Leaking Windows - 11/19/07

I’ve spoken before about a leaky kitchen window in my home.  When we get a hard, driving rain from the East, it leaks across the header above the window, in fact there is a long crack in the drywall of the header and signs of water damage.  Yesterday we had a water test of our window.  The testing is being done to document structural problems in the community that the builder is being sued to repair.  I’m not sure the repairs will be done in my lifetime.  Once things get tied up with lawyers, well let’s just say it can take awhile.

 

For the first part of the test they put plastic over the outside of the window and directed a sprinkling system that produces a standard amount of water over a fixed amount of time at the sill level of our window.  Then they raised the cherry picker up to a level above our window for 20 minutes, still no leaks.  They then raised it up to the sill of the window on the 4^th floor for 20 minutes.  It didn’t leak there either.  Finally, they directed the water at a point above the window on the floor above us (the 4^th) and bingo, we had water leaking in like crazy.  We now know where the water is entering the building.  Then they proceeded to cut two holes in the drywall inside my kitchen below and above the window so they could see if there was water damage inside the walls.  I’m sure glad I hadn’t painted in there yet.

 

The next part of the test, they took the plastic down and sprayed the window itself to ensure that it didn’t leak there too, but I don’t think it did.

 

They were in and out working yesterday from 8:00 a.m. until after 2:00 p.m.  They were very nice, took their shoes off indoors and cleaned up after themselves.  The young man that did most of the work inside was just as sweet and cute as he could be and was a pleasure to talk to.