Window Wrap 1

Being a designer by nature has disadvantages. One being it's the primary or eventual topic of nearly every conversation I engage in. As a result, here I sit on x-mass morning with the great company of friends and family, having the morning dedicated to nothing in particular, and I decide to do a blog posting!

This is of a window wrap I recently did. There are as many ways to try to water proof a window as there are manufactures of windows. Water damage is a huge concern making up the bulk of architectural law suits. Poor drainage, rotting walls, mold, wet insulation and eventually stain and mildew on the inside surface of the drywall and pealing paint on the outside can cause the home owner and the builder grief if not properly handled at the time of construction.

Code's have been adopted relating directly to this issue. You're now required to tape all openings (framing to moisture barrier) prior to window installation. This helps, but all the tape and tar paper in the world won't guarantee a water proof window or dry sheathing. This comes from proper detailing based on construction types and materials and skilled assembly by someone capable of being a drip -- of water!

One must be able to trace, in their mind, the drip of water down the siding, to the top of the window, around the corners, down the sides to the sill and hopefully back over the siding or primary moisture barrier.

Top- the top of the window needs no flashing as it's tucked up under a 2x piece of trim. It's also under a 52" eve/overhang so is protected from direct water even on the lee-ward side.

Right-Joe of dbBrad pulls the 30# (I don't believe 15# felt is of value. It's thinner, wears out more quickly and seems to be less saturated with resin and is about 80% the cost-not much savings for far less protection) paper taut and staples it into the opening, trimming remainder. I like to do this after the paper has been up, wrinkled, stretched, shrunk, etc. If the tar paper is at all pooched, it can hold off the window, siding and trim.

In this case, I chose to shingle the wall prior to window installation as Milgard needed 6 weeks to get me an aluminum window but progress on the wall needed to happen.

For remainder of water proofing details, see Window Wrap 2.