I get this phone call a lot - something like, "Please come and figure out why our windows are leaking!"
So, Mighty Mo and I made an appointment, got in the car and went to see.
Honestly it wasn't too hard to figure out.
A new siding job had been put on the house a few months ago, with aluminum wrapping on all the wood window and door trim. The professional siding company had been by many times and nobody seemed to be able to figure out what the problems was.
Typically wrapping woodwork with aluminum makes things protected and water proof! I said typically. Nothing should be leaking.
We waited for a rainy day, and I went just after it had rained.
It wasn't too hard to see that there was leaking into the windows. The dripping water was a big clue (says he, sarcastically...).
And with a wink.
Mighty Mo wasn't really necessary. But people really like seeing thermal images of a leak so I took and gave them a few.
However, I knew right away what the problem was.
All it took was to go to an upstairs bedroom window and look down at the new aluminum wrapping of the window trim below.
Looking down this is what I saw.
Can you see what the problem is?
Remember, this woodwork is wrapped with aluminum to protect it and keep it water proof!
Look closely.
Looked long enough?
The professional siding company knew that with aluminum wrapping aluminum nails should be used.
So far so good! But the aluminum wrapping should never be nailed through the upward-facing horizontal surface. That, um, kind of punctures the aluminum wrapping!
A puncture is a hole. A hole will leak. There are many holes in the aluminum wrapping over each window and the front door. Each of these holes will leak water.
And nobody could figure this out? Now, if you don't understand that the top surface should not be nailed, and you inspect it to see what the leaking problem might be, you will not know that these nails are incorrectly placed.
I was pretty sure I knew what the problem was when they told me over the phone that they had leaking since the new vinyl siding was installed. This is NOT rocket science.
My recommendation: call a home inspector after you have work done, and BEFORE you make the final payment, to insure it was done right! Even when it's done by a "professional" company! Home inspectors are knowledgeable, objective and will give you an honest opinion! And if there's a problem, it is better to find out at the outset of the work done than months later after many problems have manifest themselves!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Yes sir not rocket science and you said the siding was installed by a professional. Sorry that was a statement not a question..
Yes, that is sad, and it should have been obvious to the installation company. I hope they will own up to their mistake and fix it.
Yes, James, professional. With reviews.
Debbie - you have to wonder how many other jobs are just like this. I expect many, many.
Jay, the installer must have had his brain in Park when it should have been in Drive! Enjoy your day!
Good morning Jay,
I'll stick to the extra work of staining my cedar siding every few years.
Make yourself a great day.
Since they couldn't figure the problem out, Wayne, I expect this is how they have always done it.
Raymond - I know a guy who stains one side every year so he is never in for a big job!
Good morning Jay. So called professionals often screw up or cut corners. I dealt with two until I got a good guy.
Jay, I am sure when people pay a reputable company for work such as this, they just expect it will be done correctly. And they should expect that. However...
Quick, quick, get it done, right Sheila?
Disappointment comes when expectations do not meet reality Andrea.
You are right... holes will leak! Obviously the installer doesn't know that. Maybe he was on auto pilot, he's probably been doing it that way for years!
Gotta wonder how many nails were bent over and the holes enlarged by driving them at an angle Fred.
Hello Jay,
Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer professionals available for hire...good thing there is Jay Markanich to find the problems created by those with less than stellar skills...
Thank you Lisa. Some of them aren't this easy, but to me this one was obvious.
Jay,
Shouldn't the leading edge of the material wrapping the window be tucked under the siding? It looks like there is a gap in your picture.
Um, yep Stephen! Lots going on here... There were other issues too! I just brought this one out as one that should certainly be understandable to a siding installer!