Any joiners/builders/good DIYer to answer a quick question?

plodder73

I have just had some Hardwood windows fitted in a cottage. I am in dispute with the joiner about the standard of the work including ill fitting windows and door. When he sealed the windows on the outside I thought that h would use either mastic or silicone sealant but instead he has used sand and cement which has already started to fall out. Is this a recognised method of sealing windows.? Incidentallly the sand and cement has left dark stains on the wood. Any advice gratefully received as I am contemplating taking him to the small claims court. Thanks

HugoSP

It's not a question of whether he's used sealent or sand/cement, it's a question of the standard of workmanship. I have used both in the past. I tend to use sand/cement to tidy the job up. For example a friend of mine had a new front door fitted and the fitters didn't finish it off on the outside. Although it was waterproof, you could still see the fixing foam between the frame and the opening. I hid this by applying a small fillet of sand/cement mixed with waterproofer around the frame, and feathering it into the existing render.

On our own house we are fitting new windows. The render around the openings needs repairing in places, so we will be rendering up to the windows anyway. However, the frames/openings should be weathertight, so sealent is used if necessary.

If the sand/cement has already started to fall out then this is unacceptable.

If it were my job, I would be ready to redo this area by removing the sand/cement around the windows, rubbing down and re treating the frames practical to get rid of the stains, then tidying up the openings, either with the sealent or the render or both. The frames must be weathertight within the openings, so I would consider sealent if the job lent itself to it.

eco-friendly_2

Sand and cement does not adhere to wood ! it will always leave a hairline crack when dry, and won't be sealed properly, oil based mastic is normally used around timber windows .

Inactive

eco-friendly wrote: »

Sand and cement does not adhere to wood ! it will always leave a hairline crack when dry, and won't be sealed properly, oil based mastic is normally used around timber windows .

Agreed, and masking tape can be used to avoid any chance of it going on to the timber face.

HugoSP

No, sand/cement will not adhere to wood.

It should however adhere to the reveals around the frame, if it's done properly.

In some cases, it may be necessary to finish it off with silicone around where the render and wood meet.