Help! I posted a message (26536.1) about leaking windows, and someone mentioned that in the picture there was no flashing visible. I pulled off the trim, and there is no flashing, see attached pics. The HO called the builder (a fairly large outfit here in town), they sent a person out who looked and took pictures, and said “Did the guy doing the work explain to you about self-flashing windows?” HO said no, and the builders rep smiled and said nothing more. So the HO called me and asked for clarification. I have no intelligent answer. My guess is that the flanges of aluminum windows are designed to channel water toward the outside, and if everything is installed properly, it works. BTW I looked at web pages from Anderson and Pella, and their installation details don’t show flashing. I searched further, and found the following sketch on some other window mfgr web page.
The siding is hardieboard, the trim is 1×4 cedar, and the caulking along the top of the trim is dried and pulled away from the trim after 4 years.
Edited 2/6/2003 1:33:52 PM ET by ELCID72
Edited 10/16/2003 10:12:56 PM ET by ELCID72
Replies
the window should have at least had a z bar that went under the siding and over the window trim ( cap flashing ).
the installation dose not look like it self flashed, i like the detail from the window manufacturer you posted.
james
the installation dose not look like it self flashed What would you see if it was self-flashed?
I remember that conversation. Your photos still don't show whether the nailing fin is under the tarpaper or not. I assume3 that when they talk about "self flashing" they are counting on the nailing fin to act as a flashing. It will only do so when the tarpaper is lapped over it.
Thanks for that detail drawing. I've saved it top disc. Do you remember the manufacturer who provided it or have the link to where you found it?.
Excellence is its own reward!
Tar paper is lapped over the nailing fin, but I would still feel more comfortable with a piece of galvanized. And for only a few bucks...why not?
So here's the question, based on your comments: if the tar paper is overlapping the fin, has the builder done a reasonable job, or should the HO be pushing them to pay for the repairs? It appears that the kitchen window is leaking badly because the baseboard is swollen and the wall is stained.
Don't tell our friends from north of the border, but the window mfgr that did the sketch is from British Columbia. westeckwindows.com/installation There are a couple of other drawings, like for the sill and such. I discovered that my browser (or whatever I'm using) has a very easy icon that captures and saves images such as that with one click. I'm using Windows XP...maybe that's what it is.
Wait, Anderson didn't have the flashing instructions? At least for the 200 series double hung, on the last page of the installation they spec flashing tape. Use the link below:
http://www.andersenwindows.com/UEBinary/0005261.pdf
Depends on the window. 400 series doesn't call for either backcaulking the flange or flashing, but the 200 series does both. If the builder maintains it is self flashing, is the bottom flange of the window overtop of the tarpaper??
Do you have more pics?
Oops. I happened to click on the 400 series (have no idea what brand is installed), and after not seeing any reference to flashing moved on to another site. Thanks for the lead. have not looked at the bottom flange yet...weather turned bad, buttoned up and went to an inside job.
elcid,
i do not know what self flashing looks like but if it was i think it would look different than that, that looks to me like it was just nailed up and if the black i see in the picture is tar paper ( which i think it isn't ) it was not too bad of a job but it still should have at minimum had a drip cap.
james
Edited 2/6/2003 10:14:07 PM ET by james
Yes, the black strip between the window and the hardieboard is tar paper.