Ansari Builders and the Importance of Proper Waterproofing

[Purdueenginerd]

Just wanted to share for future home-owners the importance of proper waterproofing details and c raft work on their homes and future homes. I wanted to elaborate on my current experiences. As we all know most homes these days are constructed with a DuPont Tyvek. This material wraps around typical wood-frame homes and serves as a vapor/moisture barrier between the elements and the interior of the house. In order to serve as protection and an envelop to the home details pertaining to installation are very explicit. With the amount of rain in Houston, its important that your waterproofing details are done correctly. 

Tyvek, by DuPont has a specification for the installation of windows: https://www.dupont.com/content/dam/dupont/amer/us/en/performance-building-solutions/public/documents/en/K27340%20Window%20Installation%20Up%20to%204%20Inch%20Recess%20After%20WRB.pdf

Won't get in the weeds but basically Tyvek has to be folded and taped in specific manner around windows. The more important component is to fold  and tape your tyvek over the window Sill 2x4, before the window is installed. If you don't, even with Tape, any pin-hole or improper taping will bypass the moisture barrier and allow water behind it, Allowing for water infiltration. When this isnt performed properly, it can foul the structure. Want to walk through a couple of photos pertaining to things to look for. 

In the Image above you can see as we tear away the tape that the tyvek terminates at the window sill. The tape does not turn over the 2x4 window sill. You can see fastener holes within 6" of the window as well. Any hole in the system will allow water behind the Tyvek,



In this image as we cut away the tyvek you can see significant water infiltration has occurred at the window sill interface. 



In the image above, as the sheathing was removed, Structural damage to both a load bearing studs and the primary support beam is obvious as a result of the faulty installation. 



In another portion of the house, you can see again improper installation at the jambs of the window. The tape was applied underneath the tyvek, essentially making it pointless. 

Obviously these repairs have been expensive. The original builder of the home, Ansari Builders, was not helpful at all pertaining to the addressing of these issues but I wanted to let everyone who's building and owning homes know that there are resources pertaining to how windows should be installed and the importance of proper waterproofing in the Houston Area. Be sure during inspection to evaluate the windows and if waterproofing was properly installed. 

 

[mollusk]

Yikes.

So how do you end up fixing this mess?  Pull the windows?  Or is there some way to achieve the same goal with them in place? (obviously if the structural members are somehow still sound)

[Purdueenginerd]

Shored the house and replaced the structural members that were rotten in one case. In another case I put a new steel member to supplement the original header (at the garage). The windows were pulled, siding fully removed, re-did all the waterproofing and repainted the house. Not an enjoyable experience. 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Purdueenginerd

[mollusk]

Hmmmm... sounds like a good reason to use something like the Zip system (properly sealed and flashed of course, but perhaps harder to mess up in the first place)