Leaky Window

[Billy Rogers]

I have a rental property that has a window on a wall with no roof overhang. When there is a really windy thunderstorm the rain hits the window directly and leaks. I called a company that installs awning and they wanted over $700. The window is approximately 2'x2'. I had a couple of ideas but wanted to hear from more experienced investors. One idea was to have a gutter installed on that part of the roof line where there's no overhang. The other thought was to replace the window. I've heard window replacement is expensive but have not done any research. Any advice is appreciated.

[Aaron Mazzrillo]

Are you able to identify exactly where the water is coming in? If it is around the frame, the window has probably not been flashed properly and even an awning might not help.

Is the window fixed or does it slide back and forth or up and down?

Is it wood, aluminum, or vinyl?

What is the exterior construction of the property around the window; stucco, wood, siding, brick?

I used to work in the window industry. We would spot test windows with a hose after we installed them. Don't use the jet stream though. Put it on the 'rain' or 'shower' setting to simulate weather conditions and have someone on the inside see if they can figure it out.

There may be a much less expensive fix than replacing the whole thing. It might just need new silicone around the glazing or adjustment to make the meeting rail line up better.