I was looking through photos of my recently built house while it was mid-construction, and I noticed that they didn't install that black polyethylene flashing on all the windows before the brick sills were put up. It seems they only put it on the north facing windows. Is this something I should be worried about? So far I haven't noticed any water intrusion issues. I'm beyond my one year warranty period now. I don't even think they installed the flashing pictured below correctly.

It is possible that they added it before putting in the sill bricks. it should run thru them.


If you look under the sill bricks, you should see the black flashing poking thru.

You should also have flashing at the top of that window that is mid wall.

Can't tell if the flashing that is in place is tucked up under the window pan, however.

I don't think it is tucked under there based on the pic. I don't see it poking out under any of the sills.

I don't really see that black stuff poking out on other homes in the neighborhood either.

Assuming they didn't do any of this correctly, is this a big deal, or likely a minor issue?

If your windows have a drain pan that has weep holes that exit on top of your brick sill, it is probably a minor issue.

Yes, they do.

Maybe it's not flashing? Am I misunderstanding what that black material is?

It is. It may be cut short of exiting the brick or be mortared over.

Should probably see it at the base course of brick @ the foundation as well as any lintels over doors and windows.

Should have weep holes at the bottom and at the lintels.

They put that black material at the base of all the walls where there are weep holes, but my windows do not have weep holes under the brick sills.

In fact, many houses I look at in the neighborhood don't have weep holes under the brick sills. They only have them at the base of the walls.

Not sure on the detail when window itself has weep holes. Maybe TGI Vaughn can answer. Or one of our resident builders.