Andersen Windows 400 Installation Instructions

Perform a preliminary verification that the window’s rough opening in the wall is level and square. Check the sill of the opening with a builder's level and adjust if needed. Verify that the opening is square by measuring the opening diagonally, in both directions from the corners. The two diagonal dimensions must be within 1/8 inch for the opening to be square.

Install the window’s base flashing, called the “sill pan,” by cutting a piece of flexible adhesive-backed flashing to the opening’s width plus 24 inches. Apply the flashing to the window sill following the manufacturer’s instructions printed on the flashing. The sill pan prevents water from penetrating the wall in the event the window’s seals are damaged or fail.

Position beveled plastic window sill shims on the sill surface. Place one at each side of the window opening and additional shims equally spaced approximately 6 to 8 inches apart in between. Tack the shims in place using 6d nails.

Insert and center the Andersen Series 400 window into the rough opening, with the window frame sitting on the plastic shims installed in Step 3.

Adjust the window within the rough opening to where the gap between the wall framing and the window jamb are equal on both sides of the window using a pry bar to shift the window as needed. Nail both vertical exterior nailing flanges to the wall framing using 8d nails in each flange hole.

Recheck the interior gap between the window jamb and the wall framing to verify it is equal and consistent on both sides. Complete the securing of the nailing flanges with 8d nails in each flange hole around the perimeter of the window frame.

Cut two pieces of flexible adhesive-backed flashing to the vertical dimension of the window plus 10 inches. Apply one piece of flashing to each side of the window following the manufacturer’s instructions printed on the flashing. Make certain the inner edge of the flashing covers the nailing flange on both sides and extends beyond the window frame approximately 2 inches at the top, with the remaining excess overlapping the sill pan flashing applied in Step 2.

Measure the width of the top of the window frame and cut a piece of flexible adhesive-backed flashing to this dimension plus approximately 24 inches. Apply the top piece of flashing following the manufacturer’s instructions printed on the flashing, making certain to cover the window’s nailing flange and extending equally past both sides of the window to overlap the side flashing pieces applied in Step 7.