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The Things You Don't See When Your Window Leaks

By
Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

 

You may have experienced this in your own home. The rainy season starts and you notice a few drops of water on the window sill, you probably just wipe it up and forget about it. Perhaps it only happens when the winds are strong, no big deal. Or maybe it is.

 

There are several ways for a window to leak water.

  • The window was not completely closed.
  • Water is filling up in the track at the bottom
  • The gutter above gets clogged and a large amount of water pours onto the window below.
  • Water getting behind the trim board and siding.

 

These things happen, but they should be addressed. If we use a window properly and it is installed correctly, water should never get into your home. If water is getting inside in any manner, it is bad.

Now Tom, how bad could it be? I'm only getting a few drops every now and then. I'd like to say that you are right, it's not a problem. But I can't, it's not true. Windows are designed to keep the water outside the building. This will cause problems for you because materials that are not meant to get wet, are getting wet. For example, the window sill, the insulation in the walls, the framing of the house, the sheetrock, and flooring.

Sometimes it can be an easy fix. Sometimes it can be a little more complex. What is important, is to address the issue of water intrusion into your home. Fix it yourself, ask a friend who knows what to do, or call a contractor, but get it to stop leaking!

Choosing to do nothing can compound the problem, making for an expensive repair later. These picture are from a homeowner who had stuggled to correct a leaking window that they had in their bedroom. By the time that they had call us to check it out, the dry rot had gotten pretty bad.

Don't neglecte the problem, get it fixed.

Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Yes, tut;s anazubg how much damade water can do.  Somerimea, when it's just a little amount, we ignore it until it is too late and then repaii does get a lot more epensive.

Aug 25, 2011 11:37 PM
Daniel H. Fisher
www.FisherHermanRealty.com (704) 617-3544 - Charlotte, NC
MCRP - Charlotte Real Estate, NC or SC

I don't worry about a few drops of water on the windowsill only in the spring when it was because a sudden shower splashed off the deck on through the slightly open window.  Wet insulation and other building materials can quickly make a household sick.

Aug 26, 2011 12:56 AM
Stella Barbour
NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA
Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

I have showed a few houses or two with this type of water damage.  It is funny how people will just deal with the water instead of actually fixing it.

Aug 26, 2011 01:43 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Water can do some damage pretty quick Debbie.

You are right about getting sick Daniel.

Thanks Stella. The water is the easy part.

Aug 26, 2011 02:38 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Water. It's always water. Anything goes wrong with a home and it's water. One way or another. It there was no water we would not have houses. Just nets to keep off the flies.

Aug 28, 2011 06:24 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Interesting theory Robert.

Aug 28, 2011 02:17 PM