I am a long time FH subscriber and a commercial GC by trade. I speak the language, you might say, but sometimes the residential dialect is a mystery to me. On top of that, this is my first post, so thanks for your patience.
We had heavy, wind-driven rain today, and some window leaks became apparent that I not noticed previously. I could really use some insight on how best to rectify the situation.
Background:
These are aluminum windows, with vertical mulls and horizontal mulls at the transom units. The openings were “picture-framed” with 1×4 to extend the frame out far enough to catch the corner of the brick. Rubberized, self-adhesive sill flashing turned up on both sides was installed first, then the window (with nailing flanges) was installed. Next rubberized, self-adhesive jamb flashing was installed from the nailing flange across the picture frame and on to the styrofoam sheathing. Finally, the same material was installed for the head flashing from the nailing flange over the picture frame and on to the styrofoam.
Problem:
It appears that the water hitting the sill flashing is coming under the window sill, behind the apron, dripping down the face of the wall and on to whatever is below (floor, cabinet, etc.).
Solution?
The value of pan flashing has now become apparent to me. It seems I need a vertical piece inside the window frame at the sill to force the water out insteade of permitting it in. What would be the best way to accomplish this after I remove the window sill?
Replies
siege, two items set off alarm bells in your description
one is the styrofoam sheathing
and the other is brick
there are so many planes intersecting a drip that it could be almost anything that is failing
a couple of pictures would go a long way to showing the situation so a solution might be guessed at
is there a brick sill sloping away from the window sill ?
what is the head flashing detail ?