External Window architraves building contract issue

[Cobber]

Hi all,

My building company says they have made no allowances for external window architraves......is this normal. Doesnt seem right to me?

Cobber

[Tools]

They wouldn't unless they were specified,or detailed on the drawings.

Tools

[journeyman Mick]

Architraves aren't usually fitted on the outsides of buildings, just somewhere for moisture to get trapped and cause fungal decay. Generally the cladding butts into the protruding jambs. Having said this, they may do it differently down south, can only comment on how it's done around here.

Mick

[silentC]

Having said this, they may do it differently down south, can only comment on how it's done around here

Same down here.

[seriph1]

It is Brunswick though - so it "may"be a period home ..... more info as to the situation and construction materials etc. please.

[Cobber]

Yes its a weatherboard Californian Bungalow. Obviously the original part has the architraves and we are getting wooden windows on the extension also...

[seriph1]

there ya go! it will require a different approach and your builders may not have catered for that - in fact I could almost guarantee it, seeing what you're going through now. I would refer to the drawings you or they supplied and see if they appear on them...... if it was made crystal clear that the extension was to match the existing home, then it would seem clear (of course, it never is) they must put architraves on the windows...... what stage is the building work at, as it does have some bearing on what can be done, not that anything can't be redone, it is just more difficult re-working stuff. You could always just retrofit them yourselves to avoid the hassle and the likely variation charges) - got any pics?

[Cobber]

Thanks Steve. I rang the builder and he said alot of places dont have them these days. Its better because water wont get in. They put the timber flush up against the window. He did say that he can do them if we want them though at no extra cost so I need to decide whether i want them or not now I guess?????

[seriph1]

Being a period home, it makes sense to have them PROVIDED they're done right. This means flashing correctly and sos forth. Frankly, I find it difficult to imagine what they proposed other than to stop the weather-boards into the timber window reveals, which is what should be done anyway....then the arch's get fitted with a sill at the bottom. Just take your existing windows as reference (if they're originals with original trim) and go from there I guess.

[Carpenter]

Yep.....any period home should have them & I find it a little dissapointing when people do reno's & don't match the existiing details. Its not that hard to do, but good work is a bit thin on the ground these days.

[Larry McCully]

Yep.....any period home should have them & I find it a little dissapointing when people do reno's & don't match the existiing details. Its not that hard to do, but good work is a bit thin on the ground these days.

i agree carp

[Ben (TM)]

Being a period home, it makes sense to have them PROVIDED they're done right. This means flashing correctly and sos forth. Frankly, I find it difficult to imagine what they proposed other than to stop the weather-boards into the timber window reveals, which is what should be done anyway....then the arch's get fitted with a sill at the bottom. Just take your existing windows as reference (if they're originals with original trim) and go from there I guess.

I had this very discussion with my builder this morning. He discribed his approach something like the attached diagram

I don't really get why you would use the internal plaster bead - all of the one's I can find on the web are like a mesh material?

The original windows did have an architrave, but they're gone now so I don't have them to refer to.

What do you guys think? I certainly don't want my expensive double hungs getting damp because I put an architrave on them!

[Carpenter]

The windows look good, they've even got the horns left on ready to be cut back onsite to the correct length. This is exactly how a period window is made & should look (except for the spiral balances) & that means external archs. As said in the previous posts, the window is installed so the external edge of the frame ends up flush with the weatherboards. If the horns are rip cut back to the frame & in line with the external edge of the frame, then this automatically sets the window in the correct position. In other words, imagine pushing the window frame into the opening & the horns on the sill are cut in a way that they butt up against the weatherboards. The horns are cut to length so that when the archs go on they are about 10 - 20mm longer (wider?) than the archs. Then, the archs go on & thats that! If in doubt, or if I've confused the living bejesus out of you, go have a look at an old house & you'll get it, & you may as well take you're builder with you because it sounds like he doesn't know either.