A solution for leaky homes | flashing system for critical junctions
50% of leaks in leaky homes and leaky buildings occur at door and window junctions, due to poor flashing systems.
Flashings are basically weatherproof materials that prevent the leaks into a structure from an angle or joint. If water can’t get into these joints, this part of the structure will be weathertight. Homes and other structures without adequate flashing have a much higher chance of becoming a leaky house.
If these joints are leaking, homes will eventually rot and/or corrode, sometimes to the point where the structure is uninhabitable.
How to create weathertight homes
That’s where Flashman flashing systems come in. Developed by registered master builders and respected house inspectors Mike Anticich and Steve Hotton, Flashman flashing systems are designed to keep your house or apartment weathertight. Homes with Flashman flashing systems are protected from the elements, right up to hurricanes of 232kph!
Have a look at the pictures below to see how leaky homes happen.
Typical monolithic (plastered) sill. This type of sill depends on a tiny amount of paint and approximately 6-10mm of plaster to hold out the water. The so called “PVC flashings” (actually mouldings) are buried under the paint and plaster. Any water that does get in is trapped and cannot get out, hence the lichen which can only grow with a constant supply of moisture.
Typical conventional head flashing. You can see the gaps where a large slot has to be cut in the cladding to allow the head flashing to be fitted. This is highly prone and inevitably will leak. Often silicon is applied to these large gaps, which is very ineffective and proven to fail quickly.
Another view of a head flashing. The cut in the cladding to accommodate the head flashing immediately creates points of entry for moisture. The Flashman system prevents this.
These are the flashings (actually moldings) that are underneath the vast majority of monolithic cladding systems. You might ask yourself how this can possibly work. The idea of the flashing is to allow water to get out, not to trap it.
Typical example of water being trapped underneath the paint and plaster in a monolithic cladding system which does not allow water to escape. The differential contraction and expansion of PVC mouldings combined with aluminium windows and timber framing creates cracks which then introduces yet another point of entry for moisture.
Damage caused by lack of flashings; water was trapped behind the cladding. This highlights the essential functional characteristics of the Flashman aluminium sill which picks up all water from the top, sides and bottom of the window and it directs it harmlessly to the outside of the cladding.
Another example of typical flashing methods using PVC mouldings. It is commonly thought that cracks as depicted here, allow moisture to enter behind the cladding. The truth is, the moisture has already penetrated beneath the plaster and paint system and has caused these cracks. Once the cracks appear, there are now two points of moisture entry.
Conventional incomplete timber facings and timber sill ‘flashings’. Note the sealant under the window and on top of the timber sill which will inevitably fail. This entire system is totally dependent on sealant. It is ineffective with aluminium windows and doors; it will leak and cost more to install than the superior Flashman system.
Finished Flashman system with monolithic cladding with sill and jamb. 3mm gap which would allow any moisture that enters at the plaster to jamb junction to be picked up by the back flashing behind this junction to be expressed harmlessly out and over the sill. The gap is deliberately created for drainage purposes, i.e. water cannot be trapped.
Very typical, conventional flashing at the weatherboard to aluminium window junction. The sill is a plant-on aesthetic element which has no functional purpose. There is a large gap between the bottom of the window and the top of the sill (shown with credit card) which allows water to enter behind the cladding. The thin scriber (as shown with red dot) on the side of the window is totally dependent on sealant, which will inevitably fail.
Weatherboard to Flashman jamb junction. There is no need for scribers or facings with the Flashman system. However, traditional facings and scribers can be used, but only for aesthetic purposes (rather than flashing purposes) if the traditional look is desired.
Flashman’s head to jamb junction provides an exceptionally neat and weathertight junction at this highly vulnerable and leak prone joint.
See how the Flashman system works on your door flashings and window flashings, or see how you can get one of the Flashman franchises.
