How To Install A Window With A Nailing Flange
Given the fact that windows create large holes in a firm's outside, I'one thousand ever shocked to see how many builders in our area don't install them correctly. In the 9 years that I've been building and renovating homes, I've seen windows that haven't been integrated with the housewrap, improperly flashed installations, and even windows with no flashing at all. Non simply does improper installation bear upon the durability and warranty of the windows, just it also exposes the wall cavity to moisture problems.
Similar any builders, my coiffure and I desire to use efficient practices that won't negatively affect the quality of our piece of work. For us, that means using a pragmatic arroyo to installing windows with worst-case scenarios and long-term durability in mind.
Water Gets Behind All Siding, So Window Flashing Is The Adjacent Line Of Defense
Based on conversations with subcontractors and local edifice officials, we've concluded that the reasons windows aren't installed correctly often stem from an unrealistic expectation nigh the effectiveness of siding in keeping moisture out of the wall cavity. What many window installers don't realize is that no matter how well siding is installed, wet finds its style between it and the housewrap.
When moisture ends up on a layer as slick as housewrap, it does a logical thing: It slides down the wall. One time that moisture reaches the window, information technology hands finds its way into the crude opening through even the tiniest holes. Moisture that leaks into a wall cavity causes mold to abound. Mold is bad, for materials and for humans. That's why nosotros do everything nosotros can to go on water moving out and away from the window by integrating it with the housewrap.
Read The Window Manufacturer'due south Installation Guidelines
Most window manufacturers recognize the disastrous upshot improper installation of their products can have on a home, including significant free energy loss. That's why they provide detailed installation instructions for their products. Following these instructions helps to keep the wall cavity dry out and fulfills the window manufacturer's warranty.
Although the photos evidence my crew installing metal-clad windows with integral flanges, the steps outlined here offer a look at cardinal elements found in well-nigh manufacturers' installation guidelines. They address forming the waterproof sill pan, shimming the window so that information technology works properly, and flashing the flanges to shed water. These steps will receive LEED points likewise.
We figure that our sillpan and flashing approach adds nearly 10 minutes to the installation time for each window and an average of $15 in materials for each double-hung unit. That's relatively inexpensive insurance for such a large investment.
What To Do When Guidelines Conflict
These days, every housewrap, flashing-record, and window manufacturer has a specific set of installation guidelines that must be followed to uphold each corresponding product's warranty. So what practice you lot exercise when they contradict one another?
We follow contributing editor Mike Guertin's advice and use the most-restrictive protocol. For example, when the window manufacturer shows no flashing details, we follow the tape or housewrap instructions. When one set of instructions calls for a elementary flat sill pan and another calls for a sloped pan, create a sloped pan. Information technology'south unlikely someone will merits you lot didn't follow the instructions past doing more than is called for.
When in dubiousness, though, follow the window manufacturer's instructions. The International Residential Code (R613.1) requires windows to be "installed and flashed according to manufacturers' instructions." If there's ever a problem, you've done what was required past the building code.
Fix The Rough Opening With Housewrap And Pan Flashing
Most builders make an Ten-cutting in the housewrap and staple the resulting tabs into the opening prior to installing the window. But folding the meridian tab into the opening gives water a manner in backside the window's top flange. Instead, cut a top tab that covers the window's meridian flange later on the window is installed. Then add pan flashing to collect and drain whatsoever h2o that does become in.
Nosotros make our pan flashing on site with askew siding and self-adhesive flashing tape using Typar'southward 9-in. wide Flashing Flex to flash ii×6 walls because information technology allows us to form a seamless pan that contours to the sill. Other brands and widths are also available.
The Summit Tab Folds Up, Non In
| First, cutting across the header, so downwardly the center. | Make a horizontal cut and two angled cuts to the sill. |
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| Staple the tabs downwardly, then cutting the top tab. | Fold up the top tab, and tape it out of the fashion. |
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Site-Fabricated Pan Flashing
Beveled siding creates a sloped sill. Afterwards wrapping the opening, we boom a piece of siding along the rough sill with 13⁄4-in. roofing nails. Be sure to add together the thickness of the siding to the window's height when framing the rough opening. Self-agglutinative flashing tape goes on adjacent. In cold weather, nosotros utilize spray adhesive (also called "primer") to better the record's adhesion. The Flashing Flex record we're using hither calls for 3M's Super 77 adhesive. We run flashing tape tight to the inside of the opening and ten in. upwards each trimmer stud, and so fold the rest over the housewrap. We sometimes staple the corners of the record to prevent them from moving.
