold in as you can imagine. What you can only just make out in the photo is either side of the window at the bottom is the ends of the brick wall (solid brick) come in and finish just below the corners of the window on each side.

The previous owners built an extension which led to the window directly below being removed but I'm not exactly sure what remains under the wooden boards under the window from the outside. (see photo) I'm a bit afraid to remove them until such time as we are ready to take action.

I'm getting window fitters to come and quote on a replacement as I'd like to insulate and replace the frame but I can't work out how exactly you can fit a window into the current opening and have it supported properly so it doesn't bow again. Can you suggest what can be done?

 

[Notch7]

The previous owners built an extension which led to the window directly below being removed but I'm not exactly sure what remains under the wooden boards under the window from the outside. (see photo) I'm a bit afraid to remove them until such time as we are ready to take action.

I'm getting window fitters to come and quote on a replacement as I'd like to insulate and replace the frame but I can't work out how exactly you can fit a window into the current opening and have it supported properly so it doesn't bow again. Can you suggest what can be done?

if the window below was removed they almost certainly put in a lintel of some sort if that is a permanent opening on the ground floor

the problem you have is that if your lean to tiled extension has a flat roof inside, the lintel or whatever is there -might be hidden by the ceiling, depending on how much of a reveal there is to the head of the opening, before you get to the ceiling

assuming there is a lintel below you just need to put in some studwork to support the new window -if the existing is in poor condition / rot etc


If you want to insulate, you will need to remove the radiator upstairs, remove the plasterboard to expose all the studwork and replace / repair then insulate

you need to pay attention to damp and vapour detailing in regards to the construction

 

[Listless]

There is several lintels below that run across the kitchen ceiling outlining where the old walls were before the extension. What i cannot work out is there appears to be no lintel above the window frame and the window itself does not appear to actually sit on anything solid. Does this mean that a standard UPVC frame cannot be used?

I note your comments on damp and vapour barriers. I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos about internal insulation and it has got me thinking hard about how we go about doing internal insulation around the window frame and also above the window as its a curved roofline and therefore directly above the window its not possible to put loft insulation.

 

[jj4091]

There must be some sort of lintel above the window as the roof will be supported by it. Even if it is only on the inner skin. The hip looks as though it has been constructed in a strange way also. Could you get a builder to add a Spanlite lintel to the outer skin before the windows are fitted

 

[Notch7]

What i cannot work out is there appears to be no lintel above the window frame and the window itself does not appear to actually sit on anything solid. Does this mean that a standard UPVC frame cannot be used

The wall plate will be sitting on the inner skin of masonry, hopefully that has a lintel to support the roof at that point.

You might find the rafters have a seat cut which has a bit of timber fixed to it to act as something to fix the window to

You can always get the new window a bit shorter and fit a bigger section of timber in there. - it looks like there a biggish trim above the window so probably already a bit of 4 x 2 or similar.


The window doesn’t need to sit on something solid, as in a lintel, it just needs needs to sit on a stud frame made of say 4 x 2 or 3 x 2. Quite simply a bottom, a header, then a load of uprights.

The problem you might have is if the studwork below the window extends below the floor joists as it will be tricky to access as it’s all covered externally.

If it was me I’d cut a neat rectangle out of the plasterboard and see what’s going on

 

[ree]

OP,
Before any window fitters or builders:
You need to open up inspection areas in: 1. inside just above the window frame opening,
and 2. in the bedroom floor near the wall below the window.
Any difficulties in doing 1 & 2 then come back here.
Once you've opened up then post pics of what you've exposed on here.