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candace_cole999

Sliding glass doors leaking

Candace
16 days ago

We are flummoxed on what is happening here! We replaced all the lower windows 2 years ago - the stucco trim of course had to be removed & replaced. Two of the large windows and the sliding glass doors were leaking, so the contractor had to come back, rip off the stucco trim, put the “correct” sealing “tape” around them, re-caulk and re-stucco. (Turns out the initial installer didn’t do it right the first time and we didn’t catch it during install) During heavy rains, the wind blows the rain directly on this side of the house. Good news - the windows are no longer leaking, but this week we had torrential rain and both sliders leaked - there was an apparent “pooling” of water somewhere and then it just let loose. Any ideas on what the heck is going on and how to fix it? Pictures of the sealing around one of the doors when the stucco guys “fixed” it (before stuccoing the trim)

Comments (16)

  • millworkman
    16 days ago
    last modified: 16 days ago

    What brand doors? What model within that brand?

  • Candace
    Original Author
    16 days ago

    Millworkman - they are Windsor Pinnacle Clad two pane narrow style - hopefully that helps!

  • PRO
    Joseph Corlett, LLC
    16 days ago

    You need a hose and a dry day.

  • PRO
    HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
    15 days ago

    Any pics of where the water is pooling? That could indicate whether its coming in through the unit itself, or through the install.


    Few thoughts:

    - +1 on doing some water testing

    - is it safe to assume that these units have nail fins? ... If not, the flashing tape may not be doing much.

    - Was the upper window "redone" at the same time? If not, you could have water entering the wall cavity up there

    - The roof to wall interfaces would be another area to look at as that is a common water entry point

  • Candace
    Original Author
    15 days ago

    Joseph & HomeSealed Exteriors - yes, we’ll try the hose test for sure — and HomeSealed - It’s pooling (from what we can tell) in a single spot - we think it’s accumulating water and then when it’s saturated, coming down in a waterfall till it drips. We are getting some other stucco done now, and the stucco guy does think it is likely coming from the window above - he got up on a ladder and said all the stucco around the upper window looks great, so our next go round is to water test the upper window, take out the moveable pane and peer in there to see if there’s anything obvious. We will also look at the roof to wall interfaces!! Thanks all for the great suggestions - I’ll keep you posted!

  • Candace
    Original Author
    15 days ago

    Oh, and as an aside… either the builder or the 2nd owners installed a “faux rug” made of tile in front of both of the now leaking doors (they’re both on wood floors) which leads me to believe this has been happening for a long time and that was their “fix” instead of finding the root of the problem and fixing that! Which also points more to the window above leaking versus the door…

  • Candace
    Original Author
    14 days ago

    Thank you HomeSealed Exteriors!!

  • millworkman
    14 days ago

    " It’s pooling (from what we can tell) in a single spot - we think it’s accumulating water and then when it’s saturated, coming down in a waterfall till it drips. "


    From above then?

  • Candace
    Original Author
    11 days ago

    Millworkman - yes, we think from above. Finally a nice day today with no wind, so we’re going to do to the water test!

  • Candace
    Original Author
    9 days ago

    Update - we did the water test and couldn’t exactly replicate the leak, but uncovered two additional leak… we’re going to just replace the windows above (dang!) as we just can’t figure anything else out!! Thanks for all your help :)

  • cat_ky
    9 days ago

    Please read up on proper installation of windows and proper flashing, so that this time, your window gets installed correctly. Its always good to know the proper way and to watch when windows are being installed, to know that all the flashing is correct etc. Improper flashing, or no flashing at all, is the biggest cause of window leaks.

  • millworkman
    9 days ago

    You might even be able to have the windows pulled out, reflashed and reinstalled if the windows are fairly new. If they were going to be chnaged anyway, have at it. Like mentioned above be sure they are properly flashed as that is the biggest challenge seemingly.

  • Candace
    Original Author
    8 days ago

    @cat_ky and @millworkman - thanks! Yes, we believe the windows were installed incorrectly - while they’re not “old” (2106) - we had almost all of the other windows replaced last year (except for these two and a couple other fixed ones that aren’t subjected to the driving wind) so we probably just should replace them. They also used Anderson 100 (cheap windows) so it’s just something we have to bite the bullet on. As expected, the labor to put up scaffolding, tear out the stucco frame and replace the windows are more expensive than the windows themselves…. We are just fortunate to be able to cover the cost and not be subjected to eating hot dogs for the next year :)

  • cat_ky
    8 days ago

    Good luck to you. Water damage is no fun, and can cause a lot of other damage.. I lost part of my roof in a storm in 2020 and had to have a whole roof replacement, but, there was a lot of other damage that happened because of it, that had to be repaired too.

  • millworkman
    8 days ago

    " As expected, the labor to put up scaffolding, tear out the stucco frame and replace the windows are more expensive than the windows themselves "


    Yeah, I am sure. In that case I would do the same, no sense doing all that to reinstall the old windows when you were eventually changing them anyway.