What can I do about leaking windows?

Question

We have wooden framed double galzing and cracks have appeared around the frame, where it meets the wall. Water is leaking through when it rains heavily, is this a big and expensive problem to fix? Any advise would be appreciated!!

We have wooden framed double galzing and cracks have appeared around the frame, where it meets the wall. Water is leaking through when it rains heavily, is this a big and expensive problem to fix? Any advise would be appreciated!!

Edit:

Thanks for the answers so far. The paintwork around the cracks is bubbling and blistering now. Do we need to wait for it to dry out before we apply any kind of sealant?

Answer 1

Buy a good quality sealer and carefully seal the frame.

Answer 2

Check with a local roofer, I know it's windows, but they are good at investigating and fixing leaks (it's usually not the roof leaking, but the windows leaking into the walls & they know how to fix that). We used an industrial strength caulk on our windows, it was like a sanded sealer. It worked very well on our problem. Two different roofers tipped us off to the window problem AND the solutions

Answer 3

The person above me is right. The weep holes are probably the problem. In your time with the caulking gun I wonder if you filled them? Either way, do not be afraid to clean, or even slightly enlarge these holes. You can probably go 1/32 or 1/16 bigger with no problem. And remember, these holes are not round for a reason. Make sure they aren't when you are done either. Water plugs up a round hole, but drains out an oblong one. two small holes side by side will usually do the trick. Do not go too far in, just poke through the first, thin piece of metal, 1/16 deep. Hope that helps.

Answer 4

You need to seal around the frames with a low modulus or neutral curing silicon. This can be bought from a DIY store or your local builders merchant. The reason for using low mod' or neutral curing is that it does not contain acids and therefore will not react with any of the brick/stone work or cement as other silicons would. There is a wide range of colours available. Also make sure the surfaces are dry when applying or it will not stick correctly, this includes the brick/stone. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

have the window frame re sealed its not that expensive unless the guy doing the work finds out that the frame is not tightly fit against the wall if there is an actual space between the wall and the window frame it could cost afew hundred to fix if there is alot of damage

I had mine re sealed before this winter and the person doing it had torn down the window frame because it was rotted out and he showed me there was a full half inche of free space between the window and the wall which is supposed to be filled in but wasn't which caused the problem to be far worse then it should have been

Answer 6

Try looking at the same area-except on the OUTSIDE. If there are cracks there as well , then seal them with a caulk that is recommended by your local hardware store or Home Depot (they are familiar with your climate/weather and also know what caulks will be most effective for the job). On the inside, you may want to do the same thing only with a 'paintable' caulk. Good luck.

Answer 7

Try to get a dry day( Iknow it is winter) use a clear mastic you can get them from B&Q or any other DIY store. You can use it as a temporay measure until you can afford to have it done by the professionals. You dont want it to get wet and then it to ice over this would make the carack bigger and cause more damage. Get an estimate from more than one company before you throw money at it.

You could get a book from the library and do it all yourself. Good Luck.

Answer 8

no cut all the old silicon out. get some new gun applied silicon in a tube to what colour frames are. a tube costs £3 a gun £1.50.cut nozzle to a 45 angle run gun down sides of window keeping same pressure on trigger so u get an even flow.then wet your finger and run it down the seal you just did to smooth it out.keep some tissue Andy wipe fingers clean your looking at £10 to fix

Answer 9

Yes that is s abig problem because that could cause your wood around it to get those bubble looking things when wood gets wet. Home Depot may have a sealer that you can buy and it may ot be that exspensive if it is you could buy the little sealers in the tube temporarily. But the sealer should work.

Answer 10

Go to home depot buy some caulk and a caulk gun and seal the leak

Answer 11

As Markos suggests, but wait until you have a dry spell before applying it.

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