How To Board Up A Window With Plywood

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If your windows aren't impact-resistant, you'll probably want to board them up if a big storm or hurricane is nigh to hit.^[1] It may seem like a pretty daunting task to board up the windows of a house, especially if you've never washed it before. Fortunately, whether your house has vinyl, brick, or stucco siding, the procedure of installing plywood over the windows is relatively straightforward. Just screw the plywood over the entire window or use clips to install the plywood within the window frame.

1. 1

   Record the vertical and horizontal measurements for the window. Employ a tape mensurate to determine the peak and width of the window you lot programme to board up and write these measurements downward. If the window has an extended sill, measure vertically from the top of the sill to the elevation of the window.^[two]

   • When measuring horizontally, mensurate inside the window's exterior trim.

2. 2

   Cut a piece of plywood that is 8 inches (20 cm) higher and wider than the window. Add 8 inches (xx cm) to the height and width measurements y'all took of the window, and then use these new measurements to measure and cut your plywood. Employ a round saw to cutting the plywood.

   • For example, if your window measures 48 inches (120 cm) tall and 24 inches (61 cm) wide, then your piece of plywood should be 56 inches (140 cm) tall and 32 inches (81 cm) wide.
   • If the window has an extended sill, you but need to add four inches (10 cm) to the acme before cutting the plywood.
   • If y'all don't take a circular saw, you tin can take your plywood to a home improvement store to have it cut for yous.

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3. iii

   Attach 2 pieces of plywood together if you need a bigger piece. Well-nigh pieces of plywood are 4 past 8 feet (ane.2 past 2.4 g), so if your window's dimensions are larger than this, you'll need to employ 2 pieces of plywood fastened to each other. Place 2 plywood pieces side by side to each other, and then lay a ii by 4 in (5.ane by x.ii cm) bracing along the seam. Finally, drill 2.25 in (five.vii cm) screws through the bracing and into the plywood to attach them all.^[3]

   • Drill at to the lowest degree 6 screws (two at the elevation of the bracing, two in the eye, and 2 at the bottom) through the bracing and into the 2 pieces of plywood to make certain they're securely attached.

4. 4

   Utilize a stud finder to discover the studs in the wall around the window frame. Yous'll want to make certain y'all're not attaching the plywood merely to trim around the wall, since this won't be secure. Expect for the studs 4 inches (10 cm) out from each side of the window frame.^[4]

   • If you don't have a stud finder, you may be able to determine where the stud is by looking for nailheads in the siding, since these nails take probably been nailed into the stud.

5. 5

   Drill holes in the corners of the plywood that align with the studs. Drill 4 holes that are each around 2 inches (v.1 cm) in from the edges of the plywood at each corner. You may demand to arrange this measurement to ensure that the holes you drill will line up with the studs in the wall when you get to screw in the plywood.^[5]

   • Make sure the holes you drill are equal in diameter to the screws you will use to attach the plywood to the wall. Use ¹⁄₄  in (0.64 cm) pan-head or lag screws for the best results.
   • These holes in the plywood are called "pilot holes." They should be drilled all the style through the plywood.

6. 6

   Make boosted holes at 12 in (30 cm) intervals around the plywood. These holes are where you will spiral the plywood into the wall. Align these holes with the corner holes yous already drilled to ensure that these new holes volition also line up with the studs in the wall.^[6]

   • If the window has a sill that extends out at the bottom, yous only demand to drill these holes on the top and sides of the plywood.
   • These holes should also be around two inches (v.i cm) from the edge of the plywood.
   • Note that the holes in the meridian and bottom of the plywood will not be screwed into the studs in the wall.

7. 7

   Place the plywood over the window frame and use a drill to screw it in. ^[7] Have someone concord the board while you drill screws through each of the pilot holes, or vice versa. Apply pan-head or lag screws that will penetrate at least 2 inches (v.i cm) into the framing.^[eight]

   • These types of screws are all-time since their flat-bottomed heads won't sink into the plywood and weaken it.
   • Use corrosion-resistant screws if you're boarding up your window in advance of a hurricane or other major storm.

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1. ane

   Measure the height and width of the window you lot're boarding up. Make up one's mind the height and width of the window with a tape measure, making sure to write your measurements downwardly. Measure from the top of the window frame interior to the bottom, likewise every bit from side to side. Don't measure beyond the frame itself.^[9]

   • Your plywood piece volition exist cut to fit within the window frame, and then there's no need to mensurate beyond it.

