Water marks/leak under window sill?
Discussion
Hi guys wondering if anyone has any advice on this.
I had a window company out to look at the problem in the picture below and they said it’s something else higher up. There is no gutter above only the edge of the roof with a concrete verge- it’s not perfect but thought it weird it coming in under the window not above.
The sill (wooden) is cracked which to me indicates it’s the window; but I got totally fobbed off by this company.
It only happens when it’s windy and rainy and it gets driven against the back of the house.
Anyone had water stains/leak under a window in this way? This is the only point it happens nowhere else under the window.
A second opinion and replacement window or am I missing something?
I had a window company out to look at the problem in the picture below and they said it’s something else higher up. There is no gutter above only the edge of the roof with a concrete verge- it’s not perfect but thought it weird it coming in under the window not above.
The sill (wooden) is cracked which to me indicates it’s the window; but I got totally fobbed off by this company.
It only happens when it’s windy and rainy and it gets driven against the back of the house.
Anyone had water stains/leak under a window in this way? This is the only point it happens nowhere else under the window.
A second opinion and replacement window or am I missing something?
I have had this. A bead of silicone outside on the bottom edge of the window frame fixed it. That was where I presumed water ingress came from. The water must have moved/travelled/dripped in a way that I cannot fathom, but given it was solved, I am happy. Did make a mess of a plaster re-skim unfortunately.
TUS373 said:
I have had this. A bead of silicone outside on the bottom edge of the window frame fixed it. That was where I presumed water ingress came from. The water must have moved/travelled/dripped in a way that I cannot fathom, but given it was solved, I am happy. Did make a mess of a plaster re-skim unfortunately.
Hmmm last year I tried finding any holes and filled with silicone and well todays weather has demonstrated little success. Lotobear said:
Need to see the exterior really to comment.
However, as a simple exercise, its worth checking the drainage holes in the window frame aren't blocked or even omitted as I notice you appear to have an opening casement which meets the bottom frame member.
Thanks. However, as a simple exercise, its worth checking the drainage holes in the window frame aren't blocked or even omitted as I notice you appear to have an opening casement which meets the bottom frame member.
Where should drainage holes be in the window?
Sorry new to this!
Yes the bottom half of the window opens. It doesn’t open particularly smoothly which I wasn’t sure if that was a contributing factor.
Lotobear said:
Need to see the exterior really to comment.
However, as a simple exercise, its worth checking the drainage holes in the window frame aren't blocked or even omitted as I notice you appear to have an opening casement which meets the bottom frame member.
This happened to me.However, as a simple exercise, its worth checking the drainage holes in the window frame aren't blocked or even omitted as I notice you appear to have an opening casement which meets the bottom frame member.
The drain hole was forgotten on one window so the frame filled up and started leaking back into the house through the fixing penetration. When I drilled a small hole at the bottom of the frame I had a jet of water as it emptied.
barryrs said:
Lotobear said:
Need to see the exterior really to comment.
However, as a simple exercise, its worth checking the drainage holes in the window frame aren't blocked or even omitted as I notice you appear to have an opening casement which meets the bottom frame member.
This happened to me.However, as a simple exercise, its worth checking the drainage holes in the window frame aren't blocked or even omitted as I notice you appear to have an opening casement which meets the bottom frame member.
The drain hole was forgotten on one window so the frame filled up and started leaking back into the house through the fixing penetration. When I drilled a small hole at the bottom of the frame I had a jet of water as it emptied.
Mopey said:
There are two of these so assume water drains from there and then out in the gap between the frame.
So perhaps it’s not that.
...there should be a couple of drain holes through the external face of the frame as well to let the water out, which usually have small plastic 'hoods' on them. Check these are present and that they are clear of debris (the hoods usually pull off).So perhaps it’s not that.
...trickle some water into that slot and see if it runs out externally
If the frame is sat on a separate cill, like the pic, there will be no face drainage covers to see, the holes for any water to exit will be in the bottom of the frame, water exits there drips on to the cill and runs away, the gap you see is normal, don’t seal it up. Where the frame sits on cill, it should have a bead of silicone at the ends so if any water blows into that gap it can’t run off and make its way inside, hard to describe and harder to see if it has been done.
ETA What is the plastic cill sat on, a separate stone/ concrete cill? Are there any cracks in that and does it have a decent overhang with a drip groove in it and is it properly sealed where it sits in the masonry below?
ETA What is the plastic cill sat on, a separate stone/ concrete cill? Are there any cracks in that and does it have a decent overhang with a drip groove in it and is it properly sealed where it sits in the masonry below?
Edited by wolfracesonic on Wednesday 20th September 16:37
It’s sat on a concrete cil that appears to be in alright condition. Can’t comment on the masonry below it.
Can’t see a groove of any kind in the concrete though.
This is a photo of one of those corners you describe?
ETA another image.
And to say that there is a gap between the plastic Cill and the concrete cill that’s got mortar and then silicone over the top.
Can’t see a groove of any kind in the concrete though.
This is a photo of one of those corners you describe?
ETA another image.
And to say that there is a gap between the plastic Cill and the concrete cill that’s got mortar and then silicone over the top.
Edited by Mopey on Wednesday 20th September 17:41
Edited by Mopey on Wednesday 20th September 17:49
The drainage holes will be under the frame. If you pour water in, it will come out between the frame and pvc cill. My guess is ,it’s not sealed properly between the pvc cill and concrete cill, probably in the corner and the wind is blowing rain back inside, and something is causing it to bridge the cavity.
Okay so I may try and put another bead of silicone in those corners as pictured above and see if that makes a difference. Cheaper than a replacement window! Although I need to change the inside cill- looking online it seems straightforward even for someone with my level of DIY ability.
Just because the drainage slot has been routed on the inside of the frame doesn't necessary mean that it wasn't forgotten under it. Are you able to see if the frame is holding water through the slot from above?
The fact that the outside of the frame is wet around the seals after opening and that their is signs of rust from the opening casement still makes me think the frame is holding water.
The fact that the outside of the frame is wet around the seals after opening and that their is signs of rust from the opening casement still makes me think the frame is holding water.
It’s almost impossible to get the silicone where it needs to be at this stage i.e right at the end of the cill to seal between it and the frame, though I think the problem is more likely to be water tracking in on the underside of the stone cill between itself and the brickwork it’s sat on.
wolfracesonic said:
I think the problem is more likely to be water tracking in on the underside of the stone cill between itself and the brickwork it’s sat on.
The cill looks like it's been in place for years so seems unlikely to now be a problem whatever was done to the window.Every time I've found water getting in from a frame it's either been bad or no drainage combined with a leak.
Test the drain holes by pouring water in, it'll either confirm they work or not. No downside if the wall is already wet, and it shouldn't take a lot before it runs out so hardly going to be litres running into the wall.
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