Gear up-Made Pan Flashing
For united states, making sill pans on site is efficient and cost constructive. But in that location are manufactured pan-flashing systems available, such as Dow's Weathermate Sill Pan, shown here ( www.dow.com ; $5). This can exist an economical option if you don't have a lot of windows to install. They come in diverse sizes to fit the opening'southward width.
Caulk, Shim, And Smash The Window In Identify
With the crude opening set, information technology's time to install the window. Most manufacturers require the side and pinnacle flanges to be caulked to the perimeter of the crude opening. They illustrate adding the caulk to the flange, merely we like to add it to the building instead so that it doesn't become all over our hands equally nosotros put the window in. Regardless, brand sure there'southward a good seal around the flange. Become the window fully nailed off earlier the caulk dries.
Lap The Tape Shingle Style
Self-agglutinative flashing tapes more often than not break downward into two types: asphalt and butyl-based. Asphalt-based tape tin can impairment certain types of vinyl, so cheque the window's specs before using information technology. Butyl tape is easier to piece of work with. Information technology doesn't accept an aggressive initial tack, but its adhesiveness increases over fourth dimension. When possible, we use tapes made by the manufacturer of the housewrap we're using because the products are designed to piece of work together.
| Actress protection for the caput jamb. The head jamb is the most-vulnerable part of the window, which is why these windows come with a baste cap that adds a layer of protection. A similar cap can be made with flashing tape and aluminum coil stock. | The sides run long. Run flashing tape 4 in. to 5 in. past the top and bottom flanges. Brand sure the tops of the side pieces stay at least one in. short of the top of the head slice and then that the caput piece volition have a good, continuous bail with the sheathing. For windows with integral flanges, similar the ones we're installing here, butt the record tight to the jamb. |
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Tape the top. Roll tape over the summit flange, letting it run past the side pieces by 2 in. to iii in. Once the top piece is in identify, fold down the housewrap tab. Tape along the lesser of the flap and at the corners with housewrap tape. Exit the lesser flange tape-costless. The window is now ready for casing and siding.
Mechanical Flanges Require Extra Attention
Non all flanged windows are made the aforementioned. The windows shown in this commodity have an integral nailing flange, which means that the flange is part of the window's exterior cladding. Integral flanges are a good design because there aren't seams or joints for water to sneak past. Hinged (photo, left)) and non-hinged (photo, correct) mechanical flanges are also plant on vinyl and metal-clad windows. Although these flange styles aren't inferior to integral flanges, they accept a few vulnerable areas that require extra attention during installation. Mechanical flanges are sometimes also call applied flanges. — by Mike Guertin
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Mechanical flanges fit into grooves around the window jamb. They rely on a ribbed spline to stay engaged in the groove. The spline and a narrow gasket work together to proceed out h2o. Hinge-style flanges are shipped folded against the frame, which leaves the corners incomplete. Manufacturers supply metal or plastic corner pieces to be practical and caulked in one case the window is hung. Non-hinged-style flanges overlap to form the flange corner. One do good of mechanical flanges is that if they become damaged during installation, they are piece of cake to supplant. You install them by tapping a wood block along the inside tab. The downside is that they tin can become disengaged after installation for a variety of reasons (for example, the siding installer pushes or bumps the jamb, or someone steps on the sill before it's shimmed in place).
To reduce the chance of window leaks, I make sure that everyone who works around them is aware of impairment areas. I as well shim around the window jamb's perimeter every 6 in. and screw through the jamb and shims into the framing. Finally, (1.) I lap the flashing tape about 1⁄iv in. onto the side jambs and and so over the flange and housewrap. At the window head, (two.) I run the tape over the jamb and downwards onto the window face by one⁄8 in. to one⁄iv in. I so install metal cap flashing over the head-flashing tape (3.) to conceal the tape.
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More than on Windows:
Drip Cap Design and Installation – The lowly drip cap needs to be taken more seriously to prevent leaks and rot.
Flashing for Old Windows – How do y'all get a good weathertight seal on one-time windows that don't take a flange?
Leak-free Windows Series: Sill Pan Flashing Options –Pre-formed or site-built, pan flashing channels h2o out where information technology won't rot the sills under windows or the floors under doors.
Watertight window flashing – Q: When installing new windows, I believe it is considered skillful exercise to allow the head flashing above the window trim to overhang a trivial chip on each side. This …
Window Flashing – A collection of manufactures on window flashing.
Window-Opening Preparation – Protecting the rough opening helps with air-sealing and water management.
Source: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/windows-doors/installing-and-flashing-windows-correctly
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