We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

The first is on the limestone windows sill. Our house is 2/3 brick
and on the first level we have a limestone ledge that also acts as a
sill for our three front windows. Now, they laid the brick at a
slight angle and one the right side it comes out too far. in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg


Thanks

"Herzog" wrote in message

in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg

Seems to me you have a potential problem. There may be a better way to solve
it, such as a wider sill, but from what I can see, moisture is almost
guaranteed to get in there. I'd certainly want it fixed properly.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

Grind it out and mortar it. At least it could have been the right color.

The picture you see here is what it looked like before it was caulked. I
wanted to show the gap between the window and the sill. My main concern is
will having this gap caulked lead to future problems? The builder is trying
to tell me that caulking is a viable and the only solution. He went off on
a rant about how industrial caulks are just as solid as the limestone. This
is something I have a hard time swallowing.

Yeah, I did askthem to put in a wider sill and he said they would consider
it. The next day they caulked it. =\



"Herzog" wrote in message
om...
We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

The first is on the limestone windows sill. Our house is 2/3 brick
and on the first level we have a limestone ledge that also acts as a
sill for our three front windows. Now, they laid the brick at a
slight angle and one the right side it comes out too far. in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg


Thanks

Caulk is caulk, it doesnt breathe and holds in moisture behind it. Only
an ass would say its as solid as stone. Mortar joints can last hundreds
of years. Caulk ? 10 -20- 30 yrs.. Have him do it right . not the
hack way.

hope youve been up on inspections, when a guy does it where you see it ,
you have to wonder about quality being cut.

It looks as if the windows were not properly installed to allow for the gap
that must be left behind the brick and limestone sill. The window "brick
mould" or whatever they are calling it these days, should protrude enough to
overlap the masonry. If it was installed properly the gap between the
masonry sill and the wood could be filled with mortar, or the wood moulding
could be extended down with a properly fitted piece of wood.

To me the window installers did it wrong, not the masons.

"Herzog" wrote in message
.com...
The picture you see here is what it looked like before it was caulked. I
wanted to show the gap between the window and the sill. My main concern
is
will having this gap caulked lead to future problems? The builder is
trying
to tell me that caulking is a viable and the only solution. He went off
on
a rant about how industrial caulks are just as solid as the limestone.
This
is something I have a hard time swallowing.

Yeah, I did askthem to put in a wider sill and he said they would consider
it. The next day they caulked it. =\



"Herzog" wrote in message
om...
We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

The first is on the limestone windows sill. Our house is 2/3 brick
and on the first level we have a limestone ledge that also acts as a
sill for our three front windows. Now, they laid the brick at a
slight angle and one the right side it comes out too far. in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg


Thanks

"Herzog" wrote in message
om...
We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

The first is on the limestone windows sill. Our house is 2/3 brick
and on the first level we have a limestone ledge that also acts as a
sill for our three front windows. Now, they laid the brick at a
slight angle and one the right side it comes out too far. in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg


Thanks

I looked at the picture and read all the posts to date including your reply.

I think I would insist that they return the stone to the window or fill the
void with mortar. Caulk just isn't the work-man-like solution to this
problem. Actually stone is the preferred one.


--
Colbyt
Remove " stopspam." from the email address to reply via email

One more idea.
I think the window was installed OK because they are usually installed on
the sheating before the masonry. Than the masonry covers the nail flange
(modern) or touches the brickmold (old fashion)(Are they Anderson windows it
looks like the terrratone color?). It seams the sill was not installed close
enough to the sheating. I have seen this before with brick homes. Some
builders will get coil stock that matches the window color, make a small
bend to stiffen it, and slide it under the window and out over the sill. If
done correct this will look like part of the window.
Any way you will lose lots of leverage if you close. Make sure all is fixed
before you close don't rely on punch lists to ever get done.
"Herzog" wrote in message
om...
We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

The first is on the limestone windows sill. Our house is 2/3 brick
and on the first level we have a limestone ledge that also acts as a
sill for our three front windows. Now, they laid the brick at a
slight angle and one the right side it comes out too far. in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg


Thanks

Thanks everyone for the advice and I think the one common note is that we
should make sure this is done to our satisfaction before closing. I also
agree that stone is the way to go. I just hope can get them to do it within
a reasonable amount of time. But we are prepared to stick it out.

It is definitely the masonry and not the windows. In all the other houses
in our projects the two levels of brick line up. On ours you can see how
the bottom level protrudes out a half inch or so. They cant put the sill
in any further due to the ridge cut into the bottom of the sill for
dripping. Also you can see how the brick comes out from the foundation from
left to right. The left side is almost flush. While the right side sticks
out over a half an inch.

I wont go into details, but its been hell for the last 4-5 months and its
hard to fight off the desire to just close and be done with it. We have are
walk thru tomorrow. So we'll see what happens.


Thanks again for all your help.

Herzog

PS: I always wonder why they called it a punch list. Now I know. =P


"Herzog" wrote in message
om...
We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

The first is on the limestone windows sill. Our house is 2/3 brick
and on the first level we have a limestone ledge that also acts as a
sill for our three front windows. Now, they laid the brick at a
slight angle and one the right side it comes out too far. in order
for them to lay the sill correctly they have left a 1/2 horizontal gap
between the sill and the window which they have conveniently calked.
I have heard that horizontal calking can be problematic. Also it
looks horrible. Any opinions would be appreciated

Here is a picture


http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/hota_ga/window.jpg


Thanks

On 16 Nov 2003 16:28:14 -0800, (Herzog) wrote:

We are about to close on a house and we noticed a few major flaws

Then don't close. It's your house, get it the way you want or walk.
And the only way you can get it the way you want is if you're
genuinely prepared to walk on the deal.

Jeff