How To Install Vinyl Windows Without Nailing Fin
Vinyl window with a flange There are correct ways and wrong ways to do this. There are ways to do it that are considered “best practice” and installations that are “less than ideal.” These poor practices are a little bit more like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear as they say. In homes where the siding runs right up to the window frame—as in older metal frame windows that have no wood trim around them—the siding must be cut back to allow for proper removal of the old window as well as to properly flash and attach the new window in the old opening. What I am seeing over and over is where the glass is removed from the metal frames and then the frames are collapsed so that the nail flanges can be withdrawn from behind the siding. This accomplishes the desired goal of removing the window but also results in less desirable consequences. The window wrap flashings and/or house-wrap will be trashed by the extraction process and gaps will be created in those protective materials that will be vulnerable to water intrusion after the new window is installed. How can proper repairs be made to this damage without taking the siding off?
Retrofitting a replacement window into an existing jamb requires basic tools and a little advanced knowledge. Using vinyl-clad windows without nailing flanges (finless windows) helps reduce the.
Once the old window is removed, the trick is to get the new window flanges back in behind the siding. This is where the magic comes in, because it essentially cannot be done. The window installer simply scores the plastic nail-flange on the new window with a utility knife and snaps the flange off. Even more magical is that there are actually vinyl windows that can be purchased that have no flange to begin with. If you can buy windows without a flange that tells me there must be some magical way of sealing around them so that they do not leak. Then again perhaps not.
Without a flange the new window can then be installed up against the interior trim. Screws are then installed through the jambs of the window to hold the window in place. The gap between the window and the original siding is then caulked; the installer collects his check and is off to screw and glue the next unwary client.
How To Install Vinyl Windows Without Nailing Fin Cover
If you have ever visited the installation instructions of a window with a flange, you will see that it is actually quite a complicated process to install the window properly. The window opening itself has to be sealed and wrapped with flashings. These flashings, on all four sides of the window, are installed such that every layer overlaps the layer below it—including the house wrap.
A bead of caulk then gets installed all around the window and the window is set in the caulk and the flange is nailed. After this another layer of flashings is installed—each layer lapping the layer below and the top layer goes under the building wrap across the top of the window. The bottom flashing materials that runs behind the bottom nail flange is made to likewise lap over the top of the building paper/house wrap. The gist of all of this, as you have probably gathered by now, is the idea that all layers of materials lap over the layers below it—all of which is finally lapped by the siding which, depending on the type, also laps each other. In this way any water that finds its way into the wall structure can follow the surface of the house-wrap all the way to the bottom without getting into the wall structure. At least this is the theory. The resistance to water penetration with such an installation is great—even related to moisture vapor moving through into the home around the window as a result of negative pressure within the home.
So now we go and buy a window without a flange and install it in a manner that seemingly violates all of these protocols and then cross our fingers and hope for the best. This might not be such a big deal in a house where the window is merely being fitted into an existing frame that is theoretically all flashed properly behind the wood window installation, but it is certainly less than ideal. When the installation is done where the entire old window is removed and the new window is merely inserted and caulked, we are certainly asking for trouble down the road.
If the caulk is relied upon to keep water out, and the integrity of the house wrap and the flashings of the opening is questionable, all bets are off on keeping water out of the house structure long term. This method of installation is far from “best practice.” Proper installations typically requires either cutting the siding back so that the window can be installed with proper flashings and the nail-flanges intact, or the siding must be removed and then re-installed. Obviously this ups the cost of the installation of your new windows. Sometimes proper installation requires adjustments of the interior trim as well—thus further increasing the costs of the installation of your new windows. In light of these considerations it is not hard to understand why some installers would take shortcuts—-why some homeowners would take shortcuts. Add to this that if the windows are being sold as part of improving “energy efficiency” it may be necessary for the short cuts to be taken in order to meet the window seller’s claims of eventual “payback.” Hopefully everyone knows by now that new windows will never pay for themselves in energy savings. You change them out for comfort, sound control, because the original ones are no longer functional and energy efficiency in the sense that you will safe energy, not because they ever stand a chance of paying for themselves.
In doing research for this post I found it interesting that in some cases the window manufacturers seem to care less whether there is a flange or not and leave the weather-tightness to the installer. While this seems contradictory to the lengthy “how-to-install” instructions that comes with the windows, one has to think about how many more sales of windows come into play when they don’t care how they are installed and hang the problems that develop with improper installation on the installer. Of course logically it should be the responsibility of the installer—but I do think they are getting mixed messages. Without proper flashings and nail flanges, we are relying on caulk alone to keep water out of the wall structure. Even the best caulks don’t last as long as will be necessary to adequately protect the home. Differing rates of expansion and contraction between the window and the siding materials will typically result in cracking of the caulk over time.
