Window seals

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by jharrison

Todays inspection

House was build in 2001 most windows are wood casement windows.

The two windows in the basement appear to be a newer install that the original windows. both windows have the same issue and they are the only ones in the house like this.

Thoughts

Attachment 39748

Attachment 39749

Attachment 39750

That is a SWIGGLE strip spacer by Tremco. It is no longer manufactured due to longterm failure such as you found. I have seen failure in south facing windows since the mid 1990's but not as severe as the above. The worst I've seen is a "bubbling" in the material but expansion like in the pics.......!!!!!

[John Evans]

Same problem with the transom window.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Originally Posted by dbowers

Kenton -

What I was saying is I find so many of our people wasting valuable time trying to do the electrician, foundation contractor, plumber, roofer, HVAC service technician OR .... Others Job. They try to do and be something they're not. Thats what makes so many of us look foolish.

WE are the initial CURSORY screening process 90% of the time. I'm at the football game and get a massive chest pain. I stumble up to the Aid Station / the NURSE takes a few readings AND tells me it looks like I'm having a heart attack AND calls for an ambulance to get me to the Hospital and in front of a LICENSED Cardioligist who diagnoses the cause, cure and gives me my options.

The NURSE most of the time has NO business trying to write the cure.

How many times do we see guys on this very site that 6 months ago were lets say computer programmers - took a home correspondence course in home inspection and are now on this site showing pictures of a little green widget / Asking everybody what it is / What it does / And then going back to the Buyer trying to tell them how to Repair / Replace OR ???? Something they have NO EARTHLY KNOWLEDGE of.

Be professional AND do a home inspectors job - DED - Determine there's a potentially significant problem / Evaluate if it needs a specialist / DIRECT it to the right trade.

I can blame myself of that very issue.
You have given me a proper view again and thank you for putting me straight
I think that people are practicing there skills and it helps them by performing a diagnostic evaluation for proff or questing the defects cause.
Hope that made sense..

[Mark A. Timpani, CMI]

Also common here in Tucson.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jharrison

Todays inspection

House was build in 2001 most windows are wood casement windows.

The two windows in the basement appear to be a newer install that the original windows. both windows have the same issue and they are the only ones in the house like this.

Thoughts

Attachment 39748

Attachment 39749

Attachment 39750

see it all the time here, usually on smaller south facing windows.

not being a CMI, i note it and move on

[John Harrison]

Just curious here

I was initially asked what direction the windows were facing. My windows were facing South. Other inspectors have stated that they have found the same problem of South facing windows.
It has been mentioned that this is a manufacturers defect.

Is the South facing direction conductive of the defect or is this just a coincidental observation?

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jharrison

Just curious here

I was initially asked what direction the windows were facing. My windows were facing South. Other inspectors have stated that they have found the same problem of South facing windows.
It has been mentioned that this is a manufacturers defect.

Is the South facing direction conductive of the defect or is this just a coincidental observation?

Here in Phoenix, it is the Heat, plain and simple.

[Bob Elliott]

I had the issue at yesterdays condo.
Client is Broker for Bears players and view is appropriate.
East facing lake (Traco brand)
[ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]
Management mentioned they had an extended warranty on these things due to the issues.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Here in Phoenix, it is the Heat, plain and simple.

In my temperate climate area, it is mostly on south facing windows and sometimes on SE or SW facing units

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Everyone is point to the windows direction.
I would ask 2 questions
> 1 who's the manufacture of this windows and try to get some fact to that product.
There must be complainants towards that specific-pain and articles out there.
>2 There inherent flaws with that type of insulation process ,mounting , seal break etc.

[bdoles2]

Originally Posted by rnewland

The window appears to be a vertical window installed on the horizontal. Is that an approved install based on mfg installation instructions? Drainage may be an issue if not.

Exactly what I was thinking. Vinyl windows like this that are meant for installation in one manner or another, usually have weep holes in the correct location.

In this case, if the window is actually meant for a vertical double hung, then the weep holes would be on the right side(the bottom). If it is actually meant for a horizontal installation, then the weep holes would be along the long end of the bottom.

An outside looking in shot would really help...

[William Warner]

Very common defect... but not just the sagging seals. Pitting and bubbling are often more common than sag. Butyl was a poor choice for "seals" as it flows when warm and gets hard when cold. Prime for failure in a window application.



This has been documented or written about at least as far back as 1993.
See:
http://www.edgetechig.com/userfiles/...all_Page_3.pdf

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Is this limited to one manufacturer or many have used this Butyl seal as install for there window product and all HI'S should take note .
I sure have.