If you’ve been getting window quotes, you may have heard the term “full frame” and wondered how it’s different from a regular replacement window. It’s a fair question, and the answer affects how your windows look, how much light they let in, and what you find out about the condition of your home’s structural health along the way. How do you decide between full frame vs. replacement windows? We are here to help untangle the pros and cons. In this video, Paul takes you inside a job where we’re doing a full frame replacement, so you can see what it actually involves. Watch below or read on to learn more.
What ‘Full Frame’ Actually Means
With a typical replacement window, the old sashes (the parts that hold the actual glass) come out and the new window, frame and all, goes into the existing frame. That’s why you may hear us describe a typical replacement window as a ‘frame within a frame.’
With a full frame replacement, we take everything out: the sashes, the interior trim, and the exterior trim, the whole existing frame. That gets us down to the rough opening (the bare framing around the window) before anything new goes in.
The Big Advantage of ‘Full Frame’: We Can See What’s Behind the Trim
Once the trim is off, we can see the framing, and we can check for rot or other problems. In the case of this project, the framing all looked great, but that is certainly not always the case. If it were not the case, we’d rather find out before the new window goes in than sometime down the road, once the investment in the new windows is behind you.
The the window goes in, gets shimmed, and gets foamed, and it’s properly flashed along the way. A full frame installation lets us make sure everything is plumb, level, and square even before the new window is set in place.
Pro tip: Ask any window company you’re talking to whether they’re quoting a full frame or a replacement. These two are different jobs with different results, so you’ll want to compare them as such.
You Don’t Lose Glass
This one surprises people. With a replacement window, you typically give up about an inch and a half of width, and sometimes two inches, depending on the glass manufacturer, in the size of the glass. The height stays about the same. On a narrow window, that lost width can be pretty noticeable, and a lot of homeowners don’t love it.
With a full frame, the new window fills the whole opening, the full width and the full height. On the windows in this project, we even gained a little height. The homeowner on this job told us he’s glad he went with full frame, because it feels like more light is coming in than with his old windows.
Flashing and Exterior Trim
On the outside, the old exterior trim (wrapped in aluminum on this house) comes off, all the way down to the framing. The windows on this house go on with a nail fin, and the black tape you see in the video is flashing tape. We tape that fin before any exterior trim goes on.
When we’re done, the windows are finished with white PVC exterior trim. It’s low maintenance for the homeowner: you wash it now and then, and you never have to paint it. It won’t rot, and insects aren’t a problem.
A Chance to Update the Look of Your Home
A full frame job isn’t only about the windows. Because the trim is coming off anyway, it’s a good time to change how the room looks. Because all of the trim is being replaced, it an opportunity for updating or simply changing the style of a significant detail of your interiors.
The Drawbacks (Yes, There Are Some)
We’re always upfront about this, because full frame isn’t right for every project. There are some drawbacks to this style of replacement:
It’s more work.
- It generates more trash.
- The job takes a little longer.
- It costs the homeowner a little more than a replacement window.
For us, the trade-off is worth it in the right situations, especially if you want the full glass area, a fresh look for your trim, or a good look at what’s happening inside the wall. But it’s your home and your budget, and we’re happy to talk through which approach makes the most sense for you.
Why Choose 12 Penny for Your Window Replacement?
Providing you with an exceptional customer experience is our top priority. You can expect clear, honest communication, quality products, a licensed and insured local team, and no pushy sales tactics. Just options that make sense for your home.
We’re proud to serve Littleton, Westford, Acton, Concord, and surrounding towns.
Ready to Talk Windows?
If you’d like to know whether full frame or replacement makes more sense for your home, contact us or give us a call at (978) 654-0275. We are looking forward to hearing from you and learning how we can help with your next home exterior project.
