I've noticed some mushrooms growing in the corner of my master bedroom windows (check out the pics I posted). A window company told me there's no drip cap installed, which likely caused leaks for years. We've owned the house for almost two years, but we only just saw this issue. They recommended replacing the half moon window and the ones below it, adding new flashing and a custom drip cap. Is there any way I can avoid the costs of getting completely new windows? The house was built in 1999.
3 Answers
It sounds like you might be able to address the water issue without replacing the windows entirely. If the framing under the windows is still in good shape, you could try removing the siding, properly flashing the top of the windows, and then reinstalling some flex j-channel. Just be careful while removing the siding; it can break since it’s older vinyl. Good luck!
You could try pulling up the siding over the windows to see what you’re dealing with up there. If you can form your own drip cap and flash it properly under the home wrap, that could help. Just a heads up, though—moving that 25-year-old siding is risky and could lead to breakage, so take your time. The mushrooms suggest there’s been moisture for a while, so you might want to scrub those out and use some Concrobium to help. And make sure the seams below the window sill stay open for drainage.
I had a similar issue with my house built in '97. We ended up having to open up the walls both inside and out and replace the windows entirely. It wasn’t cheap—around 15k—but we fixed some bad installation work from the '90s and improved the overall design. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet if the damage is already done.