My double glazing is weeping?
Discussion
Evening all,
I investigated the cause of flaking paint around a downstairs window by removing the plastic strips siliconed around the inside edge, and found plaster that was pretty wet to the touch.
With the rain and wind tonight, I can now watch beads of water drip out of the bottom corner of the inside of the glazing unit, pool along the bottom edge, before spilling onto the window sill.
From here, it presumably runs each way, and then get drawn into the plaster, causing the eventual flaking of the emulsion paint.
I've been here 4 years, so my fault entirely for not checking sooner, but this is the first time I've actually seen water on the inside of the window, and just luck that we get a really heavy rain storm a day or so after I start to poke around with the window a bit.
I'd been thinking about things like rising damp and cavity trays, so to see an obvious leak is in one way quite a relief.
Does anyone have any suggestions what might be causing this? and fixes? I'll be seeing who I can get to look at this in the morning of course.
note: it is definately not condensation. I've been watching this ooze out of the frame steadily for several minutes
thanks, Ian
Pic 1- the unit weeping: its from between the glass and the inner seal
Pic 2 - with tonights heavy rain, this is about 5 minutes worht. I've been in the house 4 years, and it's rained quite a bit in that time...
Pic 3 - after investigaing the flaky paint, I releaved this (couple of days before I first saw the water today)
Pic 4 - rubbish shot of outside of window...not sure if a motar strip under the window is a good idea? Note: this window unit doesn't open - it's fixed in place.
I investigated the cause of flaking paint around a downstairs window by removing the plastic strips siliconed around the inside edge, and found plaster that was pretty wet to the touch.
With the rain and wind tonight, I can now watch beads of water drip out of the bottom corner of the inside of the glazing unit, pool along the bottom edge, before spilling onto the window sill.
From here, it presumably runs each way, and then get drawn into the plaster, causing the eventual flaking of the emulsion paint.
I've been here 4 years, so my fault entirely for not checking sooner, but this is the first time I've actually seen water on the inside of the window, and just luck that we get a really heavy rain storm a day or so after I start to poke around with the window a bit.
I'd been thinking about things like rising damp and cavity trays, so to see an obvious leak is in one way quite a relief.
Does anyone have any suggestions what might be causing this? and fixes? I'll be seeing who I can get to look at this in the morning of course.
note: it is definately not condensation. I've been watching this ooze out of the frame steadily for several minutes
thanks, Ian
Pic 1- the unit weeping: its from between the glass and the inner seal
Pic 2 - with tonights heavy rain, this is about 5 minutes worht. I've been in the house 4 years, and it's rained quite a bit in that time...
Pic 3 - after investigaing the flaky paint, I releaved this (couple of days before I first saw the water today)
Pic 4 - rubbish shot of outside of window...not sure if a motar strip under the window is a good idea? Note: this window unit doesn't open - it's fixed in place.
Others may know better than me but here's a couple of thoughts:
- That looks a lot like an opening window, it has all the features of one. So not sure why it would be installed as non-opening unless it was to give a matching appearance?
- The leak is probably going to be a blocked drainage hole somewhere; water is getting past the outer bead, not draining away then taking the easiest way out which is around the inner seal. Clearing the drain will fix the immediate problem. For a start pop off the outer drain covers in the outer lower frame and see if there is anything that can be cleared, otherwise the bead will have to come off.
- That looks a lot like an opening window, it has all the features of one. So not sure why it would be installed as non-opening unless it was to give a matching appearance?
- The leak is probably going to be a blocked drainage hole somewhere; water is getting past the outer bead, not draining away then taking the easiest way out which is around the inner seal. Clearing the drain will fix the immediate problem. For a start pop off the outer drain covers in the outer lower frame and see if there is anything that can be cleared, otherwise the bead will have to come off.
Agree, drainage in sash/frome. probably have to take out glass unit and clear drainage holes in plastic profile. yours are external bead and from the pics I think are using a wedge gasket inside which makes it easier for you to remove/replace. To remove glass, first peel up rubber gasket inside and remove.This will allow the glass to be pushed towards the inside and allows easy removal of external beads. when replacing, put glass in place, push towards the inside, replace beads which will go in easy and will be loose. Then go inside push glass against outside beads and force the wedge gaskets back in place (some glass cleaner/lubricant makes this easier. Hope this helps (a paint scraper/ filling knife type of tool for rubber and bead removal)
Edited by monty999 on Monday 8th February 09:56
Ian Geary said:
I am keen to give it a go tbh, but need to do some reading up. To me, "Frome" is a town in Somerset...
I guess after 4 years (& more) of leaking, I can make it to the weekend before having a poke around.
cheers,
Ian
Sorry, sash is the opening part, frame (often miss-spelt frome) is the area that's not the sash & .... the glass unit's the bit in the middle ! I guess after 4 years (& more) of leaking, I can make it to the weekend before having a poke around.
cheers,
Ian
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