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Rough opening
A rough opening is the framed hole in the wall where a window or door will be installed.
Why it matters
Correct size and square openings make installs easier and help windows operate smoothly.
Where people get this wrong
Rough opening size is not the same as the window size you see in a catalog. Out-of-square openings can cause sticking and leaks.
Real-world example
A new window looks fine but is hard to lock. Sometimes the problem is not the window. The rough opening can be out of square.
Where this hits your build
This shows up during framing. Once walls are up and covered, you lose access. The pre-drywall walkthrough is your window to verify.
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