| When you say "Masonite" I'm just guessing that you must have t1-11 sheet siding? Large 4x8 or 4x9 sheets that currently serve as your sheathing? Because if you have Masonite lap siding, you would certainly have other sheathing already on the home.
Depending on the style of windows you have, you may or may not need to pull them. That would really be a lot of work that you'd want to avoid if at all possible- perhaps by cutting neatly around the nailing fins (if so equipped), and leaving the masonite in those locations only.
If you have the types of windows with sills and brickmould trim, you would likely want to pull off and replace the brickmould (sills would likely need to stay) which would allow you to get all the sheathing off around the old window without actually removing it. New sheathing would slip under the sill, and new brickmould would be installed on top of the new sheathing.
As Chandler mentioned, using the new flashing tape products is pretty much the new standard practice around windows- especially those with nailing flanges. I would not omit that step.
So I guess I would want to know what style of windows you have before going any farther in my reply. Do they have nailing fins, or not? (If you've pulled off any exterior trim or siding yet, that will make the answer obvious).  |