"New & Improved - N/F John" wrote in message
...
This old house had a porch with storm windows that for years caused much
agony. It leaked everytime it rained hard and required replacing wood and
painting every few years.

A contractor was hired last year and replaced a lot of wood and installed
replacement windows.



The windows didn't have the extra piece like a new
window, he did it like a replacement window.

extra piece ?
do you mean exterior casing?
a 'new construction' window is not designed to be installed like a
replacement window.

He felt the rotting wood was
caused by a bad roof. The roofing, gutters and siding were replaced and
the
grading around the porch was changed. Today, the porch is air tight and
covered with aluminum trim and there have been no leaks that I can see.
But


I noticed the caulking splitting here and there

probably used "phenoseal" caulk (soon it will turn yellow) instead of
exterior silicone.
aluminum trim installed correctly requires NO caulking.




and the aluminum trim changed shape a bit.

the aluminum trim has expanded and is starting to buckle
(probably from NOT pre-drilling with an 1/8" bit before nailing the trim
on).


I've had to caulk after one year. I think there is a
moisture problem.

I looked under the porch and found there was no insulation or vapor
barrier.
How much do you think the lack of a vapor barrier adds to this problem?
If
I were to add a barrier only, could I just attach it to bottom of the
joists? Your prayers are always welcome.