House Smart Home Improvements

Around July/August 2011 had 12 windows installed, a set of french doors and draft proofing after being recommended this company by a neighbour. All the work was done quickly within around 5 hours on one day and no mess was left behind after clean up. Things were great until late fall and through winter (2011-2012). When temperatures dropped close to or below freezing our front window started showing signs of moisture on the framing (not the window itself) to the point where it would actually drip very very slowly where the casing was nailed in even when it hadn't rained for a week or more. We called the company and they sent someone out who took a quick 5 minute look and said they would come back. After not getting back to us, we called again and they sent someone out. We were told it was likely our roof, but they didn't do anything beyond just looking at it and guessing. Months passed and it warmed up so we then decided to have our roof and gutters replaced anyways as they were getting old, however it did nothing to help the window come the next winter (2012-2013) when the weather got cool again. The roofer also said there was no sign of a leak in the area. We called the company again and explained the situation once more. They said they would send someone out before Christmas, but they never did. We called back again in January 2013 and They sent someone out right away but they blew off the issue without doing a comprehensive inspection and said it was nothing to do with the install. When we called back yet again they laughed at my wife's questions and asked if we read the book about sealing the home and how it can effect moisture levels. Getting fed up, I pulled the casing off the window myself, as they never bothered to go this far, and I could see daylight coming in around the window as it was not fully sealed. So we called them back the same day and they apologized quite a bit for them not even having gone this far looking into the issue and said they would send someone out. They ended up only sending out the person who did the draft proofing, not a the window installer. He looked around and sealed some more things that were unrelated to the window. He then said the casing should have sealed it enough to prevent air movement (casing was installed without removing all of the old window caulking so it would not have actually fully sealed) and pointed out a small patch of moisture on the wall near our chimney in the attic and said it is possible the water was going along the wall 5 feet, going 90 degrees to the right and then traveling another 10 feet to the middle of the window. Seemed odd, but we called the roofing installer back out and there was a slight problem with the caulking used on the chimney flashing, and that was then repaired but they said it didn't look like the moisture was traveling how the draft proofing guy described it may have been happening. Come cool weather again (2013 still), the chimney leak fix did nothing to fix the window leak. It was warming up now so the leak had gone away, but Easter 2013 we went to wash the front window and when we sprayed it with a hose, water just came pouring in like crazy from the spot where the window had been leaking. So yet again, we called the company back and they sent out an actual window installer who looked at it and said they must not have properly, or forgot to, caulk the flashing when it was installed. So he caulked the seam between the window and the flashing and now we are left to wait again until cold weather next winter to see if the problem persists. Hopefully it is fixed as it is quite ugly not having the molding around it and will have to pay to have it replaced.

-Edit-
"I was disappointed after I paid my specialist to show you that in fact was the roofers poor installation that was causing your leak to see this review."

I just want to reply to this comment. The window leak was occurring both before and after the roof was replaced and also the window leak was strongest during long dry periods when the weather was very cold outside and there had been no rain for a week or more. It did not happen before the new window was installed and the issue with the flashing leak occurred later. The rate of the leak was directly related to outside temperature and was not stronger at any point when it rained very heavy as it has not leaked since the weather has been above around 2 celsius even during very heavy long rains. Only recent time was when the garden hose was used to give it a quick spray before hand washing. It only leaked during winter. The spot in the attic where the chimney flashing leak showed moisture was just a small damp spot on the wall by the roof.

I do thank you for continuing to look into this issue and making an effort to look into it further. You continue to stand by your work and your product which I appreciate. I look forward to having everything looking as nice as it did when you first installed it. Thanks!