Help, Window Leaking

[luchobucho]

So, I have a big bow window on the front of my house on the first floor.
When it rains as it has been today, I get water dripping in through the top casing of the window. Sometimes its a lot of water and sometimes its a little.....seems to depend on how the wind blows. Once water poured in like a faucet.

I have a full width awning up.

Anyone have any ideas where water could be getting in? anyone know who i could call to help me? Its getting worse.

Thanks.

[John Arnold]

Probably failed flashing at the top. A good roofer should be able to fix it.

[HomeInspectorBC]

Hello and Happy Thursday,

Many things can lead to leaks around the windows, some involving the window and some not. In this forum a picture is worth a thousand words can you post pictures close up and and 10-12 feet from the exterior and close ups of the interior?

How long has the window been installed ? Is it wood/vinyl/metal ? Is there a flat cover over the window or is it sloped away from the structure? Is there a history of leaks or is this a recent issue? Did you contact the installer of the window if known?

What type of ot exterior finish does the house have above the window, vimyl/brick/metal/stone/stucco?

Sometimes a masonry wall such as brick or stucco that has not been maintained allows water in behind the wall and the water leaks in at penetrations in the wall such as doors/windows/spigots et cetera.

If the house is new construction and has a masonry wall(particularly stucco) it is probably the masonry wall, unfortunately too often in modern construction(last 25-30 years) houses with stucco are soakers/leakers and I would not even consider buying a modern house with stucco. If it is a brick wall a lot of time in new construction we are seeing that the contractor does not caulk/seal the gap between the lintel and the masonry wall or the window, or in older houses we will see that the steel lintel is failing/sagging allowing gaps between the lintel and window/structure. If there is vinyl/metal siding a lot of times the caulking around the window is not maintained and source of water intrusion. Hope fully it is just a caulk fix.

If the window is wood the window itself could be failing with damaged wood. There are too many different scenarios that could be causing the leak and not enough information. Hope this gives you a good starting point to help determine the source of the water intrusion.

A good window installer or handyman should be able to help with your situation, unless it is a masonry wall then it would require the expertise/skills of a qualified contractor. If you think we could help you with this issue please contact us at the number below.

Thank you for your time and good luck,

[luchobucho]

Just to clarify, its a bow window set into the brick facade.

I'll try to get a photo up at somepoint.

But the window is an older anderson wood window. Its a 4-module, 10degree bow.

The water comes in through the "top" which is essentially under the lintel within the brick opening in the facade. This is very common in my neighborhood. I would say 30-40% of the houses around here have this configuration.

Lke this:


My one other thought. I sprayed the house a few weeks ago to try to find where the water was coming in. There is an awning and based on the quantity of water that enters, I thought water might be entering in one of the anchor holes for the awning track.

I mean, how much water can migrate through brick facade?

[#1MetsFan]

Caulk it, imo.

[HomeInspectorBC]

To Luchobucho,

Thanks for the photo. To answer your last question first, a brick veneer wall(facade) can allow a ton of water in if it is not done right, a brick structure does not allow water into the structure unless it is failing due to lack of maintenace/damage to the brick structure. The difference between brick veneer(facade) and brick structure is brick veneer walls are only one brick wythe(wide) while brick structures are typically two-three brick wythes(wide). We are doing a job at 13th and South Street right now where the previous owner installed stucco over stucco to correct a water intrusion issue which failed miserable as the plywood sheathing underneath the stucco is mush and there is water damage/mold growing inside all the walls ihcluding the basement and we are now in the process of taking the back of the house off to correct all the water/mold damage to the structure.

If your house is similar to the one in the picture you posted above and it looks like a typical south philly row, the most likely entry points are the steel lintel and/or the brackets for your awning. Are the bricks/mortar joints above the window sagging/cracking or popping away from the structure. If so there is a failing lintel that most likely needs to be replaced.

Check the areas above and below the lintel for gaps and seal them up as well as other penetrations into the brick wall such as the brackets for the awning and front entrance light.

Do you have a brick veneer wall installed in front of the brick structure or is it the original brick structure on the front of your house? If a new brick wall was built in front of the old brick wall was it done recently? The nice thing about a brick structure is there usually is not structural damage. Turn the heat up and run a fan on the wall to help it dry out faster to hopefully prevent water damage/mold growth behind the wall.

Thank you for your time and good luck,

[luchobucho]

Thanks HIBC

There is a a new brick veneer over the old brick face. My front stanks 1 course proud of my neighbor's fronts.
The bricks over the lintel appear to be in good shape. The veneer front was done maybe in the early 80s (based on what my neighbors tell me).

I will check the area over the window again for brick issues. Its a bit difficult due to the awning being there. I would love to take it off and see the condition of the brick underneath.

To Luchobucho,

Thanks for the photo. To answer your last question first, a brick veneer wall(facade) can allow a ton of water in if it is not done right, a brick structure does not allow water into the structure unless it is failing due to lack of maintenace/damage to the brick structure. The difference between brick veneer(facade) and structure is brick veneer walls are only one brick wythe(wide) while brick structures are typically two-three brick wythes(wide). We are doing a job at 13th and South Street right now where the previous owner installed stucco over stucco to correct a water intrusion issue which failed miserable as the plywood sheathing is mush and there are is water/mold growing inside the walls and we are now in the process of taking the back of the house off to correct all the water/mold damage to the structure.

If your house is similar to the one in the picture you posted above and it looks like a typically south philly row, the most likely entry points are the steel lintel and/or the brackets for your awning. Are the bricks/mortar joints above the window sagging/cracking or popping away from the structure. If so there is a failing lintel that most likely needs to be replaced.

Check the areas above and below the lintel for gaps and seal them up as well as other penetrations into the brick wall such as the brackets for the awning and front entrance light.

Do you have a brick veneer wall installed in front of the brick structure or is it the original brick structure on the front of your house? If a new brick wall was built in front of the old brick wall was it done recently? The nice thing about a brick structure is there usually is not structural damage. Turn the heat up and run a fan on the wall to help it dry out faster to hopefully prevent water damage/mold growth behind the wall.

Thank you for your time and good luck,

[HomeInspectorBC]

To: Luchobucho,

Also check the lintels and caulking around the second floor windows, if water is getting behind the veneer at the second floor windows it could roll down the back side of the veneer and show up at the bay window/penetration on the lower floor. In addition if the top of the brick veneer wall is not sealed at the top near the roof line this can also allow water to roll behind the brick veneer also showing up at the bay window/penetration. Try the lower level stuff and easily accessible areas first and hopefully that takes care of it. It sounds like an unsealed penetration section such as the brackets for the awning and maybe gaps/openings around upper windows.

Good luck and give us a call if you need further assistance,

[Worm]

I suspect the roof. Are your drains clear? Does your roof hold water? The seam could be allowing water in and it could be running down the inside of the brick facade

[luchobucho]

Thanks, but no the roof is good, there doesn't appear to be any issues up there, I've had a roofer up there seveal times. And the roof is in good shape, I've even gone up and checked on it myself.

Ok, so I recreated the water entry by spraying the house above the awning. I didn't get any water coming in when I sprayed up high. So I'm convinced its the bricks/penetrations above the window/awning.

So do I call a mason? this is gonna cost $$$$$, isn't it.

I suspect the roof. Are your drains clear? Does your roof hold water? The seam could be allowing water in and it could be running down the inside of the brick facade

[Worm]

You could either re-point your entire facade, or you could spot point the problem areas. Spot pointing, if not too intensive could cosut you less than $200.

There is a guy in the northeast that does good work, his name is Mike Metzger 215 663 1010, however, if you are in the city, you could probably find someone closer to you.