The roofing industry has changed quite a lot over the years. These days, homeowners are rarely opting for the standard, 3-tab shingles that were so popular a few decades ago. Instead, they are going with architectural shingles, and in some cases, with even more eco-friendly options like green roofing or slate. Whether you're shopping around for a new roof or are thinking of having repairs made to your current roof, it pays to be educated. Learn the basics on this blog, where we discuss roofing in the modern world. We explore various roofing materials, roofing techniques, and how to find the right roofer.
Finding water inside your home during a rainstorm is not something you ever want to experience, but chances are that you have or will experience it at least once. The typical reaction is to have the roof checked and possibly replaced, which makes sense. But there's another area you have to look to ensure you find all the leaks that might have let that water in: the window frames. Even if they look okay to you, they could have damage that has opened up minuscule cracks. That's all water needs to get inside your home.
Rain Can Fall at an Angle Due to Wind
A small crack in a vertical surface does not seem like the sort of thing that you'd have to worry about in terms of letting rain leak in. After all, rain falls down. But rain can also fall at an angle if the wind is strong enough, and if that rain hits the wall of the house and drips toward and over the crack, the water can seep inside the wall. That leaves you with water stains on the wall or even dripping from the top of the window frame.
Sometimes Caulking Is Enough
Occasionally, the problem is just due to old or insufficient caulking around the frame. Maybe the people who installed your current windows didn't use enough caulk or missed some spots. But for older windows, especially in areas where wind can send debris or hail flying into the side of the house or the house can settle and make windows sit a bit off-kilter, damage to these older, weaker frames is entirely possible. If the damage causes a frame to pull away from the wall or causes caulking to break, voilà — you have your tiny crack that lets in water.
New Windows May Solve the Problem
If the frame is damaged, replacement might be the best option. Depending on the severity of the damage — and in this case, it doesn't take much to make the window beyond repair — you may be better off simply having a new window with an undamaged frame installed and properly sealed. This should stop the rain from getting in.
If roofers can't find anything wrong with your roof, look to the windows for answers. Have those inspected for small cracks and damage, and replace them — water damage to the walls is just as bad as water damage to the ceiling. Contact a supplier of replacement windows for more information.