My sister just had some big egress windows installed in her basement.
Took the little windows in the bedrooms and cut them out to 4’x4′ vinyl sliders.
They did a neat job. Used redwood to frame in the hole in the foundation wall, then screwed the windows to the frame.
When done, there is about 1/2″ of exposed wood on all four sides of the window outside. The vinyl flange, that is part of the window, is screwed to the wood with galvanized grabber screws which are exposed. Some kind of caulk was used around the windows to seal them.
But, shouldn’t there be some flashing at the top? Something to direct the water away from the window flange?
My sister asked me what I thought of them, but I really know little about proper flashing, I’ve done a bit of construction, but almost entirely interior work, where flashing isn’t a concern.
Also, should there be any treatment or concern about the exposed redwood? One window on the South side will get several hours a day of sun exposure.
Replies
Anyone????
Any chance of a picture? The picture I have in my mind, with exposed screws, doesn't sound like it was done properly.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Edited 6/2/2003 10:30:51 AM ET by ELCID72
Well, not sure about the digital picture. I don't have a digital camera, but I can borrow one sometimes. Just not sure when I'll get back down to her house. Probably sometime later this week. Haven't been there since I first posted this.
Here's a sketch.
Their is no outside flashing at all, just the one piece vinyl window screwed to the frame. She acidentally left a sprinkler going near one and got lots of leakage. Fortunatelly into unfinished space, but that won't be the case much longer. She wants them to fix it, but needs a better idea of what fix-it should entail.
Any help would be appreciated. I found lots of sites that make and sell vinyl windows, but could find no proper installation details. I need to call her. If I could find out the window manufacturer name maybe they have recommended installation directions. We could ask the installer to follow them, if he hasn't.
It cost her $2,300 to get the entire job done. Excavation, window wells, windows, ect.. She'd just like more confidence they won't leak then she now has.
Thanks for any help.
Billy
For some reason that pic didn't attach as a JPEG. Here it is with the correct extension:
View ImageSex discriminates against the shy and the ugly.
In a usual wood-frame application, the top flange would get screwed to the sheathing, and the house wrap and siding would go over the flange. The flange can often act as the flashing, but additional flashing between the window cladding and the siding couldn't hurt. It does look like you may need another layer of protection above these windows. What's above the redwood? If the sill/sheathing/siding of the wall above sticks out to provide an overhang and water drips clear of the window, you may be OK. If water can get on top of that flange, you may have a problem.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
The windows are entirely in the foundation of the basement. I believe the siding on the ground floor is at least an inch or 2 further out from the window. So, drips should miss the window flange. I guess the only problem then is wind driven rain, or sprinklers which hit the windows. They're reworking the sprinkler system a bit so this shouldn't be a problem in the future.
I guess I'd feel better if their was additional flashing above the windows, and caulk over the screw heads so they aren't exposed. The quy who did this did a good clean, well-fitting, neat job. Maybe he did it exactly right, but I like things overdone.
If I can, I'll get a picture.
Thanks
Billy
Thanks, when I did a save as I forgot to type in .jpg. Most programs automatically add this. I forget this particular one doesn't, and didn't notice when I attatched it.