Weeping Windows Don’t Have to Make You Cry

Almost as common a problem for the homeowner as roof leaks during the recent heavy rains were weeping windows.

If you have ever had this trouble, you know how frustrating it can be to solve. Here are some repair tips:

1) Caulk, caulk, caulk. Use a caulking gun to apply clear silicone caulk to all joints on and around the window that look as if water could possibly penetrate. Apply a straight, neat bead of material and smooth it down with a finger to assure complete coverage. When dry, remove any excess from the glass with a single-edge razor blade.

2) For wood casement windows that leak around the edges, apply open-cell foam weatherstripping tape to the wood “stops” the sashes close against. Buy this in 1/4- by 1/2-inch 17-foot rolls at most hardware stores.

3) If the window still leaks after trying caulk or foam tape, install a two-inch by two-inch sheet-metal flashing above it to deflect water. This material is L-shaped in cross section.

Buy it in white, brown or unpainted at most large hardware stores in 10-foot lengths. Cut it with snips one foot longer than the window and nail it to the outside wall directly above the window so it overlaps six inches on either side.

Caulk the joint between the flashing and the wall to create a seal. Rainwater from above that would otherwise run down the surface of the window is now deflected to the side, greatly reducing the chance of a leak.