Window Leaks and Hidden Water Damage in North Texas

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A little water stain under a window doesn't look like much. A bit of bubbling paint. A soft spot on the sill. Most folks dab it with a towel and forget about it. But on a lot of restoration jobs we've worked, a small window leak was the start of a much bigger problem hiding inside the wall.

This one's serious. Here's what to watch for and what to do.

Why Are Window Leaks So Damaging?

Because you usually can't see the water. When a window leaks, water often runs down inside the wall cavity, behind the drywall, where it soaks the framing, the insulation and the bottom plate. By the time it shows on the inside wall or the floor, it may have been going on for a long time.

Here in North Texas, a wet wall that stays warm is a good place for mold to grow. And rotted framing around a window can turn a window replacement into a wall repair.

What Are the Warning Signs?

Check around your windows for:

• Water stains, streaks or discoloration on the wall below or beside the window
• Bubbling, peeling or cracking paint
• Soft or crumbly drywall
• Swollen, soft or dark wood on the sill or trim
• Cupped or stained flooring near the window or patio door
• A musty smell in the room
• Visible mold around the frame
• Water on the sill after rain

Outside, look for cracked or missing caulk, gaps between the frame and the brick or siding, and damaged flashing.

What Causes Window Leaks?

A few common culprits:

1. Failed caulk. Texas heat and sun dry caulk out and crack it.
2. Improper installation. Missing or poorly installed flashing lets water behind the window.
3. Clogged weep holes. Many windows have small drainage holes at the bottom of the frame. If they're blocked, water backs up.
4. Damaged frames. Hail, age and warping open gaps.
5. Brick and paint issues. Water can get into the wall around the window through the brick itself. Latex paint on brick can trap moisture. See our video on destroying your brick with latex paint.
6. Gutters and roof. Sometimes the window isn't the problem at all. Overflowing gutters or a roof issue above the window sends water right down onto it.

What Should I Do If I Find a Leak?

1. Take lots of video and photos, inside and out, before anything is cleaned or repaired.
2. Dry what you can see and keep an eye on it during the next rain.
3. Don't just caulk over it and hope. If water's been getting in, you need to know what's behind the drywall.
4. Call someone to check the wall. Moisture readings tell you whether the wall is wet inside.
5. Fix the source and the damage. Replacing the window without fixing wet framing, or fixing the drywall without fixing the window, means doing it twice.

How Does G3 Handle Window Leaks?

This is where our restoration background matters. We look at the window, the wall around it, and what's above it, including gutters and the roof. If water has gotten into the wall, our mitigation partner CMDR Restoration (TDLR RCO #1801) can dry it out and handle any mold. Then G3 repairs the wall and repairs or replaces the window.

You get one team for the whole job instead of a window salesperson who only looks at the glass. See our water damage page and windows page.

Can I Prevent Window Leaks?

Mostly, yes, with a little maintenance:

• Check exterior caulk every year and replace it when it cracks.
• Keep weep holes clear.
• Keep gutters clean so they don't overflow onto windows.
• Look closely after hailstorms.
• Don't paint brick with latex paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Seeing water around a window? Call (945) 300-9018 or use the button below to get a window quote.

Keep learning: see our Windows & Exteriors page, read Window Replacement in Argyle, Flower Mound & Southlake.