When it comes to water management and window + door installation, install issues are the leading cause of callbacks, leaks + water damage. Below, TLS Laboratories president, Gene Summy, talks about finding the sources of water intrusion. Learn more by watching the video.
When contractors field call backs due to water management issues, most worry about potential product defects. However, installation issues should be the main concern— forensic analysis finds that improper installation practices are the leading cause of leaks. According to water intrusion expert Gene Summy, contractors can avoid “80-90% of litigation out there” by using the correct installation methods.
Here are some of the most common installation errors that lead to call-backs:
- Improper Application of WRB. Properly shingled housewrap is key to keeping the water out, WRBs are often installed with reverse laps. Instead of forming a continuous plane down the wall, reverse laps create a gap that allows water to flow under the WRB and onto the wall. To avoid this outcome, make sure that you always install WRBs from the bottom first, with each successive course lapping on top of the lower course.
- Not Using Sealants. Window installation best practices specify the use of a sealant with self-adhesive flashings, but installers still experience failures when they don’t heed this advice. Sealant can fill small voids in OSB and other substrates, and improve the flashing’s bond to the surface, both of which will greatly reduce the risk of leaks.
- Mixing and Matching Products. Adhesives and sealants from different manufacturers can have different chemical properties that are incompatible for use together. Sometimes this incompatibility can cause chemical reactions that lead to catastrophic product failure. If you mix and match products from different manufacturers, it’s imperative to test their compatibility before installation.
- Not Following Manufacturer Guidelines. Many self-adhesive products have installation temperature guidelines, and for good reason. Poor adhesion results from installing flashing in temperatures both below and above the guidelines. The lesson? Read and follow the manufacturer’s installation temperature guidelines.
It pays to do some research to validate the products and processes you use in your installations to maximize success and minimize the risk of expensive callbacks. Click on the images below to download PDF’s from Henry and ZIPsystem, two of the many resources available online to provide installation and product guidance.
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“The factory-trained window technicians at Hancock Lumber know the product better than we do. Instead of us spending our labor time trying to go through all the openings in the home, we bring in the techs and let them do the work. Then, we focus our efforts on either the finish carpentry or punching out the home. The last thing you want is a call back from the customer for something that could easily have been fixed during the construction stage.”
—Glenn Seitz, Bowley Builders