How To Install Window Flashing Tape
Given the fact that windows create large holes in a house'south exterior, I'thousand ever shocked to see how many builders in our surface area don't install them correctly. In the nine 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. Not only does improper installation affect the durability and warranty of the windows, only it also exposes the wall cavity to moisture issues.
Like any builders, my crew and I want to employ efficient practices that won't negatively touch on the quality of our piece of work. For us, that means using a pragmatic approach to installing windows with worst-case scenarios and long-term durability in mind.
H2o Gets Behind All Siding, And so Window Flashing Is The Next Line Of Defence force
Based on conversations with subcontractors and local building officials, we've ended that the reasons windows aren't installed correctly often stalk 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 way between it and the housewrap.
When moisture ends up on a layer as slick every bit housewrap, information technology does a logical matter: It slides down the wall. Once that moisture reaches the window, it easily finds its way into the rough opening through even the tiniest holes. Moisture that leaks into a wall cavity causes mold to grow. Mold is bad, for materials and for humans. That'south why we do everything nosotros tin can to keep h2o moving out and away from the window by integrating it with the housewrap.
Read The Window Manufacturer's Installation Guidelines
About window manufacturers recognize the disastrous result improper installation of their products can have on a abode, including significant energy loss. That's why they provide detailed installation instructions for their products. Following these instructions helps to keep the wall cavity dry and fulfills the window manufacturer's warranty.
Although the photos show my crew installing metal-clad windows with integral flanges, the steps outlined here offering a expect at fundamental elements found in most manufacturers' installation guidelines. They address forming the waterproof sill pan, shimming the window so that it works properly, and flashing the flanges to shed water. These steps will receive LEED points besides.
We figure that our sillpan and flashing approach adds about 10 minutes to the installation time for each window and an average of $15 in materials for each double-hung unit. That's relatively cheap insurance for such a large investment.
What To Practice When Guidelines Conflict
These days, every housewrap, flashing-tape, and window manufacturer has a specific set of installation guidelines that must be followed to uphold each respective production's warranty. And then what do you do when they contradict one another?
Nosotros follow contributing editor Mike Guertin's advice and employ the most-restrictive protocol. For instance, when the window manufacturer shows no flashing details, we follow the record or housewrap instructions. When one set of instructions calls for a unproblematic flat sill pan and another calls for a sloped pan, create a sloped pan. It's unlikely someone will claim yous didn't follow the instructions by doing more is called for.
When in incertitude, though, follow the window manufacturer's instructions. The International Residential Lawmaking (R613.1) requires windows to be "installed and flashed co-ordinate to manufacturers' instructions." If there's ever a trouble, you've done what was required past the building code.
Prepare The Rough Opening With Housewrap And Pan Flashing
Almost builders make an X-cutting in the housewrap and staple the resulting tabs into the opening prior to installing the window. Merely folding the top tab into the opening gives water a style in backside the window's meridian flange. Instead, cut a top tab that covers the window's meridian flange after the window is installed. Then add pan flashing to collect and bleed any water that does get in.
Nosotros brand our pan flashing on site with askew siding and self-agglutinative flashing tape using Typar's 9-in. broad Flashing Flex to flash two×vi walls considering it allows us to grade a seamless pan that contours to the sill. Other brands and widths are also available.
The Top Tab Folds Upward, Not In
| First, cutting across the header, then down the center. | Make a horizontal cut and two angled cuts to the sill. |
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| Staple the tabs downwardly, then cut the pinnacle tab. | Fold up the top tab, and tape it out of the way. |
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Site-Fabricated Pan Flashing
Askew siding creates a sloped sill. After wrapping the opening, we nail a piece of siding along the rough sill with 13⁄four-in. covering nails. Exist sure to add the thickness of the siding to the window'southward top when framing the rough opening. Self-agglutinative flashing tape goes on next. In common cold weather, nosotros utilize spray adhesive (as well chosen "primer") to meliorate the tape'southward adhesion. The Flashing Flex tape we're using here calls for 3M's Super 77 adhesive. We run flashing tape tight to the within of the opening and 10 in. upwards each trimmer stud, then fold the residue over the housewrap. We sometimes staple the corners of the tape to prevent them from moving.
