Metal head flashing
Some contractors think that windows are “self-flashing” or that caulk is a substitute for flashing. Doesn’t work. Not in the long run.
This past week I inspected a wood frame home in Tampa that had no flashing above the windows. Inside the home, I could see obvious signs of water entry at many of the windows.
Stains on the interior at the top of window
Another place you want flashing is under a door in a wood frame wall. Here we use a pan flashing to collect the water that invariable leaks in and divert it to the exterior.
This same home had no pan flashing under the door. The wood floor was rotting. Ignored, this kind of leakage leads to extensive damage that’s expensive to repair.
Rotting sub-floor below door
There are no shortcuts. It’s tough to install windows and doors and keep the water out. You don’t have a chance without proper flashings.
