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Accept it or not- home construction is one of the costly and time consuming projects that have a lot of unexpected expenses to pay off when in use. It is, therefore, necessary to search for cost effective ways that can cut down on cost. One of the key criteria is to opt for standard window sizes as they have proved to be a better alternative than custom-made windows. But, the thing to remember is that there is no need to increase or decrease window opening with respect to the window sizes. Rather, owners can learn a few effective techniques to come up with appropriate dimensions from the lit of standard products.
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Standard Dimensions for Windows
There are a lot of window manufacturers and retailers who used to work with whole numbers as standard sizes Canada. While the actual measurements vary by ½ inch, the identifier always remains a whole number for the opening. For instance, sliders are manufactured to fit into the rough opening of 2 by 2 feet for which, the identifier is 2020 while the actual dimensions are 23 ½ x 23 ½-inch. On the other hand, for 44 x 44-inch rough openings, the identifier is 3838 representing 3-ft 8-inch width and 3-ft 8-inch height.
Theory Behind Cutting ½-Inch
Window manufacturers used to identify their products by rough opening dimensions and decrease by ½-inch to get the exact measurements for installation. When it comes to their installation, the opening needs a flashing material so that the unit can remain in center for proper performance. This ½-inch reduction in dimensions helps installers to adjust units properly into the frames. Once done, the windows are secured with the help of shims.
Sliding Windows
Irrespective of the fact that homeowners can ask for custom size while installing new or replacing old windows, they have the option to purchase items off the shelf without being concerned about standard window sizes Canada. For instance, horizontal width is considered as the first fit that should either be 36, 48, 60, 72 or 84-inch. However, for installation, the measurement should be ½-inch lesser. As for height, it must be 24, 36, 48 or 60-inch, meaning that a window having dimensions 6-ft width and 4-ft height is identified as 6040.
Picture Windows
Picture windows pride themselves for having similar dimensions but, they have more options than other types available in the market. Since they cannot open, they can be taller and wider as homeowners want. Their standard widths are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 feet while standard heights range from 2 feet to 8 feet with additional measurements of 18-inch, 52-inch, 54-inch and 62-inch. Their rough openings have whole numbers i.e. ½-inch is taken out of the actual window size so as to ensure that the units are installed properly.
Double Hung Windows
The widths of rough opening for double hung windows range from 24-inch to 48-inch while ½-inch is reduced to get the actual window size. As for height, it varies between 36 and 72-inch, with ½-inch reduced to get the actual window size.
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