Sealing windows with vinyl siding

bighoneydolist · 03-08-2009, 10:29 AM

I'm an insulation contractor and I have issues I wonder if anyone knows a practical solution to. One issue involves sealing windows on homes with vinyl siding. My belief is that window sealing or caulking, if it was done initially at all, is seldom permanent. When windows are covered with vinyl cladding you can't tell the condition of the window sealing. Also, vinyl siding comes to the edge of the window frame making it difficult/impossible to evaluate the sealing condition of the window. Also, I don't feel that siding or cladding offer much, if any, of an air infiltration barrier. I'm afraid the only answer may be to remove the cladding and siding which is a huge job and difficult to accomplish without damaging the siding. I've tried prying away the siding a little, but, the window frame goes too far behind the siding to be visible and, again, I'm afraid I'll damage the siding. On the chance that someone may know another solution, I'm asking for help. Thanks for your reply. Bill

Bob Mariani · 03-08-2009, 11:44 AM

No retrofit solution that I know of. The windows should have been installed correctly and should have no issues. Caulking is not always the major part of the proper installation. Caulking is at best used for air penetration. Flashing, pan sills and installation that allows any water penetration the ability to dry is how the window needs to be installed. Vinyl siding is easy to remove and install again without damage to the siding. Not sure what your issue is with removing all the siding around the windows to verify they are installed correctly.

bighoneydolist · 03-08-2009, 12:07 PM

Thanks for the post. Actually, the home I am dealing with has some air leakage at the windows which are new and appear to be good quality. We thought one possibility may be that the windows were not sealed, just house wrap used during installation-the builder thought that sufficient. We can see that windows on homes next door by the same builder with brick facing have not been caulked. When the homeowner approached the builder that the windows haven't been caulked they sealed the windows on the inside. Still seems to be air infiltration, however. Thanks for the assurance that removing and replacing vinyl siding is not a major issue, I'm going to try that. I didn't see another retrofit option either. Thanks, again!

Bob Mariani · 03-08-2009, 02:20 PM

You should get a siding tool to install the siding, used to pull the locking lip into place. It is the only more difficult part of the job.

Also pull the trim on the inside of the windows and check that sufficient insulation is installed. Air leaks would be coming through this space.

DangerMouse · 03-08-2009, 04:24 PM

isn't that tool for REMOVING siding? i've never seen a need for a tool like that either way, just pull the nails and take it down. put it back up and renail it (correctly)

DM

Bob Mariani · 03-08-2009, 04:30 PM

it is for putting it back as a retrofit. With new installations each piece is placed over the top lip and snapped into place. When pulling siding off in the middle of a wall, like this poster, then you have no way to snap the last piece in place without this tool. Well this makes it very easy anyway. The only way you never had a use for it, is you never used it. try it you will like it.

DangerMouse · 03-08-2009, 04:35 PM

gotcha

DM

Tom Struble · 03-08-2009, 05:34 PM

thats the tool you need,also when i pull down sidig on each side of the windows when i put it back up i put the nails back in the origional nail holes to make shure the siding lines up the way it did before,i put extra nails in the panels as i put them back

Bob Mariani · 03-08-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomstruble

thats the tool you need,also when i pull down sidig on each side of the windows when i put it back up i put the nails back in the origional nail holes to make shure the siding lines up the way it did before,i put extra nails in the panels as i put them back

Yeah I was going to edit that. But if someone buys one and struggles for a few minutes, it suddenly dawns on them and they reach in the pouch pull it out and whah lah!
Damn,....