By Jake Bruton

Installing a MultiGlide™ Pass-Through Window with Jake Bruton

Preparation is everything when it comes to installation. In this video, builder Jake Bruton walks us through how to do it right when installing a pocketing MultiGlide Pass-Through Window, which uses the same design as our MultiGlide Door, but at a smaller scale to facilitate access between indoors and outdoors. Get Bruton’s tips so you’re ready when your homeowner asks for a pass-through window.

Keep reading for more information about the MultiGlide product and a review of key points from the video.

What’s a MultiGlide product?

The MultiGlide product can be ordered as either a pass-through window, as featured in this video, or as a door. And not just any old door, a MultiGlide Door can be large enough to replace a wall.

The glass panels that make up a MultiGlide unit either stack to the side when open or pocket into the wall, like they do in the video. They can also be automated, so they open and close with the touch of a button.

They’re an increasingly popular choice among homeowners who want to enjoy a better connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, and they’re often used to connect kitchens with spaces like decks, patios, and porches. A great part of their appeal is the clear opening they create, which makes entertaining easy. 

What's the same about install?

Just because you haven’t installed this particular product doesn’t mean you’re starting from zero. The fundamentals of proper installation still apply — the ones you’ve no doubt been practicing for years. Here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Get the RO right: To support you in properly installing, Andersen provides RO dimensions with all its products. Pocketing products come with a second RO dimension for the pocket as well as the window.
  • Flash properly: Properly flashing the sill is as important as ever. This means it should extend across the entire sill, including inside the pocket, and wrap down and around the sill onto the face of the water resistive barrier (WRB). This will help keep water moving down and out should it ever enter the assembly.
  • Always, always check plumb, level, and square: As with every unit, checking for plumb, level, and square is crucial. The MultiGlide Pass-Through Window operates by sliding along a track installed to the sill, so the bottom of the rough opening must be level for smooth operation. 

Orange quotation marks"For successful installation of one of these units, it’s all about preparation. It’s about getting your rough opening (RO) spot-on, getting your framing correct, and having all that waterproofing in place.”

— Jake Bruton, Owner, Aarow Building

What's different about install?

Here are a couple of details unique to these windows: 

  • Overhangs for protection: While any type of window will benefit from additional protection from water at the head, it’s particularly helpful with pass-through windows. This detail is key to helping these windows perform in climates where rain and snow are a reality. It’s a popular misconception that pass-through windows can only work in warm climates.
  • Deep nail base at the header: Although a MultiGlide Pass-Through Window glides along a track, the frame requires care in order to avoid deflection and support seamless operation. To get the frame right, fasteners must be inserted a minimum of 1 ½ inches at the header.
  • Jacking screws for the shimming system: MultiGlide Doors and Pass-Through Windows use jacking screws to create a shimming system. With an outer barrel that can be adjusted separately from the screw that’s housed inside and acts as a fastener, jacking screws are beneficial at install and later if any adjustments are needed.

In In ways small and large, Andersen seeks to make your job easier, from providing shop drawings for Big Door products (including pass-through windows) to offering onsite consultations at install to help you nail every detail of the critical preparation steps.  

Meet Jake Bruton

Jake Bruton is a custom home builder in Kansas City and Columbia, Missouri. As the owner of Aarow Building for more than 15 years, he brings his education in art and architecture to ensure energy-efficient, durable, and architecturally significant homes. Growing up in construction also positioned him for success in building, having renovated or repaired nearly every mistake made in the industry. He is a contributor to The Build Show, co-host of the UnBuild It Podcast, and contributing editor to Fine Homebuilding. As a speaker, he has presented at IBS, JLC Live, the Fine Homebuilding Summit, and the Midwest Building Science Symposium. He is currently raising a family with his wife in Columbia, Missouri.

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