Enlarge window opening?

[upnorth]

Anyone got any tips for enlarging the rough opening for a window without tearing out the sheetrock?

We are looking to replace our windows in the house and the rough opening in the bedrooms won't allow us to put in a Egress window. We are tearing off the siding and replacing that so I can access it from the outside. I just don't want to have to tear off the sheetrock too.

My wife called has done most the talking with the inspector, but he told here we could go with double gliders that lift out without the use of tools to get the width(I plan on calling him to verify we can do that), but we still wind up short on the height. The frame for the current windows is 26 1/2 X 40 inches, I need to get to at least 28 inches to allow for for the clear opening of 24 inches.

[Broadside]

It is pretty easy to do all your framing from the outside,do you have to put a longer header in because of larger windows? My only tip would be to take off more sheathing then you think you need to,this will make it alot easier to frame,measure,cut studs and so on. I am putting a patio door where a window is in my house and Im doing everything from the outside. I always did it this way when I installed windows and doors for a company in Mankato. Alot less mess inside and easier to replace sheathing or siding.

[Tom7227]

When doing the same project as you we opted to replace the sash with higher quality thermal windows. That way you don't have to get into the plaster, re-trim the entire window and basically redecorate your entire interior. Back then (1995) we were told that if you don't replace the frame you don't have to come up to code on window size. I'm all for code compliance but this is one of those times where the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

[Surface Tension]

Either way your going to have to remove sheetrock or the sheathing to get at the framing. Even though you'll have the siding off I'd tend to remove the sheetrock because you might end up patching it anyway. Then again I know how to do that so it isn't a big deal. I guess go with what your more comfortable with.

You'll want a reciprocating saw to snip nails and cut out studs.

[upnorth]

It isn't never just as easy as cutting and patching sheetrock, which I am pretty handy at. One room was paneled over the sheetrock, another has some rather fancy swirl texturing(which I have no intention of trying to replicate, the 3rd is just plain rock. So 2 of the 3 rooms would be pretty much tear down and re rock which would make the project even bigger that it is for one guy.