ᐅ Transition between brick veneer and uPVC window

Created on: 10 Apr 2016 08:41
M
Mika29
Good morning everyone.

A few months ago, I joined this forum because I had a question about a house we were interested in buying. Now we have purchased it and moved in about two weeks ago. I have to say, there is still quite a bit to do.

First, I would like to start with the windows. There is a draft throughout the entire house. The house was built in 1998, and the double-glazed windows are from that year as well. The exterior is fully faced with brick. When I look at the transition from the brickwork to the PVC windows, there is a gap. On the right and left of this gap, black foam insulation is visible. The bottom edge is completely exposed, so you can even see the wooden blocks that were used to level the windows during installation.

I would have expected these areas to be sealed with silicone and would now like to do this myself. However, I am unsure because the house has been occupied for 18 years. Maybe this gap is normal?

Could someone give me some advice? That would be great. I can upload a photo if needed.

Thanks in advance.
Good luck
Mika
L
Legurit
10 Apr 2016 21:38
I believe the windproofing in our case was mainly achieved through window foam and eventually by using a mesh tape (?).
S
Sebastian79
10 Apr 2016 21:41
The main concern on the outside is resistance to driving rain – foam is not even airtight. On the inside, a special membrane is used to create the airtight layer.

To my knowledge, silicone or similar materials are no longer appropriate for this purpose today.
M
Mika29
26 Apr 2016 20:49
Thank you all for your replies.
I haven’t taken any action yet. In the meantime, I’ve found a few other issues in the house that could also be causing drafts. So, I’ll leave the windows as they are for now. That doesn’t seem like a bad idea.
Good luck
Mika