Frame Mounting & Render Guide Bracket
Installation Systems
Depending on cost and preferred method, one of three systems can be adopted for the installation of the Frame Mounting Brackets:
System 1 is a full frame surround. (2 full length sides, 1 head & 1 sill plate)
This system is best installed during the construction of the wall opening. The frame mounting brackets are assembled and held in place in the opening by masonry wall ties built into the wall and clipped to the sides of the frame mounting bracket.
System 2 is 3/4 frame surround. (2 full sides and 1 sill plate).
System 3 comprises of a 1 full sill plate with a number of small side frame mounting brackets.
Installation of system 2 & 3 are done once the opening is constructed, by mounting the framing brackets to the opening with the use of a fast acting epoxy or masonry nails through the slots in the side edges.
The following photographs will illustrate the installation of the frame mounting brackets using system 3 with an epoxy.
Step1. Using a straight locating staff, the frame mounting brackets are temporally located and held in the desired position. The edges of the framing brackets are then buttered with a fast setting epoxy.
The locating staff with the framing brackets attached is then held in position in the opening, making sure the brackets sit plum and square to the face of the opening. Adjusting alignment can be made as the epoxy is setting, see Figure 1. Trueness and alignment of the existing opening is not critical, as the epoxy once set takes up any variation & misalignment. The framing bracket itself is also lock-in and engulfed even more once the wall finish is applied.
Once the epoxy has set, the locating staff is removed from the frame mounting brackets, which are held in position in the opening by the epoxy. Step 1 is repeated on the opposite side of the 
opening. If the opening requires an external sill, a full length bracket is positioned at the bottom of the opening so to allow complete finishing of the external sill.
If two or more locating staffs are used the installation of the framing brackets can be installed very quickly.
Once all the frame mounting brackets are located in the opening, taking a measurement between the face of opposing brackets will provide the frame opening size from which the actual frame size can be calculated, i.e. minus side clearance. These measurements are then given to the joinery manufacture.
Figure 2 shows the frame mounting brackets located in position in the opening with the locating staff removed and all set for the wall finishing to be applied.
Figure 3 shows the exposed cavity of the opening being protected by temporally laying a cover piece over the void. This prevents any excess render falling into the cavity. Note also the renderer’s corner angle moulding which is fixed in line with the face of the framing brackets.
With the framing brackets and render angle aligned and in place, obtaining a flat and even surface (as shown in Figure 4) is just a matter of the renderer while applying his wall material, following the edge of his render angle and the guide edge of the framing bracket.
Notice also how the frame mounting bracket is engulfed by the wall finishing, there by bonding it further onto the opening.
The same process would take place if the external wall of the dwelling were to be rendered as shown in Figure 5.
The next step here would be the removal of the temporary cover strip.
With all the wall finishing completed, the temporary cover strip is removed to expose the frame mounting brackets Figure 6.
Notice how flat, even and plumb the opening side is.
This opening is now ready to accept the cedar window frame that goes in.
(patent pending)