Sweenor Builders has decades of experience building along the Rhode Island coast, so if there’s something they know a lot about, it’s water management. In this video they explain their process for installing windows in a way that keeps water out.

Here’s a recap of the installation process followed by Lead Carpenter Adam Spink of Sweenor Builders in the video above.

Spink and team wrapped the home with a water-resistive barrier (WRB) overlapping the flange of the sill pan and extending halfway inside the window’s rough opening. It’s important to note they only extended the WRB halfway inside the rough opening. They did this to ensure it was well-adhered to the stud so any intruding water would run off the WRB and drip into the pan, all without getting in the way of the insulation (as can happen if the WRB extends too far into the house). They added sealant behind the edge of the flange to prevent air from pulling inside, in the case of negative pressure.