Lack of Window Flashings

[MikeD]

I'd thought I'd let you know that all homes I looked at being built by spec and custom builders lacked window flashings around here in St.Louis county. I'll have to admit that I only looked at few homes relatively to number of homes under construction.
Anyway, why do they do that?!? Doesn't it only cost a few $ more? I suppose it's the builder/GC's fault not the framers, right? I hope that I can find framers who knows how to install flashings or more importantly, expects to install flashings around windows.
Do most of you (if not all) install window flashing? Just had to ask. :)

[grumpydasmurf]

I charge a minimum of $50 per window to cap it, and I am willing to bet that there are 20+ windows on each house and they build 100 houses at a time. You do the math.

That's ok though. It keep the handymen busy in 5 years replacing all the brick molding.

[MikeD]

Ouch! I'll have +35 windows! I'm not sure what brick moldings are? Can you explain what they are and why they fail? Is it because of the nature of brick (porous, absorbs water, freeze cycle causing adhesive bond to fail)?
I just want to follow good building practice to minimize potential mold problem. Thanks.

[jjcold]

Brick mouldings are the exterior wood mouldings around the window frame. Think of the wood moulding that surrounds your exterior doors, even though your house may or may not have brick siding, they are called brick mouldings.

[Zatol]

Setting and flashing of the windows is done by my framer at no additional cost... I pay my framer $3 per sq.ft. .... The lack of flashing should have been caught by the inspector. It is a code requirement.

[roger g]

Flashing? Sheetmetal around a window? I'm having a hard time figuringout what you guys are talking about. I've seen apiece of sheet metal over a window ( a siding house not a brick house) used as a drip edge and recently on stucco houses I'm starting to see one at the bottom of windows. Years ago all windows had window SILLS which extended out and solved the bottom problem.

roger

[JCA]

There is a lot of info available today about flashing windows and it seems to be very important. Liability is much higher these days because of rotting and mold from poorly built homes.

[Sweep]

WR Grace's VYCORners work well for window sill flashing.

http://www.na.graceconstruction.com/template.cfm?page=/flashings/photo_vycorners.html

If you are using windows with nailing flanges, it is a good idea to place Ice & Water Shield over the flanges at the jambs and head especially if the flange is not integral with the frame cladding (bad detail but available on certain aluminum windows).

Regarding a nailing flange on a window without a projecting sill, if you place flat trim under the sill, do not rely on the sealant at its top to stop water penetration ... be sure to flash from under the nailing flange out under the trim or first row of siding below the trim. I have seen this cause problems repeatedly and the window manufacturer always blames the installer although they offer no solution in their installation guide. It is much better to install a projecting sloped trim that immitates a true sill with a drip.