July 23 Remediation Update

Since I last posted, the boys have removed the stucco from all of the house except for the front elevation. They have also re-set two of the three windows and the patio door in the family room, the windows in the downstairs bedrooms, and the window on the south side of the garage. The reason they left one of the windows in the family room is they discovered a nest of carpenter ants above and to the left of the patio door. We are having an exterminator come in on Monday. Following this, they will re-set the 3rd window.

Removing a window/door involves removing the casing (trim) and cutting around the window to facilitate its removal.

After it is removed the "fenestration" is treated with bleach and Kilz if there is any indication of mold.

With the window out, the sill is beveled to facilitate the escape of any water which does happen to get into the rough opening, unlikely as that may be with the new/proper flashing of the opening.

Following this, the rough opening is "flashed", or lined, with water repellant paper. This paper is then incorporated into the house wrap. Additionally, a "head flashing" is added to the top of the window/door and further taped off. With this "system", it is virtually impossible for water to enter the rough opening and damage sheathing/insulation/etc. On the right is how a properly flashed window looks.

This is how the windows and doors look on the on the original installation. It is called "dry installed." In other words, there is no flashing at all in the rough opening and thereby nothing to keep the water from soaking into the sheathing.

Here is Nick and our engineer, Marty, inspecting the area below the great room window. In the last post, I said we expected to have to replace this window because of the moisture damage below it. BUT, after scraping the damaged sheathing away we found the window was installed on 1/2 inch shims. And this means the window frame was not sitting in the water which had entered the rough opening and is not damaged. (Its nice to get some good news!)

Earlier this week, Joan and I were up north where I played in a golf tournament. Since we were not around to let the men into the house, they started to install the Miratec trim boards on the north side of the house. You are looking at the "Belly Board." This will span both sides and the back of the house and break up the larger expanse of siding on the rear and south side of the house. There will be three colors when the house is painted. The Belly Board and window/corner trim will probably be one color and the siding above and below the "board'' each another.

Next week the plan is to re-set the rest of the windows and doors (on the back and sides of the house) and remove the deck to repair the ledger board area.

...to be continued.