Possible wood rot

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JLC
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Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:51 pm

Possible wood rot

#1 Post by JLC »

We might have wood damage from carpenter ants. Another possibility is wood rot from moisture since this side of our house stays wet for a long time due to being in the shade for most of the day.

Should we look at removing the vinyl siding around the windows to check for damage to the wood (repair any damaged wood), replace the windows with new windows with the nail flange (doing the proper waterproofing around the windows), and then have siding re-installed?

Background info:
We purchased our newly built home 25 years age. We are looking at replacing our vinyl windows on the back of our house that has NE exposure and is usually in the shade. We have vinyl siding on the back of our house. This past fall, I hosed down the back of the house to give it a quick cleaning. When I did that, what appear to be carpenter ants came out of one of the second floor windows.

We do seem to have a lot of ants in the back of our house. We replaced a 10 year old cedar deck railing that rotted out and I suspected carpenter ants might have been a contributing cause. We have since hired an extermination company and will continue with services to get rid of the ants.

Of note is that carpenter ants can destroy wood much faster than termites.

On a more positive note, I had the back door replaced about 5 years ago ( I did not like the swing of the door) and there was no sign of insects or wood rot at that time. We replaced windows on the brick front of the house about 7 years ago and there was no signs of rotted wood or insects. However, the front of our house gets baked in the sun for most of the day.
Last edited by JLC on Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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HomeSealed
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Re: Possible wood rot

#2 Post by HomeSealed »

If you have concerns about the condition of the framing around the windows, I'd say yes, you'd be a good candidate for a full frame style installation. That doesn't always necessitate removal of the siding, particularly if there is existing exterior trim surrounding the current window. Even if there is not, the siding could be cut back to facilitate a new nail fin, flashing, etc rather than R&R'ed. Once the rough opening is exposed you will see just about everything that you need to see to know if you have any issues in or immediately surrounding the opening, whether it be due to moisture, ants, etc.

That said, if you wanted to inspect things PRIOR to contracting new window so that you could weigh your installation options accordingly, that is certainly something that is possible as well. Vinyl siding isn't that hard to pop a piece off and on here and there to peek behind things.

JLC
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Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:51 pm

Re: Possible wood rot

#3 Post by JLC »

@homesealed. Thanks for the reply. It helps give me direction for my project.

We have a small vinyl repair at the very top of our house and I will see if I can hire a siding person to repair that and then also peel back some random pieces of vinyl to do an inspection. I wanted to get an inspection anyway to ensure the ants are eradicated. I was actually thinking about putting some holes on the interior drywall close to where I saw the ants to see what I find.

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Windows on Washington
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Re: Possible wood rot

#4 Post by Windows on Washington »

Any pictures?

Like HomeSealed said, inspection from someone qualified before, is going to be your best bet.

JLC
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Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:51 pm

Re: Possible wood rot

#5 Post by JLC »

I have done a lot of research to gain some knowledge on install of the windows due to possible rot. I have received two rough estimates on the cost of window installation. These windows seem to be good quality, but not great. They fit our budget because we plan to sell and move soon and also our utility bills are low and energy efficiency is not our primary concern.

We have a window company with good reviews who installs Joyce windows. We would go with the Heritage line of windows. They say they do a pocket install. I asked what they do if they see wood rot, and it seems that I might need to hire someone else to address those issues. Perhaps a siding person? Their price is approx. $800, including install.

I found a certified Simonton installer who works for himself. He recommended the Simonton Pro Contractor window with a nail fin. He said he would pull the siding off and install these. His price is approx. 2x the price of the Joyce windows with pocket installation.

The two windows appear to be comparable in energy rating, DP, AL, etc. I believe the difference in price could be from the additional labor with the SImonton new construction window. I do also think the contractor might be increasing the price to allow more profit. I had the SImonton windows priced out at a Builder Supply store and they were 1/2 the price of Okna 600 windows.

I am interested in asking the contractor for the Simonton windows if he could do something like what Homesealed said: "That doesn't always necessitate removal of the siding, particularly if there is existing exterior trim surrounding the current window. Even if there is not, the siding could be cut back to facilitate a new nail fin, flashing, etc rather than R&R'ed."

Perhaps we could save some on labor using Homesealed's method. We do not have any trim around our existing windows. I thought a product that I thought could be used to accomplish what Homesealed recommends. it would allow the siding to be cut back about 3" so the window could be examined for rot and then flashed.The product is made by Aztec: it is called a: FLANGE SLOTTED TRIM, RABBETED TRIM, AND J-SERIES, J-CASING

The Aztec catalog describes it as "designed to reduce installation time and create beautiful
window and door surrounds"

I also found same thing, available in wood textured PVC by Elite Trimworks @ https://www.elitetrimworks.com/standard ... WkEALw_wcB

Does this seem like a good method? Should I ask the SImonton installer if he could use this trim or perhaps try to find someone with experience using this method?

Thx :)
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HomeSealed
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Re: Possible wood rot

#6 Post by HomeSealed »

Azek is very good material, but it will jack up your cost very quickly. Lp smart trim or just lumber clad with aluminum would be more cost effective.

Regarding the Joyce option (or any pocket installation option), nobody other than the window installer is going to replace wood on the original frames. If you are talking about the surrounding areas that is a different story, but any craftsman that is installing windows should be repairing/replacing areas of rotted wood during his install.

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