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Re: Leaking window
Bill,
Typically, the problem is that water goes down through the stucco sill outside and collect under the loose stucco. Did you tap on it, and, if so, was it loose? Usually (probably 80% of the time) the stucco is loose, allowing water to collect under it.
Either way (loose or no, loose just lets more water in, not loose does not stop the water), it is also very likely that a precast sill was not installed, meaning that a wood buck was installed along the bottom of the window.
Wood bucks are never (okay, not 'never', just 99.999999% of the time) caulked or sealed under *properly*, i.e., where it will stop water.
The water then leaks in under the window, down the inside the block wall, and collects on the horizontal furring strip used as a nailer for the drywall and base. That is one reason why most leaks show up low instead of up high.
Typically, the insulation is that Fi-Foil junk which is never installed properly either, it is just nailed across the face of the furring strips. This means that the only points to get wet until the bottom is the nail penetrations. The nails will rust and bring the moisture to the drywall surface, creating a rust stain.
Another problem on those double windows is leaking at the center mulls.
Also, windows are prone to leak at their corners.
Three sources of leaks, in the order I suspect them, and they will typically all shown up at the bottom near the base (except for corner leaks, you can frequently see the water stains at the drywall returns next to the bottom corners).
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