Does this look like a bad window install?

It's obvious from the photos that problems began long before the new windows were installed. Issues include: a poor design with the garage roof directing water towards the affected wall; poor detailing in the stone veneer which should have something like HAL-TEX COR-PLY as opposed to building paper.

It's best to install trim around the windows to make them serviceable.

To try and cut the stones there's a risk of damaging the underlying membrane in the process and then trying to obtain a membrane tie-in with the minimum required 4" horizontal and vertical overlaps.

it is very rare that windows are correctly installed in full compliance with Code requirements.

If you like I could meet with you onsite or at my office and provide more information (no charge). This is the kind of thing I do every day.

Ian Derksen

Building SCO

It Is difficult to determine what is going on from the pictures but I don't believe the issue is a result of a bad window install, I don't see any strapping behind the veneer or what the brick is attached to. The brick veneer has no way to breath, moisture is trapped and eventually rots the surface behind, which looks to be the case here.

In the first photo, I can see discolouration of the stone mortar (please note that all exterior veneers are not waterproof) above the upper window which tells me there is trapped moisture which leads me to say that the problem is much higher than the windows. We have found in a number of our projects that the building envelope did not extend to the underside of the roof sheathing. Depending on location of house in relation to open space, hills, trees, etc which would cause the wind to create unusual swirling patterns would drive water droplets (from rain) into the soffit and trims as gravity took over, water always find the path of less resistance, would find its way to where trims were fastened to wall sheathing, usually with staples. This is the preferred method of installation however when the staple penetrates the material being fastened there is blow out of the back of it creating a slightly larger hole just big enough for water droplets. As materials expand and contract through the thaw-freeze cycle, is just a matter of time.

Had there been a rain screen installed behind the stone veneer, this most certainly would have allowed the sheathing to dry out properly. As well as a window trim to allow for servicing of the windows.

As for the windows, from what I see in your pictures, the tie in was to minimum standards as we see in a lot of construction practices. Had there been a membrane, soprema or equivalent, with primer installed this would have protected the structure around the window and allowed moisture from window to properly drain onto the building paper or rainscreen.

I hope this helps

Duane