Urethane the pick to seal windows
Question No. 1
Mr. Lamoureux, Hi, I read your column every week and have never seen this mentioned.
I just found some piles of dirt in my house and wondered if this might be a sign of termites.
Do you have any recommendations on who to contact and how to proceed?
Thank you very much,
Cathy B.
Answer No. 1
Cathy, You are correct. They are subterranean termites. I have a pest control company that takes care of my properties. They can handle this for you.
Let me know if you want his referral. He will come in and core the slab and inject the ground to kill them off, then plug the holes.
This is a simple fix, and much less costly than tenting.
You can also have him inspect the remainder of the property to be sure that it is clear. Good luck with this
Robert
Question No. 2
Hello Robert, We have been enjoying your column for many years. Thank you!
Due to cost considerations, we are having vinyl retrofit windows installed in our two-story Valencia home.
Our question has to do with the recent hot temperatures we are experiencing. Our understanding is that the outside of the window and trim are more or less glued to the stucco. Does it matter how hot it is outside for this glue to effectively seal?
We asked the installation company and they said it wouldn’t matter, but we would like your opinion also. We have already postponed once because of this concern, and are now scheduled for Aug. 14.
Thank you!
J& B
Answer No. 2
Bill, thank you for being a loyal reader.
I would recommend that they use a single-stage urethane rather than the standard silicone caulking.
The urethane has more elasticity and will have a longer life span. Ask them to be liberal with the urethane.
Some of the big box stores carry it. Sikaflex is one of them.
Best of luck
Robert
Question No. 3
I live in Canyon Country and with the heat that we’ve been having, my electric bill has gone through the roof.
I have a neighbor that has installed a couple of these what looks like mini household fans, there is a motor with a fan and he stuck them up in his attic.
I don’t trust a lot of the stuff that this guy does so I’m looking to you for advice. What is your take on these whole house fans? Are they worth it?
Mike
Answer No. 3
Mike, absolutely these are worth it, if you have the attic space and adequate venting out of your attic.
It sounds like this guy is zoning off the areas of his home by putting in two, I understand that this is what is currently being recommended in the industry.
The most critical thing to consider when contemplating such an install, is first do you have attic space? Some of the newer homes are limited on the amount of space in the attic area, due to vaulted ceilings.
If you do have good attic space, then the next thing will be to check in to how much venting your attic has.
The manufacturer has specs that you can study. They’ll let you know what is needed with regard to attic space and venting.
Keep in mind that venting can be added for a cost, which over the years will absolutely be recouped in the savings from not using the air conditioner, and using the whole house fan system instead.
Once you’ve determined that your home will accommodate this, then you can hire a licensed contractor to install, unless you are qualified to do it yourself.
These are wonderful products. They take place of running the air conditioner once the outside air temperature is comfortable for you.
Simply turn off the air conditioner and open windows so that the whole house fan can pull that cooler outside air into your house. It will pull from the open windows, and up into the attic, where it will then be vented back outside.
You can control the flow of air by opening the windows of the rooms you wish to cool.
For instance, if you are relaxing in the evening watching television, you can open just the window to that room and perhaps to your bedroom, so that it will start cooling down
your bedroom.
Once you go to bed you can close the TV room window and only use it for your bedroom. You’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how much venting the system needs. It may be necessary to have more than one window open for proper venting.
Remember to put security devices that will keep your windows “locked” in their position so that you are still safe within your home. Never lock them open enough to allow access, always keep safety in mind.
It’s definitely a cost savings running this instead of the air conditione,r and it also can make it more comfortable because you truly feel a breeze coming through the windows when this is running.
Good luck, go for it if you are able.
Robert
Robert Lamoureux has 38 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@imsconstruction.com.