Our problem is water leaking around the windows and doors in our walk out basement. We’re getting some good size puddles. Construction was started July 2005 and this is one of the many issues not resolved in our still unfinished home. The builder told me I could add some tape around the seams, but that it would be leaky until the stone is put up. I accepted this until my husband had a mason out to give a bid, and the mason said that the exterior stone had nothing to do with the leaks. So I called another builder that I had met at a home show. He said that the mason was absolutely right and that the leaks should be repaired before the stone goes on. He also said that it was not my responsibility to add tape for sealing. I discussed this with our builder and he said that they are wrong, that the leaking is caused by deteriorating seals from the sun. I could really use some expert opinions on this. Who’s right?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
By considering things like energy-efficient mechanicals, window orientation, and renewable energy sources, homes can be evaluated to meet the energy codes. Here's what the IRC has to say.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Unless the stone mason gaurentees his work to be waterproof.... which I doubt... It's clear where the responsibility lies. If the only thing between you and a leak is "tape" .... be afraid.
This doesn't pass the smell test. Is your builder saying the brand new windows are failing already? Or, is he saying YOU need to add some kind of tape? Don't give this guy any money for work he has not done.
Call your building inspector. (You DO have permits and are getting inspections, right?) Act now, because these are the sort of problems that can persist forever and cause serious long-trem damage to a building.
See the thread on rotting OSB and window flashing for some idea of the kind of thing that can happen when bad builders do the work.
Sorry!
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
http://moosehilljournal.blogspot.com/
Post some pictures of the walk out basement. They are notorious for leaking. Grade runs right into large window and door openings causing the water infitration. A good drainage system will help this issue. Clay soil is a good culprit.
Your house is still unfinished? What about the exterior, is the stonework the last of that? Water will get in if the windows are just nailed in and nothing is covering them up. What kind of siding is on the house, if any.
Tyvek is only usually good for 90 days before the sun starts to deteriorate it. And you are just a little over that with the July 2005 start date.
Fill us in post some pictures and someone here will help answer your questions. Maybe even give a general location.
What's wrong with me? I could ask you the exact same thing.
You refer to your builder but then your husband is seeking a mason.
Confusion here.
Are you the acting GC? If so, who is this other builder who lies and tells you to tape the windows? They should not be even hinting of leaking from the day they were installed.
No stone or masonry veneer is waterproof. he is trying to pass his faults off onto anybody he can find
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks for all of the replys! Good idea to call the buiding inspector. He was here once that I know of and we have asked repeatedly for the inspection report and have yet to receive it. I have tomorrow off, so think that I'll pay the builder a visit.
The house has fiber cement siding on the main level, and tyvek on the 3 sides of the lower. The tyvek was put on last fall. Our builder told us that we needed to get the stone on before this winter-2006. Now, he's telling us about the deterioration from the sun. My husband was unemployed at the time of the contract and had planned to do that part himself. Now he is working full time plus and taking bids to get the job done. First one came in at $6600.00. We'll call the mason tomorrow and see what his bid is.
Our move in date was Dec 22, 2005. The house was no where near ready and we actually moved in Memorial Day weekend. There are a number of other things that still need to be finished.
Sorry don't have any pics, but we're a 1700 sq ft ranch with a walkout basement and a small observation room on the 2nd floor in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. Thanks for all of the imput.
Sounds like the Tyvek was installed after the window set?
That would be totally wrong. But hard to aadvise steps to proceed to get this right without photo
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Don't know about that. Talked with the builder this am. He's coming out on the 15th with a rep from the truss company. We also need to figure out why the floors have 1/2 inch sag to them. So, he'll take another look at the windows then. This building a house has room for more errors than I imagined. Glad to say our home is absolutely beautiful, just need to get it fixed and finished! I'm really learning a lot from reading Breaktime and appreciate the input.
Absolutely. If they were installed and flashed correctly, they'd be watertight before any kind of siding or stone got near them. Not that it makes you feel any better. You're not very alone. I've seen builders put the tyvek on top down, not flash the windows, and expect vinyl siding to stop the water pouring into the house.
Whoever the GC is, it's their responsibility.
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton