Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 3/30/2005

Question
We have been serving as general contractor of a home we have been building over the past 3 years.  We are at the stage where we are beginning to hang doors and install the trim around the doors and windows and have run into a problem.

The door jams and the window jams aren't wide enough to come out even with the face of the sheetrock.  In some places the jam is as much as 1/2 shy of the face of the sheetrock.  The trim and window casing is custom milled oak.  When you place it around the window there is a gap between the casing and the window.   We don't know if this was due to a framing problem, a window installing problem, or a drywall problem.  Nevertheless - what now?  

The contractor who is attempting to install the trim has suggested using a silaconized latex caulk that is wood colored - such as Dynaflex 230 a product made by DAP - to fill the gap. He claims it will not crack or change color.   We are concerned that the extra hours to fix this problem will eat away what's left of our financial budget.  Any suggestions - including types/brands of caulk?

Thank you,

Rachel

Answer
Rachel - thanks for your question - I would like to have responded earlier but I've been out of town.

I need to make a couple of assumptions here:

1) You're using a manufactured window product
2) You're using "standard" framing materials and methods
3) The windows are installed properly

Your problem makes no sense if the above is correct; manufactured windows are built to fit in standard stud depths and flush out with the drywall on the interior.  It's possible, but highly unlikely, that the windows were ordered with narrower jambs (extremely rare), or that the walls were built with thicker than normal sheathing (again, highly unlikely).

The only plausible explanation is that the windows are installed too far towards the outside of the wall - I don't know how this could happen, but it's the only thing that makes sense.

If that's the case, you MUST remove and reinstall the windows!  Do not, under any circumstances, use caulking to fill the "gap" - regardless of what your contractor says.  It WILL eventually shrink, crack, and discolor, and in the meantime will look terrible!  You'll see it every day and wish you'd done it right the first time.

Find the person who installed the windows improperly and have him redo it - at no cost to you including any trim and repainting work that will need to be redone on the outside.

Again, do not use caulk! It's not intended for this use and you will be very disappointed with it's performance and appearance.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com