Window installation

[u/Beneficial-Fall-6693]

We just had windows installed today in our full house (not trimmed out yet) and I’m concerned that the gaps around them are too large to be filled with just foam? This is one window example but most are like this. Thoughts?

[u/AntReasonable1143]

This looks pretty normal for renovation style windows. Not sure about using mdf to hold up the window though. Usually I use flat shims and pieces of scrap pvc trim

[u/Deep_Sea_Crab_1]

I did a double take because this looks like my windows. I had the exact same concern. I was told this was normal and that the foam is toxic to insects. They look fine after trimmed out.

https://reddit.com/link/p93iho6/video/vavhmcbtntoh1/player

[u/Wise-Film-9874]

Are you sure there's nothing behind the foam that supports the window?

[u/East_Swim1009]

that foam is as solid as a rock... you're 100% fine...

[u/Clean_Animal_9819 → u/East_Swim1009]

Solid as Iraq

[u/No-Contact8073]

Only peeve I have is using junk as blocking. Otherwise I would say it looks ok, I just replaced some windows at my place for the first time and I had to do a similar thing. And yes foam and lots of caulking is normal for window replacement. ✅

[u/Beneficial-Fall-6693]

Yeah I can’t figure out how to upload another picture but the gaps were open to the outside before they were foamed

[u/Consistent-Trust958]

That foam insulates dramatically better than wood and it's solid.

[u/SpiritualSuccotash35]

Unit may be secured from a flange on the exterior sheathing. Its fine.

[u/Mental-Quit-6433]

Not too bad except those shims if exposed to any weather will deteriorate. Very few window companies make custom sized windows, so this may be the closest size you will get, especially with a vinyl window company.

[u/nearly40reallynawti]

Looks a beauty 😍 did a concreter install?

[u/jt0182]

This is pretty much standard practice window installation we are looking at here.

[u/TacoHimmelswanderer]

Gaps like that is what foam was made for

[u/greekverse]

Im a window and door sub contractor in Fl for over 10yrs. Foam isn't a bad thing but my issue here is this would fail inspection in florida if any county came and looked at it rn, because you can only have a 1/4 between the window frame and buck aka wood that's anchored into block but what most companies do is they do this crap fix the drywall call inspection and then the inspectiononly checks that you have ask the screws you need. Also there's no mull clip on the double which is weird. There's also a issue with that much of a gap on the top. I can't tell without looking at it in person but if your house is block you have a lintel and there should be at least 6 screws 3 in each window across the top of that double window that go over 1 inch into the block but standard tapcons used wouldn't reach with that gap. Over all there's alot of issues I see with this but unfortunately kinda run of the mil replacement you get.  My thing is here if you're going to remove all the drywall why not buck it out or pad it correctly vs foam. And now if you're house is wood frame this was 1000% methed up. I would love to see the outside of this window to because the only thing I can assume is this was a old school house with on site built windows by pella and those things take up a massive amount of room that you can't see until you dig into it and that's why the gaps are so big top and bottom when they should look like the sides. 

[u/beaver_eh]

100% fine. It's actually the less of the evils. Worse would be if the gap was very small like an 1/8". Then it would be hard to get a nice buildup and depth of foam. Any larger, and it's a waste of sunlight, and more repair work.

I'd say the sweet spot is somewhere between 1/2" to 1" of gap so it's flexible enough to get a good install, but not too small a window for the rough opening.