HELP!!! MY WINDOW (DOOR) LEAKS...
By EcoEco|March 20, 2017
HELP!!! MY WINDOW (DOOR) LEAKS...
Windows and doors can leak, but in most cases, water around your reveal area of a window has originated somewhere else and just finds it easiest to escape where the window meets the frame and brickwork. It's an annoying issue for the builder and for the window supplier to try to track down the cause of a "leak". Everyone starts by blaming the window, but most often (with a few exceptions i will give), the window is OK, Doors have the same problem at the head and jamb, i.e. not usually a door problem. But leaking doors are a more frequent occurrence, and the causes are more likely to be related to the door itself.
The impact of quality
A client bought a S***** home and with a small negotiation, he was allowed to use EcoEco windows, his brother-in-law decided to buy another major project builder's home - they built on adjacent blocks - but this builder insisted that he used the regular window supplier. The windows in the client's home were all watertight, the BIL's windows leaked- all of them - he called the builder... "it's normal for Australian windows to leak" (yes, that is honestly what they said). Fortunately he was well connected with a decent window company and all the leaks were sealed. There are builders' quality windows and there are builders quality windows. Certain suppliers make a low quality window in a low quality way, so having skimped on materials, they then skimp on processes and controls. A window which has been designed to use less materials should not leak in a flat and reasonably dense suburban area. Unfortunately, a window made by skimping on quality is likely to leak in any area. Check the quality of your windows and doors, also make sure the drain holes are clear, that the tracks in sliders are clean so that the drainage system can work. Sometimes the manufacturer may have missed putting drain holes in a window or door... that is a guarantee they will leak.
Check out these shots I borrowed from another thread, the comments are mine and refer to the plastic glazing wedge which has been stretched too tightly, leaving gaps at the corners which get worse in a short time, also notice the gaps in the aluminium and the light coming through...
Ed @EcoEco.com.au
Windows and doors can leak, but in most cases, water around your reveal area of a window has originated somewhere else and just finds it easiest to escape where the window meets the frame and brickwork. It's an annoying issue for the builder and for the window supplier to try to track down the cause of a "leak". Everyone starts by blaming the window, but most often (with a few exceptions i will give), the window is OK, Doors have the same problem at the head and jamb, i.e. not usually a door problem. But leaking doors are a more frequent occurrence, and the causes are more likely to be related to the door itself.
The impact of quality
A client bought a S***** home and with a small negotiation, he was allowed to use EcoEco windows, his brother-in-law decided to buy another major project builder's home - they built on adjacent blocks - but this builder insisted that he used the regular window supplier. The windows in the client's home were all watertight, the BIL's windows leaked- all of them - he called the builder... "it's normal for Australian windows to leak" (yes, that is honestly what they said). Fortunately he was well connected with a decent window company and all the leaks were sealed. There are builders' quality windows and there are builders quality windows. Certain suppliers make a low quality window in a low quality way, so having skimped on materials, they then skimp on processes and controls. A window which has been designed to use less materials should not leak in a flat and reasonably dense suburban area. Unfortunately, a window made by skimping on quality is likely to leak in any area. Check the quality of your windows and doors, also make sure the drain holes are clear, that the tracks in sliders are clean so that the drainage system can work. Sometimes the manufacturer may have missed putting drain holes in a window or door... that is a guarantee they will leak.
Check out these shots I borrowed from another thread, the comments are mine and refer to the plastic glazing wedge which has been stretched too tightly, leaving gaps at the corners which get worse in a short time, also notice the gaps in the aluminium and the light coming through...
Ed @EcoEco.com.au
