Looking for some insight into a current issue we've found related to our siding....
We moved into this house about 5 months ago and within the last couple of months found that water had leaked through one of the windows in our family room. (Side note: this was not a new leak - previous owners didn't disclose and inspector didn't notice it).
We had someone out today to look into the origin of the leak. Originally, we thought it was the window that had been improperly installed. The house is 20 years old, but the previous owners got new windows 4 years ago. While the windows were installed without proper J-channels in some area, which is part of the issue, we found a bigger issue.
We have aluminum siding which is original (20 yrs old). We also have large boards of trim midway up the siding around the perimeter of the house - I think people call them "Belly Boards." Apparently, the drip edge that the builders put in 20 years ago is essentially useless - it doesn't adhere to the Tyvek/behind the siding/wall of the house. It simply slides on over the top of the belly boards, thereby allowing water to go behind the wooden belly boards.
The contractor saw that the wooden belly boards are soft and water logged in this area. Unfortunately, we just had all of the wooden trim on the outside of the house re-painted when we moved in b/c it was rotting. Well no wonder it was rotting - water is getting behind the wood! That information also explains why the caulking the painters did around the belly boards is already cracking in many areas - the moisture is ruining it!
So we are faced with a couple of options and are stuck on what to do....
1. Do nothing. Have the contractor replace the drip edge on this one section, put the strip of siding back, and hope that water doesn't enter into the house in other areas, even though the windows don't all have proper J-channels all the way around them. With this option, we also know the wood belly boards will be deteriorating pretty quickly.
2. Have the contractor take the useless drip edge off above the belly boards around the perimeter of the house, replace it with an effective one, and leave the aluminum siding alone.
3. Have the aluminum siding replaced with vinyl, as well as eliminate the belly boards - just take them off completely. This option is obviously pricey and we had been hoping to wait another 1-3 years before having to do siding replacement.
We had originally tried to caulk areas of the siding/around the belly boards/windows, but apparently, it didn't solve the problem. After doing water tests and having the interior dry wall taken down on that wall, we've now located the issue. A bigger issue than we had imagined and we're torn on how to proceed!
Thanks in advance for any insight or thoughts....and sorry this is so long! :huh:
We moved into this house about 5 months ago and within the last couple of months found that water had leaked through one of the windows in our family room. (Side note: this was not a new leak - previous owners didn't disclose and inspector didn't notice it).
We had someone out today to look into the origin of the leak. Originally, we thought it was the window that had been improperly installed. The house is 20 years old, but the previous owners got new windows 4 years ago. While the windows were installed without proper J-channels in some area, which is part of the issue, we found a bigger issue.
We have aluminum siding which is original (20 yrs old). We also have large boards of trim midway up the siding around the perimeter of the house - I think people call them "Belly Boards." Apparently, the drip edge that the builders put in 20 years ago is essentially useless - it doesn't adhere to the Tyvek/behind the siding/wall of the house. It simply slides on over the top of the belly boards, thereby allowing water to go behind the wooden belly boards.
The contractor saw that the wooden belly boards are soft and water logged in this area. Unfortunately, we just had all of the wooden trim on the outside of the house re-painted when we moved in b/c it was rotting. Well no wonder it was rotting - water is getting behind the wood! That information also explains why the caulking the painters did around the belly boards is already cracking in many areas - the moisture is ruining it!
So we are faced with a couple of options and are stuck on what to do....
1. Do nothing. Have the contractor replace the drip edge on this one section, put the strip of siding back, and hope that water doesn't enter into the house in other areas, even though the windows don't all have proper J-channels all the way around them. With this option, we also know the wood belly boards will be deteriorating pretty quickly.
2. Have the contractor take the useless drip edge off above the belly boards around the perimeter of the house, replace it with an effective one, and leave the aluminum siding alone.
3. Have the aluminum siding replaced with vinyl, as well as eliminate the belly boards - just take them off completely. This option is obviously pricey and we had been hoping to wait another 1-3 years before having to do siding replacement.
We had originally tried to caulk areas of the siding/around the belly boards/windows, but apparently, it didn't solve the problem. After doing water tests and having the interior dry wall taken down on that wall, we've now located the issue. A bigger issue than we had imagined and we're torn on how to proceed!
Thanks in advance for any insight or thoughts....and sorry this is so long! :huh: