Okay so here’s a question from a complete construction newbie. When you have reports of windows leaking, what are the typical remedies? Typically our contractors will come in and caulk it, but it will still leak afterwards. Are they just not doing a good enough job, or is there something more extensive that needs to be done to leaking windows?Should every window be covered with an awning or decent drip edge to keep water from running over it?Furthermore, what do you typically check for to make sure a leaking window has been repaired well? One issue we run into is a contractor will work on a leaking window and want to be paid, but we won’t know how good his repair is until the next time it rains hard.
culprits for leaking windows:
Improper/missing/damaged flashing(cap flashing should go above window and and behind siding)
improper caulking(should be acrylic at least…100%silicone preferred)
gap(s) in caulking
window panes need to be re-glazed
repair man should determine where where it is leaking and make sure that the decking/sheathing is not rotted. once repaired(and caulking has cured) run water along perimeter to leak test. As a rule I will call someone no more than one time to fix a job. Might be time to find a new handyman.
Sebastian
Home Inspector
Thanks Sebastian, that’s very helpful. If a window is leaking on the edge, is there a definite way to tell if the leak is coming from failed caulking or failed flashing?Sorry for the newbie questions, but when you say to run water along the perimeter, do you mean have someone stand outside and pour water on the perimeter, and then have a second person stand on the inside of the home?Does repairing failed flashing involve removing the entire window?
Never use silicone caulk on a surface that may be painted some day. It will absolutely NOT accept paint
@Noel S
yessir, run a hose with light pressure around/on window systematically to see where the water is coming through. You might want to peel back the siding to take a peak at the decking underneath, to make sure that there has not been water damage.
Coach62 is correct, silicone is made to resist moisture- which includes paint. They do have silicone that is “paintable” and some that come in a variety of colors. YMMV
Sebastian
When we have windows that leak after caulking, our maintenance guy will generally take the window completely out and reseal it with roll putty that you can buy at your local mobile home store. The majority of the time that will fix the problem. If not, investigate whether the leak is actually coming from the roof and running down to the window. We had that happen just last month where the tenant kept complaining of a leaking window, but turned out to be coming from the roof.Ed
Old thread but still…
9 times out of 10 a window leak on a mobile home that has no eve over hang or no “proper” eves trough the leak is at the top of the wall not the window itself.
Hello! Im new to owning a MH and well we are DIY alot to save money. WE just replaced all of our windows with reg house windows and had a new roof put on because water was coming down through our walls. Now mind you …we bought this like this not knowing. Right after a house fire. Its been one nightmare after another. So the windows are in and some are leaking. I’ve noticed older MHs in the park have little like a aluminum edges over their windows but I thought maybe it was just because they had older windows. So I should have them on mine as well?
Adding a rain guard is not really fixing the problem, but it may help. Pulling the windows out and making sure they are properly sealed with the flat putty sealant that mobile home stores sells usually solves the problem. If it’s not a bad leak you can running a bead of exterior caulk along the top of the window to see if that stops the water. Do your best to determine that the water is in fact coming from the windows and not from the roof.