The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Care And Repair Of The House

If there is no blind casing, waterproof paper is used under the joint between the outside casing and the siding to prevent the entry of wind and rain.

The cap over the window should be constructed to turn water away from the joint between the frame and the siding. In some types of frames, the siding or shingles extend over the cap, and a drip groove is provided along the underside of the cap or, in case the cap does not have these features the joint may be covered with metal flashing:.

The connection between the upper sill and sub sill should also be tight. In the newer types of frames, the bottom of the lower sill is plowed to allow the siding or shingles to extend into the sill a short distance, and an offset, or rabbet, is cut near the back edge to make a tight joint with the top sill.

Inspection and Repairs in Frame Construction.

If there are leakages around a window frame a careful examination should be made and repairs made where they are needed.

Around the lower part of the window, look particularly for holes or large cracks at the top of the window sill. There may be a crack under the inside stool or window ledge, if it is not nailed down securely; and if the stool has been cut too short, there may be cracks at either or both ends. Also, where parting strips and pulley stiles meet the top sill there may be holes left as a result of careless fitting. Sueh cracks and openings may be closed satisfactorily by driving the stool down firmly and filling the spaces with white-lead putty or calking compound, as previously described.

Sometimes driving rain or water from melting ice on the sill out bide the window may be forced in under the window and stool and run down the wall. This seepage may usually be prevented by removing the lower sash and plowing a furrow or groove along the bottom of the lower rail from one side to the other with a plow plane having a one-half or three-quarter inch blade. A cavity is thus formed that will check blowing rain before it can get inside the window.

Good weather stripping carefully applied, as explained in section 1 of this chapter, will do much to prevent air leakage and keep moisture from entering around windows and doors.