Which comes first – windows or insulation?

Which comes first – windows or insulation? When deciding to completely renovate a building, or even build it from scratch, we often face the choice of what to do first – windows or insulation? As it turns out, both versions have advantages and disadvantages. So which order would be better?

What is the installation of window sills?

Unfortunately, installing Windows is not an easy task, which is why we often decide to entrust it to professionals. It turns out, however, that we can assemble windows ourselves if we arm ourselves with the right knowledge and tools. The first step is to check what size of window we actually need. The size of the windows usually matches the size of the opening in the building, but not vice versa. Our task would be much easier if the walls were homogeneous. Just measure the light from the opening and buy the right windows. However, if the walls have different layers, for example including insulation where windows are installed, this should be cut into the bare wall before measuring the required window size.

Once we have purchased the appropriate windows, the first step is to insert the superstructures and set the windows in the light of the wall. The next step is to carefully drill the window into the wall. It is best to start the process with a vertical frame. Then comes the moment to set the sill under the window and remove the supports. Do not forget to seal the windows with the right foam, which not only insulates heat, but also sound. Ultimately, we will have to supplement the insulation around the window or simply put on new insulation (if it is not already there).

What is building insulation?

Insulation of buildings is used primarily to minimize the costs of maintaining the right temperature inside the building. So the warming works doubly. In winter, it retains heat inside the house, preventing the building from cooling down. In summer, it’s the other way around. Insulation placed on buildings is designed to prevent overheating of rooms. There are different ways to quarantine at home.
The most popular are:

foam,
wool,
Styrofoam.

What comes first – windows or insulation?

There are two types of insulation foams. The first one is polyurethane foam – it is incredibly sound-absorbing and resistant to moisture. The second is polyethylene foam – its advantages include high resistance to chemicals, insects and rodents. As you can see, the advantages of the foam are many. They are a great option for insulating your home, but the downside can be that they are relatively expensive compared to alternatives. However, it should be noted that they are also very easy to use.

Wool is much cheaper, although it has its drawbacks. For example, it does not cope well with moisture. Such insulating materials exposed to water for a long time lose all desirable properties very quickly. However, if the environment is dry, wool also has some advantages – it is not flammable and it insulates buildings well. Styrofoam as insulation is probably familiar to all of us. It is cheap and has many advantages. Firstly, it is lightweight, making it easy to install without overloading the building. shortcoming? Firstly, sound insulation – very low in the case of expanded polystyrene.

The type of insulation we choose depends on our individual needs and budget. If we wanted a cheap material, it would be wool or polystyrene, if it was easy to assemble and had numerous advantages – we would probably be tempted by foam.

Windows – advantages and disadvantages Solutions

By deciding to install windows before insulating them, we gain several benefits. First, we would see the real light of the walls, without having to remove the insulation to measure the needed window sizes or simply install them. For obvious reasons, we will eliminate the possibility of damage to the insulation in this case. The disadvantage of this solution is that the building can remain uninsulated for a long time, which was a big disadvantage for us.

Insulation – advantages and disadvantages of the solution

This solution also has its advantages if we decide to lay the insulation in the first place. First, the building will be insulated immediately. In addition, building insulation is a large and expensive project that we often want to complete as soon as possible. However, it should be remembered that if we lay the insulation first, it may be damaged during the installation of the window. Windows and sills may also need to be partially removed in order to be installed.

Which comes first – windows or insulation?

The answer to the question of what to install first depends on what we really care about. If we want to have the building insulated as soon as possible and tick this huge expense off our to-do list, we can make insulation a priority. This is not a great difficulty when installing Windows. However, you should ask yourself – is it worth the risk of damaging the freshly laid insulation? It is often a game that does not pay off. In this case, it is best to hold off on all window installations for now.