D725A

During storms with heavy winds from the direction that the window faces, water penetrates under the window sill on the right side. (see attached photos)
It would appear that the water penetrates under the bottom sash and goes into the hole on the right (where the vinyl covering ends.) Presumably the plan was for that water to exit the outside bottom weep hole on photo 2 but perhaps after 18 years these are blocked with dirt. (There are other weep holes higher up, which presumably remove water from the higher drainage plain, which probably work ok.)

You can see the 'two-step' design of the drainage plain, which strikes me as a potential problem that traps water at the crack between the two. I thought of plugging up the side gaps wiht caulk but then where would the water go? How do you clean up these weep holes if that's the problem?

Thanks.

EZHangDoor

Try cleaning the weep hole with a small wire or pipe cleaner. You can also use a small spray bottle and squirt water in the hole and see is anything runs out. Most likely the problem is moisture coming in from the top of the window. Properly flashing and preparing the opening when installing a window is a must. Here is a link to preparing a window opening.

__________________
EZHang
[url]www.EZHangDoor.com[/url]

D725A

Thanks EZ, good advice, i'll try that first.

oldognewtrick

You will also want to recaulk all areas where the metal trim terminates against the window and the exposed nail heads. DO NOT use silicone caulk. Go to your local siding supply house (not the big box store) and get a caulk specific for siding applications.

D725A

Well, back in the fall we followed all the suggestions, made sure all the weep holes were clear, re-caulked, but rain still leaks in when rain is accompanied by heavy winds. Do we now have to remove and re-install the windows? (They're 20 years old, if that's relevant.)

nealtw

At least start by removing the sheeting on the outside, you may get a nasty surprise, but that might give you hints of where the water is coming from.

asbestos

I work on a lot of houses on the water and so wind driven rain is a common issue. Start above the window,sometimes water runs down the inside until it hits the header of the window look for any place water may get in. Then slowly examine every joint,seam nailhead, and corner around the window. Use a small stiff putty knife to gently look under edges, it's there, it just may be hard to find and small.

And don't fall off the ladder.

__________________
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts

joecaption

Looks like a classic case of someone installing the windows and later had someone wrap the wood with coil stock.
It needed to be the other way around.
Now you have an exposed seam where water can get in under the coil stock and rot out the sill at the bottom of the window, exposed nails on the sill.
The coil should have been installed first and all the way up to the stool then the window sits on top of it
If you look at the sides at the bottom where they ran the trim, for some strange reason they bent it back forming a funnel for water to get in, by leaving the bottom of it tight to the sill and then caulking it there's no way for water to drain in the corner.

And your right that is the strangest sill on the bottom of a window I've ever seen. At first glance I thought it might be a replacement window that was installed backwards with a storm window on the outside. It looks like a waterfall made to run the water to the inside instead of the outside.

No modern window I've ever seen is built like that.

D725A

Thanks for these great replies. So to do what 'asbestos' suggests, the upper shingles etc would probably have to be removed. and re: Joe caption's comment, the window should be completely re-installed.

EZHangDoor

If the window are 20 years old. Replacing them is probably a good thing. Be sure to get a quality Low E glazing for the glass. If you're going through the hassle of changing the window spend the extra for the higher efficient window, it's well worth it.

__________________
EZHang
[url]www.EZHangDoor.com[/url]