First off, let me say that I have lurked for quite some time and have a healthy respect for the knowledge that is passed around here.  Lots of good pointers and practical solutions to some bad problems.

 

So my turn.

 

I bought a house (built 1976ish) 6 years back with the intent that we would get around to fixing a lot of the “little problems” over time.  Well the time has come to replace the lousy carpeting in the back family room with a hardwood floor. 

 

We removed everything from the room (including a desk that sat under a window since day 1) and pulled carpet out.  We found a small hole in the sub floor (under the desk return so no one stepped into it at least).  Looked around noticed that the drywall was slightly swelled under the window.  “Ah” water from the window.

Well, Mr. Fix-it from the past  had replaced a patio door with a fireplace, and installed two windows in the room.  Pulled the casing off the windows and guess what – no framing at all.  He had cut off the wall studs and inserted the window into that “rough” opening.  The windows are hanging by a pair of finishing nails in the studs hanging from the ceiling and some caulk. 

 

Mr. Fix-it didn’t bother too much with exterior water proofing – he just cut off the AL siding and slapped the windows in with a bunch of caulk.  Stuck some storm windows over these things to help keep something out, slapped up some brick mold and called it a day.  He did such a great job that he even remembers to  caulk the weep holes in the storm windows.

The fireplace also has issues – exterior brick is overlapping the siding and has mortar applied as the finishing agent between the siding and brick.  There is a foundation of type under the chimney (34″ish inches down, 8″+ larger than cinder block base, more than 6″ thick). 

Well now that you have a basic picture of the wall – no rough framing – no flashing, strange seal at the chimney,  water damage inside…. 

 

I can tear out the drywall and re-frame the wall for new windows (don’t know what brand yet) and plan on installing new construction windows with nailing clips, but how do I deal with the exterior?   

The existing brick mold is not worth hanging onto, there is no “J” channel next to the siding, no flashing that I can see from the inside (good view though with out any of those pesky 2x4s in the way).

 

So should I plan on trying to slip some flashing behind the AL siding and install some type of “J” channel next to the new windows? How?  Some advice has been to shoot a few finishing nails through the siding to hold it, but that sounds like a path for more water in the future.

 

Should I plan on stripping off the AL siding from the exterior wall and use the nailing flanges and a regular flashing job (12″ coil stock)?

Help……