window wrap and spontanious combustion
I’m replacing all of the original double hung window in a house which was built in 1892 in Portland OR. The new windows which I am in the process of installing are Marvin double hung windows pretty much matching the existing ones. The house has no felt or any other type of moisture barrier. The right way to weather proof the new windows would be to strip the siding and install wall sheeting for shear and a surface to install felt or an adequate vapor barrier. Removal and reinstalling isn’t going to happen for budget reasons and the time of the year. Also the window jams on the exterior are flush with the siding so trimming out the windows on the exterior will have small openings on the side of the trim where it sits onto of the siding (siding is lap siding). Installing thicker dimension lumber for the trim and cutting back the siding to allow is an option, however all the belly boards, rims, water tables would have to be redesigned so again not an ideal option.
My thought is to wrap as much of the framed opening as possible with Fortiflash and also lapping the fortiflash onto the siding under the trim. I would also use a roofing contact addhesive to help the Fortiflash adhere to the old framing lumber and siding under the trim. On the sill I often use a piece of 1/2 x 6 bevel siding ripped down to fit a 2×4 wall installed under the window wrap to allow for a slop if any water does penetrate. Other than that, any good idea’s? Just to mention not that it really matters all the exterior wall have been insulated from the inside with fiberglass insulation.
Also here is a interesting twist not related to the instalation of the windows. Seven Marvin windows were stacked on an exterior wall in the basement away from any sorce of ignition, spark, oily rags, electric, ect. All the widows were pre-primed and also packed in a plastic shrink wrap. The windows had been delivered at the job site two weeks earlier. Once work started the stack of seven was now down to three. With in 7 minutes of when the four windows were taken away from the stack of seven, three of the windows erupted in a ball of fire. I’m lucky it happened when it did since I was there and able to put out with a fire extingusher before the fire spread casusing any more damage. Marvin says they have never heard of anything like this. What about anyone out there. The fire department inspector came up with the cause of spontanious combustion and ruled out any other cause. Of coarse Marvin doesn’t want to hear that. Anyway, if anyone has any info from the two questions I have it would be great to hear. Thanks, Tim. [email protected]
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One more part about the above with the fire. The fire inspector believes the chemicals/adhesive and possible primer had a chemical reaction. Once fire was put out you could tell the fire started right smack in the middle of the stack of three windows buring from the bottom with intense heat. Some gas's are heavier than are so ??
Certainly linseed oil can cause spontaneous combustion, and probably combinations of other chemicals can as well.One question would be whether these windows were exposed to sunlight -- sun through the glass could in strange cases focus to a point and cause a fire.
Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce
nope, no sunlight, no linseed oil or any rags. Fresh air from the basement door, possible static from the plastic wrap.
They very well may have used linseed oil in the finish, or in the glazing compound. Being wrapped up and stacked would allow heat to build up, then unstacking produces a rush of oxygen and "poof".
Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce