What is a cut-in, exactly?

A cut-in is the work of opening up a wall — usually a structural exterior wall — to install a window or door where there wasn't one before, or to move or resize an existing opening. It's not a swap-out replacement; it's a small construction project hidden inside a finish job.

Done correctly, it requires structural framing, a properly sized header to carry the load above the new opening, exterior weatherproofing, matching siding patch work, and interior drywall, paint, and trim. Done incorrectly, it leaks, sags, or — worst case — compromises the structure of the wall.

That's why we treat every cut-in as a planned remodeling project, not a window install. Before we cut a single stud, we identify load paths, mark utility lines (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), confirm rough opening dimensions for the window or door you've selected, and lay out the exterior patch so the finished wall looks like the opening was always there.

Most of our cut-ins are completed in 1–3 days depending on scope, with the home dried-in and weather-tight by end of day one.

When homeowners call us for a cut-in.

If you've ever stood in a room and thought "I wish there was a window here," you're our typical customer. The most common reasons:

Add a brand-new window

Bring daylight into a dark room, frame a view, or meet egress requirements for a new bedroom. Common in basements, kitchens, stairwells, and finished attics.

Relocate an existing window or door

Moving a kitchen layout? Adding cabinets where a window is now? We move the opening to its new location and patch the original wall so cleanly you'd never know it was there.

Enlarge a small opening

Turn a single-hung into a picture window, a standard window into a slider, or a 3-foot entry into a 6-foot French door. We re-frame the rough opening, swap the header, and finish.

Cut in a new exterior door

Add a side door, garden door, or back-patio access where there's only a wall today. Includes proper sill flashing, weather sealing, and threshold transition.

Add a sliding patio door

Open the back wall of a living room or kitchen to a deck or backyard. Big aesthetic and resale upgrade — and we handle the header sizing for the wider span.

Close up an opening

The opposite case: an unwanted window or door gets framed in, insulated, and finished outside and in so the wall looks original.

Our process.

Every cut-in follows the same four-step workflow — predictable, weather-tight, and clean.

01

On-site assessment

We measure, identify load paths, locate utilities, and confirm the rough opening for the window or door you've chosen. You get a written quote with materials, labor, and timeline.

02

Frame & header

We open the wall, install temporary support if needed, set a properly sized header (per code for the span and load), and frame the new rough opening to spec.

03

Install & weather-seal

The new window or door goes in, gets flashed and sealed per the manufacturer's installation instructions, and the home is dried-in by end of day one in most cases.

04

Finish — inside and out

Exterior siding patch (matched to your existing material — James Hardie, LP SmartSide, vinyl, etc.), interior drywall repair, trim, and paint-ready finishing.

Why call us for the cut-in.

Most window installers do swap-outs only — same opening, new window. A cut-in is a different scope. Here's what we bring:

Full structural scope

Framing, headers, load paths — we don't sub it out and we don't punt. NV License #0077896A.

Exterior finish handled

We carry the same major siding lines (James Hardie, Alside, LP SmartSide) so the patch looks original — not a visible repair.

One crew, one timeline

Carpenters, installers, and finishers on the same crew. No coordinating between three subs and three schedules.

Weather-tight by day one

The home is sealed and protected from the moment work starts. No tarps over a hole for a week.

Permits when required

Cut-ins often need a permit in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County. We pull it, schedule the inspection, and pass it.

Manufacturer warranties intact

We install per each manufacturer's specs, so Andersen, Jeld-Wen, Codel, and others honor their warranty on the unit.

Window & Door Cut-Ins, Relocations, and New Openings.