Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors
Are how windows supposed to be water tight?
We had some work done to our house about six months ago. We had all new windows put in including basement windows. They replaced them with sliding windows. We never had a problem with those windows leaking, but now whenever it rains water pours into our basement from these windows. We determined that the water is filling up the area around the window and that is letting the window fill up and eventually dumping into the basement. It is a basement window that has an area about 28 inches wide and a 12 inches deep. My question is, is this something that the contractor should fix? Are windows supposed to be water tight? I am extremely upset because this contractor did a horrible job at everything he did. He also cracked all the tile around where they removed the baseboard and left it that way. Just wondering if this is something that he again messed up or if this is nothing he could avoid. Like I said we never had a problem before
Public Comments
- This is one of those "reasonable expectation" things. Windows should keep out a reasonable amount of water, rain, sleet, washing, etc. If they fail to keep out flood waters, well, that goes above reasonable, unless they are billed as "flood proof." (Note-even your watch says "water tight up to 100 ft." instead of a blanket "Water proof") Now, you have a two fold problem. The window may be performing as expected. However, because of the place the window is, and the extra water that surrounds it, the leaking may be expected. That said, your contractor should have either allowed for the build up of water, and installed better window OR added drainage so that the water would not accumulate in front of the window. You have a case for the contractor to correct the problem.
- Hi there, First of all "windows should not leak rain water". That said if the basement window is in a very low area where water can build up a window is not designed to be waterproof. It may be that some work needs to be done to drain water away from the basement window. Personally i would ask around and find a good contractor to take a look and get his/her opinion. The first contractor would be my last choice especially since his work was not acceptable in the first place. Hope this helps, Al
