Whether you’re in need of a new window frame for your home, shed, playhouse, or another structure, building your own window frame is relatively easy and only requires a few materials. Here, our window installation experts explain the steps for how to build a window frame:
- First, use your measuring tape to measure the rough opening of the window.
- For the width, start at the inside of the drywall and measure across to the exterior side of the stud.
- Then for the length, measure from the bottom cripple stud to the top cripple stud.
- Next, use your table saw to cut two pieces of lumber to your width measurement minus 3/8″ and two pieces of lumber to your length measurement minus 3/8″. (For example: if your width measurement is 20″ and your length measurement is 30″, you’ll want to cut your pieces to 19 5/8″ and 29 5/8″.)
- After that, tilt your saw blade to a 45-degree angle and cut each of the corners of your four pieces of wood. (Make sure you cut all of the pieces at an outward angle.)
- Dry-fit the pieces of wood together to make your window frame.
- If the pieces fit well, you can use wood glue to glue them in place.
- To make sure they stay in place as they dry, use clamps to clamp them together.
- After the glue dries, remove the clamps.
- To make the frame even more sturdy, use your hammer and nails and nail the pieces together at the corners.
- Â If you want to add a decorative cross of wood molding in the middle of the frame, measure the inside width and length of your window frame.
- Then, cut your pieces of molding to fit inside the window.
- Next, overlap one over the other and glue into place. You can also cut a piece the width of the molding out of the middle of one piece to make the two pieces sit flush together.
- Once the pieces are glued, you can use your hammer and nails to secure them to the window frame.