Nightmare Leaking Windows

[Mickey]

Hi All,

Cornwall is not the place for poorly constructed and fitted windows! The wooden inserts in our mullion windows have been so poorly fitted, not by us! that in this horrendous weather the water just leaks in, we end up with sopping wet towels and containers catching drips on window cills. The actual window panes are fitted using doweling (possibly not the correct term) and not puttied in and so the water just leaks through these as well it is a complete nightmare, especially at 5am. I just wondered if anyone has experience of same and if this can be rectified without taking out the windows, obviously I think the puttying can be done properly in place I think but I can see daylight around some of the edges of the windows and I'm not sure how that can be sorted out and I definitely don't want to see expandable foam round the edges. Also, I am not sure what type of tradesman I need, general builder I guess not a joiner? If anyone has any reccomendations for someone suitable in the Truro area that would be so much appreciated. In the meantime, please please let it stop lashing downwards/sideways in Cornwall!

many thanks
Mickey

 

[plasticpigeon]

Oh no doesn't sound good! I have been renovating my sash windows recently, and one thing I have noticed is that even when I have put them in with no mortar around the frames, and no mastic sealing the join between wood and brick, even on the sill, there isn't any water ingress when it rains, although it is very draughty. I'm inclined to suggest that perhaps the windows are not well designed or not put in correctly and a repair in situ might be difficult, especially in this weather. Pictures would be really good. I wouldn't know who to turn to, but unless you want to start as crash course on building construction, (as I seem to be doing) I'd have though a good joiner would be the best person to help. Try and use the best person you can find even if they are expensive!!!!!

 

[88v8]

Oh dear.
Glazing held in by beading is not a great period feature, but it shouldn't leak. The glazing in our conservatory was beaded but that didn't leak.
The main problem is that any rectification done while the wood is wet and therefore swollen, will need redoing .... as it will crack when it has dried out in the summer.
I would start by pinning polythene to the outside to keep the rain off. Yes, it will make the room a bit dark..
Then either post some pics on here or get some carpenters round to take a look. I would however not make any attempt to fix things while the wood is wet. If you are going to putty for instance - and you need to be careful which putty you use if you have sealed units - the wood wil need priming first, and that can't be done until it's dried.
In the meantime, kill a black cockerel and mutter some spells to stop the rain. If the spells don't work, eat the cockerel.

Ivor

 

[Mickey]

Many thanks for replies. Yes wood will now be sodden...inside and out! The trouble with our location is we are set up slightly high overlooking sea inlet and the weather blows in horrizontally and hits the front...and sometimes the back... of the building side on and just drives the rain in. Windows are poorly designed constructed and fitted like most things done to our house, which was converted prior to it's listing, they are softwood single glazed. Will try to post some pics but I agree attention from the best available person and not the cheapest will be our route, sadly we cannot afford new windows. May try dare I say temp silicon gun/plastic sheeting to the outside until we can get someone round.

Many thanks again advice is very much appreciated.

Mickey

 

[plasticpigeon]

As your house is listed, if you are allowed to instate new single glazed frames it shouldn't cost as much as double glazed wooden units. I have no experience of listed building consent but I imagine in your case you may have to use single glazed frames. I can't think of a reason to use beading with single glazing, that just sounds bizarre. It could be the case that properly made frames will be a cheaper option than constantly battling something that is not correctly made in the first place so perhaps don't discount new frames all together. A cheap temporary fix for the winter sounds about right.

 

[Flyfisher]

Oh dear.
I would start by pinning polythene to the outside to keep the rain off.

I'd agree with that, as a temporary measure, except I'd recommend using breathable roofing membrane. I've got bits of the stuff fixed over various bits of our house awaiting a permanent repair and it does a great job of weatherproofing things without trapping any damp.

In fact, if it wasn't so ugly, it would be the perfect answer for weather proofing period properties!

 

[worms]

I can't think of a reason to use beading with single glazing, that just sounds bizarre. It could be the case that properly made frames will be a cheaper option than constantly battling something that is not correctly made in the first place so perhaps don't discount new frames all together. A cheap temporary fix for the winter sounds about right.

Being mullions, I wonder if they have been installed from the inside, with the glazing rebate facing inwards and beaded internally? This might account for the rain on the glass running inwards? Whatever, they sound like a cheap bodge.

From the point of view of temporary fix, I guess it is important to ask how easy is access to the outside - is it a single storey building or something taller? I'd put external acrylic sheeting into the mix as a potential short-term solution. More expensive than polythene, but less visually intrusive.