Industrial Archives

Door and window installations

Written by Jon Rhodig on January 21, 2021. Posted in Construction, Industrial, Industrial, Industrial supplies, Window and Door. Leave a Comment

Door and window installations are the bread and butter for construction companies and general contractors. New construction and replacing windows and doors can be lucrative. But the industry is highly competitive. How can you differentiate your business from your competition to get those good-paying jobs? And how can you keep installation for your windows and doors low?

Flashing and sealants help give your customers the value and quality installation they expect, propelling you above your competition. Plus, these products are cost-conscious, especially when it comes to eliminating the need to do a project over.

At Elevated Industrial Solutions (Elevated) we list our favorite door and window installation products for flashing and sealing … as well as why you may need one versus another.

Flashing solutions

You probably know this, but it merits revisiting. The first line of defense for air and water intrusion is a good seal on the full untrimmed opening for a window or door (also known as the rough opening). When flashing is installed and sealed correctly, water is directed away from the window to keep a home dry and eliminate rot, mold, and mildew. But not all rough openings are created equal (different materials, sizes, shapes, etc.).

Flashing typically comes in three varieties with these advantages and disadvantages:

Metal flashing is durable, but not as flexible
Vinyl flashing is flexible, but not as durable
Tape flashing is easy to install, but often not as durable in hotter areas
Liquid flashing is a newer innovation in flashing

Find the right flashing for your project from two top brands known for durability and quality. Both Protecto Wrap and OSI products meet local code requirements and national building standards while providing long-lasting performance your customers can count on that won’t break the bank. When they’re used, your jobs will be known as high quality … while reducing long-term liabilities from failure.

Some of the products below may even surprise you!

Protecto Wrap

Protecto Wrap has waterproof membranes that provide high-quality waterproofing. They’re even easy to install. Plus, they have durability and staying power – a preference for construction workers and general contractors since 1952. Here are a few of the products we think are some of their finest:

BT20XL butyl

This 20mil peel–and–stick, self-adhering butyl (the adhesive component) laminated on a polyethylene film provides a tough, durable, easy–to–apply membrane. The product sticks to most common building materials to provide a tight seal while still enabling joint movement. Best of all, it’s compatible with all types of window construction substrates including wood, wood clad, aluminum, fiberglass and vinyl windows and doors, and PVC.

A 120–day UV resistance aids in weather protection during delays in siding or cladding installation.

Super stick building tape

This tape is a primer-less flashing tape for window and door installations. Easy to apply in all temperatures, great for cold climate installations. The tape has the same benefits of butyl or asphalt-based flashing without the primer or the gassing, VOCs, CFCs, and HFCCs. That’s why construction workers and contractors use this so often – it’s a faster turn-around time and fewer customer complaints when replacing windows.

12-month UV exposure is great for new construction where timelines and exposure times can be longer than expected.

Sill pan flash

This one-piece, continuous sill flashing requires no cuts or “butterfly” corner guards. That means, your installation jobs are faster. Also, most people can install these, reducing the need (and expense) for experts to do the cutting or installation. It even has lower product waste. It’s a great option for those 90-degree corners without adding substantial material to the rough opening dimension.

Sealants

Okay, the flashing is done. You’re not out of the woods yet. You may need a sealant to protect your window or door. When it comes to sealants there are lots of options. A few of these products stand out – handling even the toughest climates and jobs.

OSI

Outside of flashing, OSI has a few sealant products that can handle tough jobs with ease. OSI is approved and recommended by many of the top manufacturers because of its durability.

Quad Max

It’s called “Tougher than the Elements” for a reason. This is the premier sealant that can handle the toughest climates. Specifically designed for durability, colorfast, and flexibility, this sealant offers a variety of features, including color matching. OSI’s lab has created exact color matches for all the most popular window and siding manufacturers.

Although some construction workers and general contractors have issues with color matching, that shouldn’t stop you. We stock 30+ options, including the most popular colors in use today. And because we’ve been in business since 1955, we can help select the perfect match for whichever window or siding you’re installing.

Quad Foam

This product is insulating foam for windows and doors. Quad Foam accurately and completely fill voids around windows and doors without stressing or racking. Using an applicator, you can get pinpoint precision to create a tight seal around these irregular rough openings.

BOSS

According to BOSS’s website, their line of products is engineered to the highest quality to ensure maximum performance for the industrial, construction, pool and spa, HVAC/R, manufacturing housing, and RV markets.

363 Acrylic Latex

BOSS 363 is the go-to paintable acrylic latex caulking. Low shrink, non-yellowing, and paintable are all characteristics that will keep callbacks to a minimum. It’s versatile caulking that puts the finishing touch on interior trim while making an airtight seal.

Elevated is on the job with you

Construction workers or general contractors, we have tools and equipment to help you finish your projects on time and on budget. Regardless of whether you love BOSS, OSI, Protecto Wrap, or a different brand, Elevated is with you. We have a variety of brands and products to help you solve your specific window and door installation challenges. Our team has the expertise to get you the right supply or equipment every time.

Talk to our experts today to see how we can help you finish your jobs on time and under budget.

Don’t get fooled – go with the real deal (Kaeser and dealer expertise)

We’ve all been there. I would wager we’ve all done it. When it comes time to get an oil change or replace our windshield wipers, we want to go for the store brand, not the genuine replacement part. It’s cheaper. Isn’t it? It’s just as good. Right?

I’m not an automotive expert, so I’m not going to debate the merits of saving a few bucks on windshield wipers. However, I would like to point out a few key points to consider when you are purchasing replacement parts for your compressor.

Efficiency

No doubt a key factor, when you were purchasing your compressor, is energy efficiency. You did the research, looked at the CAGI datasheets, and compared performance. That compressor was tested as it was packaged by the manufacturer using the manufacturer’s original parts. This may not seem like a big deal, but keep in mind that every component inside the compressor is crucial to its performance, thus its efficiency. For example, intake filters are susceptible to pressure drop; every 2 psi in pressure drop costs 1% of compressor horsepower in efficiency. If you use an aftermarket filter, you might not get the compressor efficiency you are expecting. And that will cost you money—possibly more than you are saving by going with the cheaper part.

Service intervals

Your unit came with a manual that has a host of useful information from the manufacturer—including recommended service intervals. Those intervals are based on the extensive testing done using their original parts included in the machine, not aftermarket ones. You might be ok using the same guidelines, but there is really no way of knowing simply because the manufacturer didn’t test the unit using those aftermarket parts.

Quality

The material compatibility of the aftermarket parts has not been tested with the compressor. Neither has the durability of those aftermarket parts. Quite often we see new issues develop, for example, higher oil carryover from using a sub-par replacement separator element. Other issues such as higher pressure losses after shorter operating periods, compromised machine safety, and air quality not being met are also common. Further, depending on what your manufacturer’s stated warranty is, using aftermarket parts can void it.

To be fair, there are quality aftermarket parts manufacturers out there—their products, however, have just not been thoroughly tested with the compressor, which can lead to problems and concerns. Be careful and be aware. Your best bet is to contact the compressor manufacturer and go with their genuine replacement parts. I didn’t really save any money by getting the store-brand windshield wipers. They lasted maybe four months. The genuine replacement part wipers that are now on my car have lasted more than a year and they only cost a few dollars more. They also work better.

I guess that goes to show that you get what you pay for. Pay now or pay way more later!