ᐅ Fixed glazing in uPVC windows leaking

Created on: 10 Jan 2023 20:33
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B.Baumeister
Hello everyone

This concerns a solid construction house built in 2018/19, where I have PVC windows.
One of them is a two-sided casement window, connected at the bottom to a fixed glazing panel running the entire length.
So, at the bottom there is floor-to-ceiling fixed glazing about 2m (6.5 ft) wide and above that, two casement windows measuring 1 x 1m (3.3 x 3.3 ft) each.
By chance, I just noticed that the fixed glazing seems to be leaking, and as if that weren’t odd enough, it is at a very unusual spot.
The lower frame consists of two parts, so there is a "plastic joint," a seam or connection between these two parts.
And moisture is coming from there, with some brownish discoloration visible as well.
I’ve attached a photo.
Now, the actual question:
How can this happen?
It’s currently dark outside and raining, so I can’t check whether there are drainage caps or similar. But that’s unlikely on fixed glazing, right?
I hope you have a good tip for me.
It seems that hardly anything underneath the laminate flooring has become damp, but of course, I want to fix the cause as quickly as possible...

Best regards
Enrico

Close-up of a white shelf with scratches; underneath lies a colorful newspaper.
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B.Baumeister
13 Jan 2023 15:42
profil65 schrieb:

Please provide one photo each from outside and inside showing the entire window along with the adjacent wall/reveal, lintel, and window sill.

Here are the photos taken in daylight. I can’t get a complete shot from outside because I’m standing on a ladder to take the picture. Unfortunately, I can’t answer questions about hidden parts (inside or beneath the frame, under the window sill, etc.). The house was simply built, and sometimes you can only see certain details during construction, but many only become visible once everything is finished and in place.

External window with dark frame, light metal window sill, and beige plaster wall; raindrops on the glass.


Window frame with grey window sill on plastered wall; DVDs visible inside behind glass.


Window front with grey frame, white wall, wet metal window sill; bookshelf with books visible.


Close-up of a window frame on a light plaster wall, glass pane on the right, white window sill below.


Open floor inside with wooden battens and tools; view of garden with dark spot in the center.


Interior: wooden floor by the window, green lawn outside; burgundy curtains on the sides.


Floor-to-ceiling window: view of green lawn; interior wooden floor, loose seal on the frame.
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B.Baumeister
13 Jan 2023 15:51
Oh, and I also checked the drain caps; they are clear.
What I noticed: some of the sheet metal screws on the window sill were not properly tightened, and none except one of these screws had a plastic washer underneath...
Müller SV13 Jan 2023 16:24
B.Baumeister schrieb:

Oh, and I also checked the drainage caps—they are clear.
What I noticed: some of the metal screws on the windowsill were not properly tightened, and apart from one of these screws, none had a plastic washer underneath...


Hello,
the images are better now.
I would now suspect that the emergency drainage is being covered, as can be seen after enlarging the picture.
There are already deposits visible.

Regards,
Thorben Müller

Close-up of a black window frame; at the bottom inside lies a small white fur piece.
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B.Baumeister
13 Jan 2023 16:39
What exactly do you mean by that? The caps on the outside?
They are loose.
And would that be repairable?
Müller SV13 Jan 2023 17:15
Hello,

I’ll take some pictures later, I think that’s better.

Regards, Thorben Müller
Müller SV13 Jan 2023 17:32
B.Baumeister schrieb:

What exactly do you mean by that? The caps on the outside?
They are loose.
And would that be repairable?

Repairable: Yes, no problem, it’s actually a minor issue.

It was glazed on-site, since it is a fixed glazing, only the spacer blocks and the plastic glass supports were installed/positioned incorrectly.
I don’t have it in mind, how old are the windows?