Our project of the week is a new window replacement that had extensive wood rot in Riverdale, Maryland. Wood rot occurs when moisture penetrates the wood around the window frames, and can happen when the window material itself is vinyl, metal or wood. Water enters the window frame through cracks in the wood that are not properly sealed, through the natural joints of the frame, or through the cracks and crevices of old, decaying caulk.
Either way, as soon as wood rot is identified it is time to act. A small amount of rot can often be repaired by replacing the caulking or digging out a small amount of wood rot and replacing it with epoxy. However, as was the case for this customer, the wood rot was so extensive that it surrounded the entire window. A full window replacement and re-framing was needed to solve the problem.
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Windows on Washington began by removing the old wooden window, which showed just how rotten the frame had become. It’s very important to remove all of the decayed wood to prevent mold, additional rotting and potential leaks. Some unskilled or lazy contractors won’t take the time to do a full removal, instead opting to put the new window into the damaged or rotted frame to save time and money. These shortcuts always lead to more problems down the road.
Once the opening was free from the wood rot, we re-framed it with new wood and lined it with Flex Wrap (TM). This wrap is a flexible self-sealing flashing that prevents moisture from entering the window opening. At Windows on Washington, we believe that this flashing is a must to protect the bottom corners of sills where water damage is most likely to occur. Again, many contractors cut out this step for convenience or cost savings.
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Finally, we replaced the window with a new Starmark 900 window and all new trim. The trim has been properly sealed to prevent any damage that may be caused by moisture. The result is a structurally sound, energy efficient, beautiful new window.
Homeowners in the Northern Virginia and Maryland can trust their home improvement projects to the experts at Windows on Washington. This locally owned company has won numerous awards for service excellence, including Angie’s List Super Service Awards for 2010, 2011 and 2012. This award honors contractors who provide the best value for homeowner investment.
Would you like to experience the Wow! Factor for your self? Do you want to improve the energy efficiency, comfort and beauty of your home? Contact the Experts at Windows on Washington today for solutions to all your home improvement challenges.
