I own a brick house that's over a century old, and all my windows have wooden frames that don't seem to be properly flashed. They definitely leak, especially during the summer when I install a window AC unit. Besides needing scraping and repainting, there's also some type of material around the sides of the windows that I'm unsure of. Is there any way to flash these windows correctly without having to take them out and rebuild the frames?
2 Answers
Honestly, the best solution is to disassemble and reinstall, or just go for new windows altogether. If I'm spending a good chunk of money, I’d definitely opt for new insulated windows that can be properly installed. Just make sure you steer clear of vinyl options; wooden windows are way better for your historic house.
I totally get what you're dealing with. From my experience, there's really no workaround that doesn't involve some level of window disassembly. If you can find someone locally who specializes in old home repairs, that might be your best bet, though it usually comes with a high price tag. Most standard window repair shops tend to push for new installations instead.