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Leaky Windows. What now?

By Kimberly Shane

Leaky Windows. What now?

leaky windows blog.jpgIt’s a tale as old as time… girl moves into her dream home and just as she is getting settled in and it starts to feel like it’s always been hers… there is a problem! Our little problem showed its face last week. We had our first heavy storm (with rain, not snow) which brought with it a strong north-eastern wind. Luckily all our big trees stood strong but our bedroom windows, well that’s a different story!

During the storm, my husband and I could hear what sounded like water dripping on the floor; we searched high and low but couldn’t figure out where it was coming from and chucked it up to “new house noises”. It wasn’t until the next morning when opening the curtains, to let in the upcoming sunshine, that I found where that water had come in, see below. <insert disappointing sound effects> The bad news is, we have discovered a leak. The good news is, at least we discovered it.

So, what are we to do? According to Ecoline Windows, we first need to figure out where the leak is coming from. They have kindly provided photos of different leaks they have seen over the time and what the cause may be, here. The short version is, if there are leaks on the wall around, above or below the window then that means there is somewhere in the wall that is allowing water in and it is pooling above or below the window itself—this does not mean a bad window but an issue in the structure. On the other hand, there may be an issue with the window itself if, “the window leak is visible in the area where the window sash meets the jamb, or on the window frame”.

For us, it looks like we might have an issue with the structure given then location of our leak which is a big bummer! According to the article there are many options for fixes from fixing the weather stripping to rebuilding a half rotten wall. A full frame window replacement is an expansive undertaking but is the most thorough. Not only will the professionals be able to remove any damaged or rotten wood from the frame and wall structure (yay!) but they will also be able to identify where the leak is coming from.

If you are needing to replace your windows and are thinking about a full remodel (I am now), you need to know your options for financing. Start by applying for a renovation loan to see what is available to you. Click the "Apply Now" button on our homepage! 

 Source: https://www.ecolinewindows.ca/leaking-windows/

Tags: Renovate, Home Maintenance, renovation, windows, Renovation Lending