Proglaze® ETA is a transition assembly composed of pre-engineered, finished aluminum and silicone materials that are mechanically attached to the window and/or wall’s structural framing to insure a durable connection and seal. The system’s design absorbs thermal movement and wind-loading stresses. The translucent silicone material allows the installer and/or inspector to see through the gasket to verify the recommended amount of sealant is properly applied to ensure an effective seal is achieved, while the ribs of the gasket’s design ensures a minimum sealant thickness. Proglaze® ETA is a patented assembly of systems and connections that is fully compatible with most window sealants and glazing materials and has been tested to provide documented performance when used in conjunction with ExoAir® air barrier materials.
Dave Sisson:
This is a good product idea. I think Tremco is leading the charge for this. Essentially, what they do is to make sealant (silicone) into a strip, then use it to bridge the joint rather than relying on the sealant. Essentially, they are using silicone as flexible flashing instead of the asphalt or butyl based flexible flashing products. The silicone can stretch and therefore has long term reliability. It still needs to be sealed back to the wall. You can see in the detail that they use silicone sealant to seal it back to the air/weather barrier. You have to be careful that the silicone sealant is compatible with whatever you are using as a weather barrier – and the silicone has to stick to it (!!). Tremco has other products that essentially do the same thing – strips of silicone used to seal an opening to the surrounding surfaces. (I think even one for skylights?)
I've run into this with Henry blueskin – silicone sealant won't stick to it. You can get Henry "metal clad" which is an aluminum faced flexible flashing product that silicone will stick to, but the problem is that no one will warrant the joint (concern that the silicone will pull the aluminum facing off the flexible flashing over time).
Another product which is interesting is using a spray on weather barrier from the STO corp. They reinforce the area around the opening with a fiberglass mesh. They say that this operates as a flexible flashing and you can seal directly to it with silicone.
See here:
You might also find this guide interesting: (WINDOW AND DOOR DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDE)
