I have searched for hours and still haven't found a decent description or picture of the the window detail when using exterior foam board, brick veneer, and windows with nailing flanges. How do you install the windows when you use exterior foam board and brick? Anyone have a good set of pictures?

Thanks

Posted By Fatawan on 16 Apr 2010 10:47 PM
I have searched for hours and still haven't found a decent description or picture of the the window detail when using exterior foam board, brick veneer, and windows with nailing flanges. How do you install the windows when you use exterior foam board and brick? Anyone have a good set of pictures?

Thanks

fatawan;

installation is same, brick gets set to window trim. Some vinyl windows require clearance/ with caulk joint for expansion. Check with window mfg.

When you say foam board , do you mean EPS trim?

Assuming you are using 1" thick or less EPS or XPS foam, you just cover the wood frame with the foam board, cut out the holes for the windows in the foam board, insert the windows in the hole and set square and level, nail or screw the windows to the wood frame through the nailing flange and foam board, install adhesive flashing over the nailing fin, install the brick. If you are installing house wrap over the wall, that would be put up just before inserting the windows.

Someone else has posted a link to this document in the past....maybe it will help you.

http://sustainable.cchrc.org/docs/REMOTE_Manual.pdf

psammy

While I have no pictures, i do have a couple of thoughts:

1. There are foams with good compressive strength -  enough to support footings,  but they don't generally get used on walls.  I would therefore be concerned about the ability of the foam to support the dead weight of the window. 
A careful answer to this concern would involve knowing; the compressive strength of the foam, the weight of the window and the width of the shims. 
A less careful but equally safe answer would be to extend the sill of the rough opening outward with a piece of 1" x 1 1/2" framing. The weight of the window would then be borne by framing not foam.  If you didn't want to rip framing into 1" strips, then you could always use 1 1/2" of foam over the exterior of your building......

2. No matter what you do to support the weight of the window, be sure to install a self adhesive membrane below the window and 6" up each jamb.  The membrane needs to drain any water that gets past the window back to the outside.  Ensure that any water drains out rather than drains in.  Do this either with a dam on the roomside, or even better by put a sloped clapboard on the rough sill before applying the membrane.  And then don't 'put a spanner in the works' by sealing the bottom flange of the window to the wall - that will defeat any measures you've taken to direct water back to the outside.....
Create the airseal on the roomside of the sill with a bead of low expansion foam.  Connect that airseal to the side and top flanges with full depth low expansion foam on the sides and the top.

Read and follow all directions, when in doubt call the window company for help.

Good luck