Cracks in the caulk mean that water will have a pathway into the home. It also means that moisture will have a pathway to be drawn into the home when the home is under negative pressure. That means moisture laden air will be drawn into the wall structure regardless of whether it is actual water or not—merely humid air can thus represent a problem. Both scenarios are not good for the long term health of the home especially in really hot humid climates or really cold humid climates. At one season or another, this is true of most homes in the US.
In this picture we can see paint failure and unevenness of the siding of the recently replaced window. Elevated moisture was noted by moisture meter behind the siding in these areas of obvious damage.
The flange was not present and the jambs had been screwed in place. Typical screw in the jamb of a vinyl window where the flange has been removed If you can slip a knife into a crack between the siding/trim and the new window and you don’t hit the flange of the window within a 1-1/2”—this would be a good clue as well. As in this three year old window in the next picture—where the caulk has already failed—the 3” knife at full depth along the side of the window should have hit the plastic flange before the knife got this far in. This is clearly a window without a flashing and yet may be an approved installation according to the manufacturer of the window. Is it “best practice?” Certainly not in my opinion.
Things that are cost effective in the short run are often not cost effective in the long run. New wood trim around the windows is a pretty good clue that the flanges are in place but even this is no guarantee. Trim installed on top of the siding is another clue that the flange might not be there. This is not always true either however, because it is a common to find trim installed over the siding even when the windows are properly installed (I can argue that this is also less than ideal but that is a topic for another post). Installation of windows without flanges has created enough window installation failure issues that some jurisdictions now require permits to install replacement windows and the windows have to be installed with proper flashing details. Verification that the windows have been properly flashed and that the nail flanges are still in place is a good idea. Windows installed without a flange are almost always, to some degree, going to be a gamble and vigilant maintenance of caulk seals will be essential.
By Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle If you enjoyed this post, and would like to get notices of new posts to my blog, please subscribe via email in the little box to the right. I promise NO spamming of your email.
30,000 years ago Neaderthals built multilevel homes having discovered the infallibility of the overlap concept. (Probably from scaling fish:) I suppose they used a little good clay mud once in a while to seal something but no more than they had to.
Today reportedly larger human brains are too often turned off & listening to caulking being marketed. Subsequently an incredible percentage of exterior workmanship is not overlapping things & instead uses a product, caulking, which has a short life & which is as likely to trap water in as keep it out. The Neaderthals are snickering & you & I have job security! Charles Buell – Licensed Home Inspector #220 & Licensed Structural Pest Inspector #67488 My blog is intended to provide information related to home inspections in Seattle, surrounding communities and anyone else interested. Sometimes I will provide information that has nothing to do with home inspections. Disclaimer: All due care is taken to provide true and accurate information in my blog. However always call and check with a professional before acting on anything you read in this Blog as changes are always happening with Codes, Standards and Regulations and requirements can vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
This information is for general knowledge and even entertainment and should not necessarily be relied on. Thank you Charlie! I am amazed at the thorough and high quality work that you do. It's a bargain for what you charge. I'll be using your services again when I find a house that will work for me.
The other home inspection reports that I've seen are no comparison to your work. They had one-tenth of the information that your report supplied me for the home I was thinking about purchasing. The other reports pointed out problems, but said little more than 'you should have a professional evaluate this.' Isn't that why you hire an inspector? I got a professional the first time around with your inspection! Thank you Charlie! I am amazed at the thorough and high quality work that you do.
It's a bargain for what you charge. I'll be using your services again when I find a house that will work for me. The other home inspection reports that I've seen are no comparison to your work. They had one-tenth of the information that your report supplied me for the home I was thinking about purchasing. The other reports pointed out problems, but said little more than 'you should have a professional evaluate this.' Isn't that why you hire an inspector?
I got a professional the first time around with your inspection! Charlie, I would like to once again thank you very much for your outstanding work on the inspection of the xxxxx Street house on our behalf.
Our expectations of the inspection you performed were exceeded. The detail and quality of your report will be used by us as a goal for other inspectors we have the chance to do business with in the future.
I can not imagine that there was a single thing you didn't cover! We will use your report as guidelines on what we need to do immediately to the house, over the course of the next 6 months as well as ongoing maintenance. Your added background information and photos not only illustrated the issue but educated us as to the correction. Your willingness to share your impressions and knowledge via phone was greatly appreciated. We both feel this was the best money we could have spent!
Please feel free to use my name and have any potential customers contact me for a reference. I am more than happy to tell them what a professional, knowledgeable, thorough inspector your are!
