Do you ever have a to-do list that just seems like it’s never-ending? Over the last few years, it’s the time when my home improvements that I did twenty years ago are now needing updated or repaired. And, getting to things that have been waiting their turn for a few years as well. Today, I’m finally replacing my basement window that has a story behind it. {{pun intended – read more for the details}}
Yes, I’m in my basement ready to replace the second window with this one being in my crawl space located inside that partition window behind me. And… I’ve got the cave dweller look going on for obvious reasons. While I’ll be sharing my DIY adventure in text form, I also have a video demonstrating my project in video form below.
First, let me just say that I haven’t been doing as many blog posts because I’m working on my house and have much on my plate. With that, I have been rebuilding my flower boxes, garden beds, compost bins, fire pit, retaining wall, and wood pile. I’ve also replaced my gas range cooktop, skylight windows on my shed, repairing my furnace vent and copula on my roof. Also, pressure washing my patio, my gutters, shed, and more. Not to mention splitting and cutting firewood for this winter, plus much more like work on my car.
Ohio winters mean about nine months of dark and cold, so I have only a few months to get this work done and try to stick to my budget.
IT’S GO TIME (pun intended again)
Second, I’m glad I’ve learned so many skills that allow me to tackle these things head on. Meet the project. This is a broken window that leads into my crawl space/basement. Let me just say that it’s autumn here, so those leaves will be back in an hour once I pull them out of that well… again. However, I also want to point out that I did not break that window.
Instead, I’ll tell you about who did. I hired a guy to replace my furnace a couple of years ago. He didn’t want to go in the access window I show in my video and said he’d rather go this way. In doing so, he broke the window. However, instead of replacing the window, he put a piece of foam core board there. grr…
Then, on top of that, I had to go down into the basement to get an order to prepare for shipment from my online store. While down there, I noticed an odor and when I went to grab my product, I saw soiled toilet paper on my product shelf.
{{gag}}
This guy went poo in my basement and saw me coming (I saw him pulling up his pants) and thought he could hide it!!!
Needless to say, I’m never hiring him again. Why can’t a contractor just be trustworthy anymore? I’ve had so many fails with them that it’s sickening.
Okay, so that’s where I’m at. To get a backstory of my house and see the project, watch my video below.
FIRST STEPS
Not only am I replacing my basement window here but have also done the other one on the other side of my home. Having found the metal frame embedded in the cinder block, I am hopeful that I won’t have such the hard labor job as I did with that one (see pics below).
With the frame embedded, I had to cut the window out with my angle grinder and my hacksaw. Talk about a shoulder workout!
Can you see the grooves in the block above? In order to make my replacement window fit, I had to cut the flanges off and then build it in. It’s been nice and tight for a year now – woot!
ROUND TWO
For this time around, I have to climb into my crawl space (as I show in my video) to make the repairs. As I crawl over into the space, this is what I see.
I’m standing in the trench to take this pic… little did I know what I was going to find later on. {{dramatic music}}
Likewise, here’s the view from the window to my basement.
I’m thankful that I don’t have to do a belly crawl in here. Once I can finally take assessment of what I am working with, I find no metal frame and do a happy wiggle in my little space.
Next, I just need to remove the rotted wooden frame, old spray foam insulation, and clean up. Before I go any further, I do a dry fit with my box store window. And… it fits!
Or at least it does from side to side. The top and bottom, however, need built in. You can see it better from behind.
BUILDING IN
Again, my scrap stash comes in handy. After that, I build up the base of the sill to make it level and drill into the concrete attaching this pressure treated wood and caulking.
Then, I attach the top wood frame to the floor joist and place the window and caulk.
Here’s a view from the outside without trim or paint… yet.
Once I let that cure, I add my vinyl trim on the exterior (as I show in the video) and then caulk it as well. Then, the next day I paint. ta da!
AND ANOTHER THING
Well… while I was wrapping up this project on the first day with putting a full day in, (I painted on the second) I hear my daughter washing dishes up in the kitchen. But… that water was coming in my crawl space. Ummm… what?? The whole time I was climbing in and out in the dark, I had no idea there was a hole in that copper pipe.
It turns out it had a large hole right where it enters the crawl space. That meant I couldn’t use my sink until I replace the pipe. That got done the same day. And then more fun.
Meet the disposal that quit the day after pipes are replaced.
So instead of only replacing my basement window, replacing pipes, I’m also replacing my disposal AND adding a GFCI outlet. Not only is the original hardwired, but also not wired in to code. See the wires in the upper right? My new disposal is a plug-in.
Thankfully, I’m not new to replacing or wiring, so I get it done quickly. For the record, disposals are fairly easy and straightforward as I’ve replaced a few in my time.
Reaching in that doggone tiny cupboard on the side is far harder. What is more, I’ve done enough electrical that I know to turn off the breaker as well as the source (aka. switch). However, when I install the new outlet, I turn on the breaker and can’t figure out why it won’t turn on. After much stress, I realize I wasn’t flipping the flipping switch! haha! Oh… can you tell my brain cells are needing a day at the beach?
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Now, I’ve got more on my list of fixes as mentioned in my video, BUT I’m able and glad to be able. So, if I seem a bit distracted, it’s because I have this and so much more juggling in my brain. Okay, now it’s your turn. Leave some comment love below and would you like to see more of this kind of post? While you’re at it, pin and share to inspire other hard-working women to tackle DIY on their own too.
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While you’re at it, check out my other home improvement projects like replacing my basement window:
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