Rubber flashings that stop short
Window sill flashings cut short or pushed up, and head flashings without side dams.
In short: A window is only as watertight as the flashing around it. On several Pakenham handovers that flashing stopped short.
What the flashing is for
Around a window the cladding stops and the frame begins. Flashings bridge that junction so water running down the wall passes over it rather than into it.
Short sill flashings
We have recorded rubber sill flashings cut too short at the corners of Pakenham windows, and others pushed up by render so water runs behind them instead of over.
Head flashings and side dams
Above the window, the head flashing needs turned up ends, called side dams, so water cannot run off the end into the wall. We have photographed head flashings damaged and side dams that were not doing their job.
The worst case
On one job the gap above a window was big enough to see the timber frame. That opening had never been sealed or flashed.
Before you sign
Ask for each item to be fixed and resealed, then book a reinspection to confirm it.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Pakenham. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
