window return in concrete block house - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

bmancanfly · 05-13-2009, 02:26 PM

I removed the drywall/plaster in my house that is under renovations. Unfortunately the inside of the window returns did not come very clean. I'm not sure what is the best way to finish the inside of the window returns which were previously plaster. There doesn't seem to be enough room to put a furring strip on the block and then drywall, since the window frame is very shallow. The surface of the remaining block is very rough so attaching the drywall directly to the block would not work.

Can I put drywall compound directly on the block to smooth it out, eventually building enough up to cover the buck strips hold the window to the block.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

naptown CR · 05-13-2009, 02:32 PM

I smell HO here but my wife told me to be nice to two people each day.
are the window jambs made of wood or what kind of window are they.

neolitic · 05-13-2009, 03:48 PM

Questions are:
Steel or aluminum?
What do you really do for a living?

For naptown:
Why do you only listen to your
wife when she's wrong?

bmancanfly · 05-13-2009, 04:06 PM

Well you'd both be wrong in your assumptions. But that really doesn't pertain to my question.

But just for the record, I renovate houses for a living - and have done so for the last 11 years. I type this from my current home which I built myself - completely. I poured the foundation, did the framing, sheathing, siding, plumbing, electrical, roof, windows, ALL myself. And when I say I did it myself I don't mean I contracted someone else to do it, or ordered around some Mexican to do it for me, I did it with my own two hands. And the answer to your next question is.......YES, I do have a license.

This however is my first concrete block house, in FL, and has presented some challenges I haven't encountered before.

Now if I've passed the hazing requirements for this forum, if either of you, or anyone could answer my question I'd appreciate it.

Aluminum windows, but that could be changed.

neolitic · 05-13-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmancanfly

Well you'd both be wrong in your assumptions. But that really doesn't pertain to my question.

I wonder what could have led us
in that direction?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmancanfly

I removed the drywall/plaster in my house that is under renovations. .........

Maybe if you had led off with
a bit more information......

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmancanfly

Now if I've passed the hazing requirements for this forum, if either of you, or anyone could answer my question I'd appreciate it.

No hazing, clarification and qualification.
A tad less attitude might encourage
more helpfulness too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmancanfly

Aluminum windows, but that could be changed.

Not wrong with all my assumptions.

DuraBond or similar setting compound
would be a better choice than drywall mud.
Though it wouldn't be a good idea here,
it might work well in Fla.

**Teetorbilt** · 05-13-2009, 06:50 PM

Drywall to block would be a bad idea. You don't say how much room you have to play with or if you have sills (some of the older homes didn't).

If you had or can accomodate sills, set them first.

Options for the returns include Hardieboard, about 5/16", installed backwards. Mud in with unsanded stucco if you're good, setting drywall if you're not.

Wire lath, about 1/4". Use brown stucco to bond to the concrete and then finish with the white or go back to the setting compound to finish.

There are a few other options. I just got home from my second week on a flooring job, (whole house) and am a little burned out. I'll keep track of the post IF you reply.

In defense of the previous posters; This is a contractor's site and the majority of the members work hard to keep it that way. In FL anybody that owns property can act as a Homeowner Contractor and are allowed to build their own homes. That walks a line that that I need to look into.

naptown CR · 05-13-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

For naptown:
Why do you only listen to your
wife when she's wrong?

Well there several reasons
1- she is a trial lawyer and a pro at it, arguing is futile.
2- She has two rules 1 she is alwas right 2 if she is wrong refer to rule 1
3- She puts up with my spending an inordinate amount of time here.
4-I am P whipped

WarnerConstInc. · 05-13-2009, 07:20 PM

If you built the house and did all that, why are you confused over the window returns, you did them in the first place right?

Teetor is pretty dead on. There are some other options, it depends on what style you like.

I also have a drivers license.

bmancanfly · 05-14-2009, 09:11 AM

thanks teetorbilt.

Some of the windows have sills some are already removed.

I explored the lathe and brown stucco option but I was trying to avoid having to do a lot of mechanical fastening of lathe to the block on the returns. Plus I have no experience with stucco.

I like the idea of the backer board but some of the returns are so irregular and un-smooth that it would be difficult to get them to lay anywhere close to flat.

cleveman · 05-14-2009, 11:21 PM

Why don't you use some marble pieces or just tile? Thinset them on to the block.

**joasis** · 05-15-2009, 03:30 AM

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