Water coming in

[Anonymous]

I live in a 15o year old Victorian, yorkshire stone house. When we get a driving rain, water pours in around one of the windows and everything seems sealed. I'm beginning to think the stone could be porous. has anyone any ideas on what I could do about it? thanks .. MarK

 

[Anonymous]

If water is "pouring" in, then the problem is going to be more than any slight porosity of the stone. Stone walls are often built with two "skins" - inside and outside, with a rubble-filled cavity between them. So - if you're sure that the window itself is well sealed into the reveal - it's possible that the water is getting in somewhere above the window and running down inside the cavity.
Carefully check all possibilities such as pointing, guttering, flashing (if any), the roof, etc. And remember that water can be deceptive. Sometimes the ingress point is a considerable distance from where it actually decides to show itself. So don't assume that it must be getting in directly above the window.
A lot of stone is slightly porous, but this isn't a problem. It just soaks up a bit of water in wet weather and gives it off again as vapour in dry weather.

 

[Anonymous]

David is absolutely right - expect the unexpected!
Many years ago I was asked to repair the corner of a roof that was leaking. Well, it turned out to be a real game. Eventually I found out that the leak was nowhere near the damp patch on the bedroom cieling. One day I happened to be in the loft when conditions were right and watched water travel up the hip rafter a matter of 3 or 4ft before dropping on to the ceiling! There was a wind but not a particularly strong one. I just could'nt believe my eyes! Mike.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree - I have had experience of this with my mother's house, with a former neighbour's house, and with my own. Rain can get in and travel for a long way until it can show itself in unlikely spots. Sometimes the places it drips in can change, too, which is very frustrating when trying to get to the cause of problems.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks David, sounds like good advice. There is some loose flashing (a long way away) and I shall investigate. .. Mark