Ready-Made Pan Flashing
For united states of america, making sill pans on site is efficient and cost effective. But at that place are manufactured pan-flashing systems available, such as Dow's Weathermate Sill Pan, shown here ( www.dow.com ; $5). This can be an economical option if you lot don't have a lot of windows to install. They come in various sizes to fit the opening's width.
Caulk, Shim, And Nail The Window In Place
With the rough opening set, it'due south time to install the window. Most manufacturers require the side and top flanges to be caulked to the perimeter of the rough opening. They illustrate calculation the caulk to the flange, only we similar to add it to the edifice instead then that it doesn't get all over our hands as we put the window in. Regardless, make sure there's a good seal around the flange. Go the window fully nailed off before the caulk dries.
Lap The Record Shingle Manner
Cocky-adhesive flashing tapes generally intermission down into two types: asphalt and butyl-based. Asphalt-based record can impairment certain types of vinyl, and then check the window's specs before using it. Butyl tape is easier to work with. It doesn't have an aggressive initial tack, but its adhesiveness increases over time. When possible, we apply tapes made by the manufacturer of the housewrap we're using because the products are designed to work together.
| Extra protection for the head 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 tin can be made with flashing record and aluminum gyre stock. | The sides run long. Run flashing record four in. to five in. past the top and bottom flanges. Make sure the tops of the side pieces stay at to the lowest degree i in. brusque of the top of the head piece so that the head piece volition have a good, continuous bond with the sheathing. For windows with integral flanges, like the ones we're installing here, butt the tape tight to the jamb. |
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Tape the top. Gyre tape over the summit flange, letting it run by the side pieces past 2 in. to 3 in. In one case the top slice is in identify, fold downward the housewrap tab. Tape along the lesser of the flap and at the corners with housewrap tape. Go out the bottom flange record-gratis. The window is now fix for casing and siding.
Mechanical Flanges Require Actress Attention
Non all flanged windows are made the same. The windows shown in this article have an integral nailing flange, which means that the flange is function of the window's outside cladding. Integral flanges are a expert design because there aren't seams or joints for water to sneak past. Hinged (photo, left)) and non-hinged (photo, right) mechanical flanges are also constitute on vinyl and metal-clad windows. Although these flange styles aren't junior to integral flanges, they have a few vulnerable areas that require extra attention during installation. Mechanical flanges are sometimes too phone 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 keep out water. Hinge-fashion flanges are shipped folded against the frame, which leaves the corners incomplete. Manufacturers supply metallic or plastic corner pieces to be practical and caulked once the window is hung. Non-hinged-mode flanges overlap to form the flange corner. One do good of mechanical flanges is that if they become damaged during installation, they are easy to replace. Y'all install them by tapping a woods block along the inside tab. The downside is that they can become disengaged afterward installation for a variety of reasons (for instance, the siding installer pushes or bumps the jamb, or someone steps on the sill earlier information technology's shimmed in place).
To reduce the chance of window leaks, I make sure that everyone who works around them is aware of damage areas. I likewise shim effectually the window jamb's perimeter every 6 in. and screw through the jamb and shims into the framing. Finally, (i.) I lap the flashing tape nigh one⁄four in. onto the side jambs and then over the flange and housewrap. At the window head, (ii.) I run the record over the jamb and down onto the window face by 1⁄8 in. to 1⁄4 in. I so install metal cap flashing over the caput-flashing record (3.) to conceal the record.
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More on Windows:
Drip Cap Design and Installation – The lowly drip cap needs to be taken more seriously to foreclose leaks and rot.
Flashing for Old Windows – How do you get a good weathertight seal on old windows that don't have a flange?
Leak-free Windows Series: Sill Pan Flashing Options –Pre-formed or site-built, pan flashing channels h2o out where it won't rot the sills nether windows or the floors under doors.
Watertight window flashing – Q: When installing new windows, I believe it is considered good do to allow the head flashing above the window trim to overhang a niggling bit on each side. This …
Window Flashing – A drove of manufactures on window flashing.
Window-Opening Preparation – Protecting the rough opening helps with air-sealing and water direction.
How To Install Window Flashing Tape,
Source: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/windows-doors/installing-and-flashing-windows-correctly
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