Framing a Window Opening

How to Frame a Window Opening

1. 1 Prepare Project Site + Remove Interior Wall Surfaces

   
   

   Measure and mark the rough opening width on the sole plate. Mark the locations of the jack studs and king studs on the sole plate. Where practical, use the existing studs as king studs.

2. 2 Measure + Cut King Studs

   
   

   Measure and cut the king studs, as needed, to fit between the sole plate and the top plate. Position the king studs and toenail them to the sole plate with 10d nails.

3. 3 Use a Level to Check King Studs are Plumb

   
   

   Check the king studs with a level to make sure they are plumb, then toenail them to the top plate with 10d nails.

4. 4 Mark Top of Rough Opening

   
   

   Measuring from the floor, mark the top of the rough opening on one of the king studs. This line represents the bottom of the window header. For most windows, the recommended rough opening is 1⁄2" taller than the height of the window frame.

5. 5 Measure + Mark Top of Window Header

   
   

   Measure and mark where the top of the window header will fit against the king studs. The header size depends on the distance between the king studs. Use a carpenter’s level to extend the lines across the old studs to the opposite king stud.

6. 6 Use a Carpenter's Level to Extend Lines Across Old Studs

   
   

   Measure down from the header line and mark the double rough sill on the king stud. Use a carpenter’s level to extend the lines across the old studs to the opposite king stud. Make temporary supports if removing more than one stud.

7. 7 Use a Circular Saw + Cut Through Old Studs

   
   

   Set a circular saw to its maximum blade depth, then cut through the old studs along the lines marking the bottom of the rough sill and along the lines marking the top of the header. Do not cut the king studs. On each stud, make an additional cut about 3" above the sill cut. Finish the cuts with a handsaw.

8. 8 Use Pry Bar to Tear Out Old Studs

   
   

   Knock out the 3" stud sections, then tear out the old studs inside the rough opening, using a pry bar. Clip away any exposed nails, using nippers. The remaining sections of the cut studs will serve as cripple studs for the window.

9. 9 Use Two Pieces of Lumber to Build Header

   

   Build a header to fit between the king studs on top of the jack studs, using two pieces of 2×4 lumber sandwiched around 1⁄2" plywood.

10. 10 Cut + Nail Jack Studs to King Studs

    
    

    Cut two jack studs to reach from the top of the sole plate to the bottom header lines on the king studs. Nail the jack studs to the king studs with 10d nails driven every 12".

    NOTE: On a balloon-framed house the jack studs will reach to the sill plate.

    
    

11. 11 Use 10d Nails to Attach Header

    
    

    Position the header on the jack studs, using a hammer if necessary. Attach the header to the king studs, jack studs, and cripple studs, using 10d nails.

12. 12 Build + Nail Rough Sill with 10d Nails

    
    

    Build the rough sill to reach between the jack studs by nailing a pair of 2 × 4s together. Position the rough sill on the cripple studs, and nail it to the jack studs and cripple studs with 10d nails.