2. ii

   Cut a piece of plywood to lucifer the window's dimensions. Utilise a circular saw to cut the plywood to match the peak and width of the window frame. You'll exist placing the slice of plywood snugly within the frame, so the measurements of the plywood should exist as shut as possible to the dimensions of the window.

   • For example, if your window frame measures 48 inches (120 cm) alpine and 24 inches (61 cm) wide, then your piece of plywood should be 48 inches (120 cm) tall and 24 inches (61 cm) broad as well.
   • Take your plywood to a dwelling house improvement shop to have information technology cutting for you if you don't accept a circular saw.

3. iii

   Apply 2 pieces of plywood attached to each other if the frame is too large. #*You lot'll need to utilize two pieces of plywood attached to each other with a 2 past four in (5.1 by 10.2 cm) bracing along the seam if your window frame is bigger than 4 by 8 feet (i.2 by ii.4 m). Identify 2 plywood pieces next to each other with a ii by 4 in (five.i past 10.2 cm) bracing placed along the seam. Then, drill 2.25 in (5.7 cm) screws through the bracing and into the plywood to attach them all.^[10]

   • Drill at to the lowest degree 6 screws (2 at the top of the bracing, ii in the middle, and 2 at the bottom) through the bracing and into the 2 pieces of plywood to make certain they're securely fastened to each other.

4. iv

   Use a hammer to attach 4 window clips to the sides of the plywood. Place 2 clips on each side of the plywood, positioned so that the tension legs are facing towards you lot. Then, gently tap the clips with the hammer to attach them to the plywood. Be sure to place each pair of clips no more two feet (0.61 thou) apart from each other.^[11]

   • Position the clips and then that they're evenly spaced from each other for best results.
   • You may exist able to simply button the clips into identify. Withal, using a hammer volition ensure that they are as securely attached to the plywood equally possible.

5. 5

   Place the plywood over the window frame and push information technology in to secure information technology. ^[12] When yous do this, make sure the clips are securely gripping the sides of the frame and aren't being pushed out of information technology. Button the plywood as far into the frame as it can go.^[13]

   • Strong winds generate lift on the plywood that can cause it to be pulled out of the window frame. If the window clips are deeply gripping the sides of the frame, they volition keep the plywood in identify.^[14]
   • When you're set to remove the plywood, simply push down on the lath and pull up on the window clips on ane side to remove it.

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• Question

  How practise yous cover windows with woods?

  

  Steve Linton is the President of Deltec Homes, a custom habitation building company in Asheville, Northward Carolina. With almost 20 years of experience, he oversees all domicile building projects for Deltec Homes. He specializes in hurricane-resistant homes, dark-green home design, and sustainable edifice. Steve holds a BS in Structural Technology from Cornell University and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

  

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• Question

  How practise yous protect windows without plywood?

  

  Steve Linton is the President of Deltec Homes, a custom home building visitor in Asheville, North Carolina. With nearly xx years of experience, he oversees all dwelling building projects for Deltec Homes. He specializes in hurricane-resistant homes, green home design, and sustainable edifice. Steve holds a BS in Structural Applied science from Cornell Academy and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

  

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Things You'll Demand

• Plywood
• Tape measure
• Stud finder
• Circular saw
• ¹⁄_four  in (0.64 cm) pan-head or lag screws
• Power drill

• Hammer
• Window clips

• If you take to board upwards your windows from the inside (due east.thou., if the storm is already raging outside), place security window moving-picture show over the glass and record it downwardly. This isn't the best style to protect your windows and home, but information technology will work in a pinch.

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• If you're worried that you lot won't be able to securely install the plywood over your windows before a big tempest hits, rent a professional person to do it for you. Although this is more than expensive, you'll want your house to be adequately protected for the tempest.

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Commodity Summary 10

To board upwardly a window, try using plywood. First, measure the height and width of the window so yous know how much wood you'll need. So, cut a slice of plywood so it'south viii inches higher and wider than the window. If your window is larger than the piece of plywood, attach 2 pieces together by screwing a 2 by 4 forth the seam between the ii pieces of wood. Next, drill holes nigh 2 inches from the corner of the plywood, which should line up with the studs in the wall when you lot screw it in place. Drill additional holes at 12 inch intervals around the board. Finish by placing the board over the window and screwing information technology into place. For tips on how to attach a board to brick using window clips, read on!

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