Hi,

I just finished intalling a new constructon vinyl window (Anderson American Craftsman), replacing an old wood window that was rotted.  This was on the back of a garage and was my practice window before installing other windows in the house.  It came out great exept for one ot two things that I have  aquestions about. 

Before installing I used 3M flashing tape for the sill pan and for the rest of the window flashing. I checked the opening for square and plumb  and aded shims to the bottom of the openeing so that the window was not sitting directly on the sill (per mfr. instructions).  I  test installed to make sure I had enough room to make any adjustments to the window. I got lucky in that the window was perfectly level and plumb withouty any adjustments needed.   I ran a bead of caulk around the nailing fins and installed the window, completing the flashing all around with the 3M flashing tape.  Then trimed out the window with 1X4.

Was the caulking necessary? I ask because to get the flexible vinyl fins to stay flat against the sheathng and compress the caulk I ended up ussing every nailing hole.  Is that a problem itself?

The caulk also contributed to a problem when I trimmed out the window with the 1×4.  Becase of the thickness of the nailing fins and caulk, when I nailed up the trim it did not sit flat.  One edge of the trim sat higher than the other.  This caused the sides and top and bottom trim to not meet flush.   How do you adjust for that?  Should I add a thin piece of stock next to the nailing fin to povide a flat surface for the full widt of the trim?  

The other windows I install will not be Anderson American Standard.  They will be a higher grade Anderson, Marvin or  ???.

Thanks for any advice or dope slaps,

George