Who can we get to install a wall slee...

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Author Message   homeowner Citizen Username: Nancys60 Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:33 am:        Not sure all that is involved and thus, who to hire? Handyman, carpenter, etc.? Any specific recommendations?   Richard O'Connor Citizen Username: Roconn Post Number: 146 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 12:03 pm:        This depends on many things. First and foremost is what is your house made of. If you have a frame and sided house, this is actually not an impossible "handy homeowner do" thing. If you don't have the skills, any good handyman should be able to do it reasonably. If you have brick or stone face....you'll need a mason too! The job is easy. Pick where you want the AC to go Determine if there are any important mechanicals anywhere in the wall. Try to be next to a stud on either side of the opening. Measure carefully. Draw the opening size on the wall. The dimension should be the size of the sleeve PLUS: 1-3/4 inches wide 3 inches high. Yes, you need to make it too big, you are going to add 2 x 4's to the top, bottom and one side (the one without the stud) to frame out the box. (you can make it precisely the right size, but then you have to fit the new frame supports between the existing studwork instead of resting upon the existing studwork -- I've seen it done both ways) NOW -- YOU CUT -- BUT ONLY INSIDE .... You don't cut the 'outside' hole until you have properly framed the inside. This way your 'outside' hole is EXACTLY the size of the sleeve. Inside, you add casings and trim, outside you want a precise fit with minimum trims (they have more potential to leak). Frame the inside hole, I believe that caulk/sealing the new framing against the exterior sheathing (there should be a layer of something before your siding/shingles/insulation) is a good way to ensure few air leaks. Check the dimensions against your sleeve -- they are rectangles, if you slide the sleeve in does it fit 'snugly'? If you've gotten this far then you have to cut the outside hole. Drill a small (1/4 inch) pilot hole in each corner, from the inside, headed outside (carefully now) as TIGHTLY in each corner as you can. (You want to make sure these holes are square with your new framing, they can't head up or down hills. Go outside -- Connect the dots on the outermost edges -- draw a neat pencil line. Still with me? Use a jig/sabre saw to cut on your neat straight line. Now, what you should have is a perfectly rectangular hole on the outside of your house, through which you can see the inside. check again to make sure all 'looks' right. Now, go to your AC instructions for the precise way that the manufacturer reccomends attaching the sleeve to the frame you've built. Attach it. With a friend/helper, lift AC unit into sleeve (generally from the inside) and you're almost done. Go back outside. Caulk (they should be small gaps at the worst) between the sleeve and your house. Your goal is a nice weather and water tight seal. Back inside, last step, get casings/moldings appropriate to your interior and frame the hole up clean around your Air Condititoner. Now wasn't that easy. I watched this done at my parents house (geez, back when I was about 10) and it took the guy a day to do, but then again, my parents have a brick house and it required substantial brick cutting. I fixed the 'remaining' hole for a friend when he removed his thru-the-wall AC unit and basically what I've given you is a reverse of the application. MANY FOLX will use a Long Bladed Reciprocating Saw (Sawz-All) to cut the hole in one shot from in to out. Where this can be done, I think you'll get a cleaner tighter nicer finish if you cut twice, once in and once out. Questions? Richard (ROC) --Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.-- --AIM: ROConn   homeowner Citizen Username: Nancys60 Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 5:48 pm:        Richard, I'm not clear. Have you done this whole process yourself? We're looking to hire someone to do it. Thanks.   TomR Citizen Username: Tomr Post Number: 120 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:13 pm:        Richard, I appologize in advance if I misunderstood, but... If the AC casing is wider than 14.25" (assuming 16" OC studs, isn't the project going to need a header, sole(?), and jack studs? It looks like homeowner wants to contract this out, but thought I'd mention my confusion in case someone else tries to tackle this themselves. TomR.   Maplemom Citizen Username: Maplemom Post Number: 94 Registered: 7-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:27 pm:        I have a great handyman I've used on and off over the past three years. Privateline me and I'll get you his info. I've never had him do this, but I'm pretty sure he'd be able to do it well and for a great price (he seems to be able to do just about anything..)   us2innj Citizen Username: Us2innj Post Number: 986 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:28 pm:        Glad you have someone to recommend. The through-the-wall A/C in our bedroom was installed so poorly that I thought it would fall right over the side of the house. It was held in place with pressure treated 2x4's in an "H" layout. We called a real carpenter, who did pretty much Richard prescribed. There are such hacks out there.   Richard O'Connor Citizen Username: Roconn Post Number: 148 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:21 pm:        Homeowner .. I haven't done it per se but I am sure I could. Problem is lately my schedule is a pain in the butt in terms of hiring myself out that way ... if you can be flexible with time though ... I'm available Tom, not really, if done the way I describe, you only have to cut 1 stud out, and the base and top plates you put in will transfer the weight appropriately so that it doesn't come down on the A/C unit. (At least that's how it was done at my parents ... (That hole later became a very large window) ... Where I fixed the hole created at a friends, it was as I described. Richard (ROC) --Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.-- --AIM: ROConn   NRL Citizen Username: Nrl Post Number: 468 Registered: 8-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:36 pm:        Dont forget to run the eletric while everything is apart. Youll need an outlet close by.   TomR Citizen Username: Tomr Post Number: 123 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 11:33 pm:        Richard, So be it. I do tend to over engineer home projects. Also thanks for the refresher lesson: base plate as opposed to sole. homeowner, If you do decide to DIY, pay heed to NRL's suggestion. TomR.