New House Build in the Country!!!

[GPintheMitten]

What kind of caulk should I use?

Check with your builder. Certain penetrations should be sealed with fire rated stuff as mentioned by Mike. But for fire rated sealing, your builder should be doing that in areas that require it, and the inspector should require it.

For other areas, just for outside air infiltration, I would think any outdoor rated caulk would do.

 

[mikefromnh]

How would you go about installing the lower flashing AFTER already installing the side flashing?

I'd bend a piece of metal to fit, wrap it around the corners and slide it under the step flashing. Then cut and wrap the step flashing they left long to go around the corner and onto top of the lower flashing. Then I'd run grace on top of the flashing up to the window rough opening. I'd also slice the house wrap and run the the grace under it on either side of the window. I also like to build up a sill pan out of a piece of beveled siding and grace, seal everything up with tape and call it good for 30 years.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'd bend a piece of metal to fit, wrap it around the corners and slide it under the step flashing. Then cut and wrap the step flashing they left long to go around the corner and onto top of the lower flashing. Then I'd run grace on top of the flashing up to the window rough opening. I'd also slice the house wrap and run the the grace under it on either side of the window. I also like to build up a sill pan out of a piece of beveled siding and grace, seal everything up with tape and call it good for 30 years.

Lets see what happens. I don't see anything wrong with your plan, I just wonder if you would have done it in the order we are hoping these guys are doing it? To me, they should have done your step first, then the sides. The way they are doing it, if they do it like you suggest, makes it harder. From what I've seen in the pictures, when they skip something, like blocking the floor joists, they are done and don't plan on doing it.

 

[mikefromnh]

I can see leaving it to be done later. I wouldn't want a junior guy on the crew stopping to bend up flashing... Probably do a half azz job and it breaks his momentum running shingles.

I'd want one experienced person handling the flashing details. If the same crew is going to do the windows and siding they might even wait to bend the flashing when they have their brake out anyways.

 

[MAX28HST]

I realize that I'm pointing out negative things in this build and a lot of you prefer to be cheerleaders, which I'm sure is very nice for the guy having his house built. But do you honestly want your house framed to old standards, things that are not done anymore? When somebody says that's how we always do it, I cringe. Continuing to do something the same way when better materials and techniques are out there goes beyond my comprehension. Supporting it is worse the putting your head in the sand.

Right on Eddie! I'm impressed with your knowledge, & more importantly from what I've read of your posts / examples, very high craftsmanship driven by work ethic. To do it once, Do it right...

 

[jk96]

One cheap thing you can now regarding air sealing is to make sure every hole and penetration through the building envelope is sealed properly. Your builder may or may not take this seriously. Cheap to do now almost impossible to do later.

Get some cans of spray foam and caulking and seal around every hole that is drilled before they insulate. Pay special attention to all the holes drilled into the attic area. Plumbers and electricians leave lots of air leaks when they do their rough in.

Check with your builder before doing anything thoug; your inspector might want you to use fire rated foam and caulking in certain areas.

If you really want to do something interesting when air sealing rent a theatrical fog machine and fill your home with fog before you sheet rock. Reverse your blower door and pressurize your home instead of depressurizing it. You will quickly see the problem areas.

 

[dragoneggs]

Right on Eddie! I'm impressed with your knowledge, & more importantly from what I've read of your posts / examples, very high craftsmanship driven by work ethic. To do it once, Do it right...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: yes admit I bowed down to Eddie in this thread a few weeks ago. :drink: check out his build on the pond to get an idea.

 

[justinramani]

For those still wondering - here is what the dormer flashing looks like now....

 

[GPintheMitten]

Looks appropriate.

 

[EddieWalker]

Good to see it there.