Thank you for your outstanding work! Zan Murzello. Charlie, I would like to once again thank you very much for your outstanding work on the inspection of the xxxxx Street house on our behalf. Our expectations of the inspection you performed were exceeded. The detail and quality of your report will be used by us as a goal for other inspectors we have the chance to do business with in the future.
I can not imagine that there was a single thing you didn't cover! We will use your report as guidelines on what we need to do immediately to the house, over the course of the next 6 months as well as ongoing maintenance. Your added background information and photos not only illustrated the issue but educated us as to the correction. Your willingness to share your impressions and knowledge via phone was greatly appreciated. We both feel this was the best money we could have spent! Please feel free to use my name and have any potential customers contact me for a reference.
I am more than happy to tell them what a professional, knowledgeable, thorough inspector your are! Thank you for your outstanding work! Zan Murzello. How does Charlie, a Seattle inspector, support a home buyer all the way in Pennsylvania? Because of Charlie’s blog, a Pennsylvania home buyer located Charlie online.
Charlie reviewed five sample reports from Pennsylvania that were provided by the buyer. Charlie provided his thoughts on the reports and suggested which report was the best. Charlie’s reports are amazing. Does your candidate home inspector use a thermal camera? Charlie is a phenomenal inspector. Selecting a home inspector in Seattle is a no brainer.
How does Charlie, a Seattle inspector, support a home buyer all the way in Pennsylvania? Because of Charlie’s blog, a Pennsylvania home buyer located Charlie online. Charlie reviewed five sample reports from Pennsylvania that were provided by the buyer. Charlie provided his thoughts on the reports and suggested which report was the best.
Charlie’s reports are amazing. Does your candidate home inspector use a thermal camera? Charlie is a phenomenal inspector. Selecting a home inspector in Seattle is a no brainer.
After finding a house that we loved, we had to finalize the details for the sale. For the inspection process we chose Charles Buell Inspections since our friends spoke highly of him. Dealing with the stress of making the biggest purchase of our lives, Charles' calm demeanor and thorough examination of the house and lot put our minds at ease. We felt confident that all of the negative and positive aspects of the home were brought to our attention on sight.
Twenty-four hours later we received a detailed 84 page summary of his findings which included pictures to clarify the issues being discussed. We were impressed! In fact this inspection report has been almost like a homeowner's manual, which we've used while updating our home. We have now used Charles for both our home and business inspections, and would definitely use him again in the future! Glenn Soja & Leah Mitchell. After finding a house that we loved, we had to finalize the details for the sale.
For the inspection process we chose Charles Buell Inspections since our friends spoke highly of him. Dealing with the stress of making the biggest purchase of our lives, Charles' calm demeanor and thorough examination of the house and lot put our minds at ease. We felt confident that all of the negative and positive aspects of the home were brought to our attention on sight. Twenty-four hours later we received a detailed 84 page summary of his findings which included pictures to clarify the issues being discussed. We were impressed! In fact this inspection report has been almost like a homeowner's manual, which we've used while updating our home.
We have now used Charles for both our home and business inspections, and would definitely use him again in the future! Glenn Soja & Leah Mitchell. Hi Charlie, I hope you are doing well! We closed on the house yesterday and have the keys. Now it's time to embark on the remodeling to make the lower level a proper ADU.
D B Keele. We value your opinion, and wanted to know if you can refer us to any good contractors for our remodel? Thank you for all the work you did for us on this purchase and for educating us well. Your high standards and appreciation for quality helped us feel more confident about what we got ourselves into. Regards, Duyen. Thanks for the referrals, Charlie! You are welcome to add my comments to your website, and I will gladly be a reference if anyone ever asks! It was pleasure working with you—almost makes me want to buy another house just to have you come inspect it for us.:-) Duyen.
Hi Charlie, I hope you are doing well! We closed on the house yesterday and have the keys.
Now it's time to embark on the remodeling to make the lower level a proper ADU. We value your opinion, and wanted to know if you can refer us to any good contractors for our remodel?
Thank you for all the work you did for us on this purchase and for educating us well. Your high standards and appreciation for quality helped us feel more confident about what we got ourselves into. Regards, Duyen. Thanks for the referrals, Charlie! You are welcome to add my comments to your website, and I will gladly be a reference if anyone ever asks! It was pleasure working with you—almost makes me want to buy another house just to have you come inspect it for us.:-) Duyen.
Nailing fins are flanges on the outside of vinyl and aluminum windows that sit flush agains the sheathing when the window is in place. They provide a convenient way to attach the window, but wood windows, as well as some aluminum and vinyl ones, don't have these fins. When the fins are absent, you have to drive fasteners through the window frame and into the building framing. It isn't difficult to get good results, provided that you prepare the window rough opening, making sure it's the right size, and level the window before you attach it.