Dry All Week, Leaking in a Storm
Normal rain causes nothing.
Then a proper Bournemouth storm arrives. Wind drives the rain against one side of the house and water suddenly appears around the window.
The internal sill gets wet. A damp patch appears beside the frame. Everything dries out again once the weather calms down.
That pattern matters. The problem isn’t necessarily the amount of rain falling. Wind changes how the water reaches the window.
Rain Does Not Always Fall Downwards
Strong coastal wind can drive rain almost sideways against an exposed elevation.
Water gets pushed against gasket joints, glazing areas and the perimeter where the window frame meets the building. Wind pressure also creates a pressure difference between the outside and inside of the property.
Tiny weaknesses that survive ordinary vertical rainfall suddenly get tested much harder.
A small break in external sealant, poorly sealed fixing penetration or weak gasket corner can become an entry point during the worst weather.
The Wet Sill Can Fool You
Water appearing at the bottom of a window does not prove it entered there.
Rain can get through higher up and travel behind the frame, along a reveal or through cavities before finally appearing on the internal sill.
That makes random silicone repairs a bad way to diagnose the problem.
Covering the bottom of the frame can cause another issue. uPVC windows contain drainage routes designed to move water back outside. Blocking those exits can trap water inside the profile instead of fixing the original leak.
Trace the Water Properly
Start with the obvious external defects.
Check the perimeter seal between the window and masonry for cracks, separation and missing sections. Inspect gasket corners, glazing seals and external drainage slots.
Look above the window as well. Failed sealant, damaged masonry or another defect higher up can send water towards the frame.
A controlled hose test helps narrow the source down. Test small areas individually, starting low and gradually moving upwards. Give each section time before changing position.
Do not blast the entire window with a pressure washer. That tells you very little and can force water through places normal weather never would.
Find the entry point first. Repair the actual defect second.
Trade Counter Supplies
Bournemouth wind can expose a weatherproofing fault that stays completely hidden during ordinary rainfall.
Head down to DWC Trade Windows at 78 Alma Road, Bournemouth for window sealants, gaskets and the trade supplies needed to repair leaking windows properly.
Call us on 01202 533126 for help with window repair products and replacement components in Bournemouth.
