Replies

1. 
   Nick_Pitz | Feb 15, 2002 06:30pm | #1

   *
   Having installed easily over a hundred Kolbe & Kolbe windows and doors, I've never had a problem, ever. Obviously anything is possible, but I'd be a lot more inclined to believe that the installation was the problem. Try taping plastic over a window securely and using a hose on the wall, or vice-versa.

   What was the exterior finish on the windows? K-Kron, aluminum clad, primed, bare wood?

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke_ | Feb 15, 2002 07:10pm | #2

   *Jim - Obviously SF is a windy place, even if a house is not exposed directly to offshore winds. What is the DP (design pressure) rating of the Kolbe & Kolbe casement in question, as specified? I don't have to tell you that coastal areas can have wide swings in wind pressure.A window in a location like SF should be rated in accordance with the AAMA/WDMA 101/I.S.2-97 standard and certified in compliance with the WDMA Hallmark program. As a frame of reference, a comparable Marvin casment would have a rating of DP40, meaning that it is tested to 60 PSF (= 155 MPH wind and withstanding water penetration under conditions equal to 8 inches of rain per hour driven by 50 MPH winds). Does Kolbe state that your specific window complies to such a standard? If it does and it leaks, you probably have warranty or industry-standard recourse. If you feel your specs are appropriate to the installed location, I'd get the manufacturer's rep out fast.Are the walls real stucco or EIFS? The window manufacturers have added some specific exclusions having to do with the use of EIFS and related leaks.FWIWJeff

1. 
   Andy_Engel_ | Feb 15, 2002 08:05pm | #3

   *I put K&Ks in my own house with nary a leak.

1. 
   Luka_ | Feb 16, 2002 12:51am | #4

   *Maybe someone didn't shim correctly when installing into oversize openings, and pulled some seams a bit ?

1. 
   calvin_ | Feb 16, 2002 02:04am | #5

   *For a change Jim, would you come back with the outcome of this problem. Too many times advice is given and we never do find out what the problem was or the successful solution. Thanks.

2. 
   Rick_Lambeth | Feb 16, 2002 04:57am | #6

   *> I'm with Nick. 10 years of Kolbe and Kolbe window installations with no problems. It would be interesting to see a copy of the window and door details from the plans and the type and finish of the windows specified.

3. 
   Ted_Temple | Feb 16, 2002 05:45am | #7

   *Jim, I'm a builder in the East Bay who has had problems with leaks in and around the windows of a stucco house I built in the Oakland hills (see post in the Business section "need leak/liability advice"). Although my windows were Blomberg rather than Kolbe & Kolbe, I would be happy to share with you the details of my situation if you care to email me ([email protected]) with a way to contact you.

4. 
   Ed_Poncin_ | Feb 16, 2002 11:05pm | #8

   *Jim, Am not a contractor, just a home-owner who'shad experience with windows being installedincorrectly by a contractor. We had leaky and misaligned casement windows.The manufacturer was Great Lakes Windows, whichseems to do a fine job. However, the companywhich installed the windows decided to throwaway the factory's installation instructions( I guess they thought they knew better how toinstall windows than the company that actually designed the windows ). We had a factory repcome out from Great Lakes Windows; he not onlygave us the factory's instruction pamphlets buthe also pointed out what the installers had incorrectly done. Yes, it cost a bit to havethe extra work done, but everything's just finenow. With that, I'd say try to contact K&K torequest copies of the window's installationinstructions. If K&K has a rep in your area,contact him/her and request that they come outand inspect the job - they may charge a bit butit'll let you really pin down what's ailingyour windows. Hope this helps. Good Luck. Ed Poncin

5. 
   draket | Sep 09, 2003 05:36pm | #11

   Calvin, I could not find any outcome on the post from Jim regarding the leaking Kolbe & Kolbe windows and doors. I am trying to reach him by email. We are suffering from the same problem and I will be sure to post the outcome if there is ever a resolution. I am building a web site that carefully details the events, opinions of mine and expert's opinions, with facts and photographs. This site will be up and running any day now.

   http://www.leakywindows.com

   regards

2. 
   Jim_Zack | Feb 16, 2002 11:05pm | #9

   *
   I am an architect in San Francisco. We recently competed a new house where we specified Kolbe & Kolbe all wood doors and casement windows. We are now suffering from a considerable number of leaks. The walls are stucco. The contractor has hired a leak expert who says the installation and detailing were fine, and the problem is the windows themselves, leaking through the manufactured joints and the door sills.

   Has anyone else experienced problems with Kolbe & Kolbe doors and windows?

3. 
   draket | Sep 09, 2003 05:12pm | #10

   Jim Zack,

   This post is a considerably late reply to yours. We installed the new Kolbe & Kolbe Ultra Clad windows and doors in our new home and experienced the same problem. The windows were leaking in a few different ways. The doors had a treshold leaking problem. Kolbe was aware of the window problem on their Ultra line casements and had a field fix of drilling holes into the frames and injecting a large amount of silicone into them. These fixes proved unsuccessful when Kolbe later after many attempted field fixes sent out a team of experts to test these units through isolation and they failed (most are quick to assume it's the installation or flashing, but these were proven and documented through expert witnesses to leak). We installed nearly forty window and door units which nearly every one exposed to rain leaked. This matter is has yet to be resolved by Kolbe & Kolbe.  Please email me at [email protected]

   Thank you,

   http://www.leakywindows.com