Window Aluminum Question
#1
06-17-18, 06:41 PM
Window Aluminum Question
Hello everyone. I'm new here so I apologise if this is against the rules. The knowledge I've read has encouraged me to ask this question.
Recently I had vinyl siding installed. The J-channel was installed first, followed by the window aluminum. The aluminum extrudes out past the J-channel around the windows and door wall. Nothing is caulked. The contractor says it's not necessary.
He didn't install a drip cap or anything.. nor was anything preexisting after old siding was removed. When I look between the siding and the aluminum trim I can see the house insulation wrap. My question is what's preventing water from possibly seeping behind and pooling at the bottom, or possibly making it's way into my window? It's like he just put a straight aluminum frame on everything.
I attached a picture for reference.
Recently I had vinyl siding installed. The J-channel was installed first, followed by the window aluminum. The aluminum extrudes out past the J-channel around the windows and door wall. Nothing is caulked. The contractor says it's not necessary.
He didn't install a drip cap or anything.. nor was anything preexisting after old siding was removed. When I look between the siding and the aluminum trim I can see the house insulation wrap. My question is what's preventing water from possibly seeping behind and pooling at the bottom, or possibly making it's way into my window? It's like he just put a straight aluminum frame on everything.
I attached a picture for reference.
#3
06-17-18, 07:19 PM
Group Moderator
Yeah that is pretty common. Not saying it's right, because yes, water will probably get behind the window cladding and rot it. It's hard to specifically say what will happen without seeing the window minus the trim and siding. Theoretically if the window has a fin and it was sealed to the housewrap, that would prevent it from leaking into the structure behind.
You could insist that caulk it but if they make a mess it wont look very good. Thats what most guys are more concerned about. So its up to you. Water gets behind vinyl siding anyway... it runs out the bottom of the j channels and goes behind the siding at the bottom corners of the window. That's why a wrb is needed. (Housewrap)
Only a few contractors are detail oriented enough to flash the j-channeld and kick that water back out below windows.
You could insist that caulk it but if they make a mess it wont look very good. Thats what most guys are more concerned about. So its up to you. Water gets behind vinyl siding anyway... it runs out the bottom of the j channels and goes behind the siding at the bottom corners of the window. That's why a wrb is needed. (Housewrap)
Only a few contractors are detail oriented enough to flash the j-channeld and kick that water back out below windows.
#4
06-17-18, 07:35 PM
Thanks for the quick reply. When they wrapped the house he left the wood/insulation surrounding the windows exposed. So, in the odd event water did soak down behind the top of the aluminum trim it *could* drip down to the insulation.. my concern being it pooling and soaking back into the window/insulation surrounding.. I'm sure this is the worse case scenario.. for what I paid I just want to make sure they did it right. My friends said they need to caulk, that's why I wanted some more experienced opinions 
I did go through Home Depot which was probably my first mistake..
Edit: I did find a picture I took prior to siding. Below.http://imgur.com/NPG5gRV
I did go through Home Depot which was probably my first mistake..Edit: I did find a picture I took prior to siding. Below.http://imgur.com/NPG5gRV
#5
06-17-18, 07:58 PM
Group Moderator
If you have them caulk it, it usually looks best if they use a color matched caulk. OSI quad can be special ordered on any color to match any brand/color of siding. The colored caulk usually looks neater than if they use white.
[b]Front of House 2[/b]
[b]Left Side[/b]
[b]Read/Right Side[/b]
