Window Protection Until Siding Installed

12 years ago

Hello All,

We have hit a major snag with our home build -- our builders were scheduled to paper and install our windows 2 weeks ago, and had told us we could wait a while to have the home sided (which we are subbing out). Apparently they were assuming though that we were using all fiberglass windows, when what we have is fiberglass exterior and wood interior.
So now they are saying they can't install the windows until we have the siders lined up as well in order to avoid water intrusion and ruining the interior of the windows. Unfortunately, we spent all last week making calls are having having a hard time lining up a siding contractor that we can afford who also has availability before the end of the year. This subsequently means all the interior work we had scheduled has been thrown off and we are looking at several months of delays with that work as well.

We are kind of desperate to get our windows in one way or another (although of course don't want them ruined) so my question is:
Does anyone know of a way we could install them and protect them?

I was thinking maybe about papering, installing windows, and then maybe using clear gorilla tape to seal the edges between paper and windows???

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

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Comments (4)

worthy
12 years ago
For more than 25 years, I've been putting in all wood windows first as soon as the house is framed and sheathed. Then the siding or brick/stone goes on. The space between the window and door frames and the house framing is filled with hand held polyurethane foam. It seals air and water out.

I don't know what you mean by "papering" . Housewrap? Felt?

If you have a builder, that is his concern. If this is a diy build, then seal the windows in with the polyurethane then side..
seagirlqa
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi Worthy,

Thanks so much -- that is exactly the type of solution I was hoping for!
I think our builders may just not have any experience doing anything other than this one particular way, and have said we just have to wait until we can line up siders.
That, or they are just really scared about the liability???

(And yes, I think I meant house wrap -- they keep saying paper which I've assumed is tyvek)
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mushcreek
12 years ago
The windows should be fully sealed before the siding is applied. Most windows today have a nailing fin, which is caulked as it is nailed on. Then, the window is taped with weather-resistant tape, covering the nail fin and extending over the housewrap. The siding is really there to shed bulk water and protect the tape and caulking from the elements. There are special tapes for sealing the windows. There are very specific instructions for installing windows properly, and you want to make sure they are followed. There are many cases of ruined windows and ruined framing caused by improper installation by so-called 'professionals'.
User
12 years ago
The concern about ruining the interior wood of the windows seems misplaced. The house should be completely sealed and protected after the weather barrier and windows have been installed and flashed. The siding should go up in time to avoid UV damage to the weather barrier which would take many months.

I would be asking for a detailed description of the weather barrier and how the windows would be flashed and sealed. It's possible they will be using asphalt saturated felt (building paper) and not sealing the nail fin windows to it (or to the sheathing) and you don't want that. They should not be counting on the siding to be the water and air barrier.

These are not all wood windows and it's not 1960.