wallboarding the window

[creekside]

i want to block a window when i put wallboard up to allow a tv "over" the fireplace...what should i be watching out for. It receives setting sun and is about 18" by 24"...new vinyl clad window..

[DCDiva]

If you want to just stop the light from coming in I would not do something permanent because you never know if u might want to change the room or resale value--why not do something decorative like a picture frame but make the back out of plywood or 1/4 lueun--paint the back white--the side toward the outside will look like a blind from outside--screw the ply to the studs so it will not move and you can mount the tv to this if you want to I would paint it black but it would look nice and fix the window problem and if you ever want to change it just take it down
Melissa

[JD]

I think I remember that code requires the equivalent of 10% of the floor area must be represented in window area. A 12x20 room would be 240sf, requiring 24sf of window space. An 18"x24" window is 3sf. Hopefully you have enough other windows in this room. This is probably a code a lot of inspectors might overlook or miss as long as there is adequate regress available in the other windows.