I just had every window in the house replaced with vinyl windows. They were installed very nicely.
Now, three weeks later, my wife noticed that the bottom edge of the flashing around the window sills has not been caulked. I asked my window guy about it. He came to see and told me that he rarely caulks the bottom of the window sill where it meets the brick because it is virtually impossible to make it look good with an uneven brick will (and a variable gap).
He told me that it is not likely that weather is going to get into the sill that way (up) but that if I wanted it done he would come and do it…
I have known this guy for years and am very inclined to trust him. I do not know anything about windows though and he did leave the decision up to me(us)…
My wife has asked me to get us some independent advice on this. Is it a big deal? The house is in south western Ontario (Canada) just south of Georgian Bay.
Thank-you.
Replies
You may be better off leaving it uncaulked. That way if water does get in above, it has somewhere to escape.
As I recall, Tyvek recommends that you do not caulk the bottom sill of the window so water can exit. The rest of the window flange is caulked.
Don't trust my memory. You can check this out at the tyvek.com page where they have good instructions available for printout. Takes a bit of digging, but they show how to apply the stuff and flash it, etc.
We use their SillSeal over the wrap for the window sills.
Hi - The new issue of FHB, 11/04, has an article on replacement windows. Mentions an uncaulked bottom flange to allow water to exit....
I'm a little confused. Are the windows sticking out past the brick? (something I've never seen) or is the brick sticking out past the window? (the way it's usually done).
If the window is inset in the brick opening "sitting" on top of the soldier course of brick, then it seems like that would be a good place for water to run back in behind the brick, even if there is a slope to the brick course.
On the other hand, if the window is out past the face of the brick, then it seems unlikely that water would be able to find it's way back in there.
The old rule of thumb is: "imagine a drop of water running down", is there any way for it to get in someplace where it doesn't belong? if so, then it needs to be adressed. If not then you're ok.