Puddle on inside window ledge, help

[Jblakes]

Morning All,

After insane amount of rain and wind last night. I woke up to a puddle of water in my sons room. I have looked around and can't see anything obvious that leaking. I looks like it leaking into the window seal from outside and running in ( hard to confirm this). I have looked and can't see any drainage holes. As the window top half moves only then were would the drainage holes be? if its at the bottom how to i see them as the window is 3rd floor so about 10m up in the air.

Can anybody suggest how to check or locate the drainage holes, or what to do if they don't have any.

regards
James

 

[Cubist]

Are there any water tracks on the plaster of the internal wall below the windows cill? Is there any evidence of water sitting on the interior upper surface of the cill? Have you, can you, check the condition of the caulking around the full exterior perimeter of the window frame?

 

[Jblakes]

i will add some pictures later on, but from what I saw this morning it looks like its also run down the wall from above the window, or atleast from window height.

 

[montyjohn]

I've had the masking tape up tissue paper before now to trace where water is originating from.
Not perfect, as the water soaks in all directions, but if you catch it easily enough you can find the source.
It's amazing how water can run and not leave a trace sometimes.

 

[Cubist]

If I recall correctly your home has stone lintels above fairly recently installed UPVC frames and some of these had quite large gaps and voids between them. Could be the same root problem as before insofar that driven rain is being pushed through these to appear indoors. Its feasible that water penetrating at the head of the frame can 'track' around it to then appear anywhere at to sides or even anywhere along the length of the cill.

 

[Jblakes]

We definitely haven't got new windows, started planning for them back end of the year, but yes we have had random gaps all around some of the windows. As for these, a quick look broke it was to dark, it looked fine. The leak looks like it's above and tracking in. Another big puddle inside.

 

[Jblakes]

Photo I've found of the window. The guttering above does leak slightly too the right of the power cables. Maybe it was blowing in and greying in a gap I can't see.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Are those deep gutters? Maybe they’re not draining well during heavy rain and spilling all onto the bricks. Does it look wet?

 

[Cubist]

If you have access to the loft space above that bedroom it may be an idea to examine the gable wall and if possible beneath any flooring up there. It's possible that the source of the water is a cavity or weakness in the mortar joints of the stonework or could even be tracking indoors via the fixings for the gutter brackets or that cabling. It is most likely though, judging by the water spread pattern on the ceiling that rainwater, from whatever source, is being driven over or directly under the lintel.

Someone will need to get on a ladder to properly examine the mortar joint above the lintel and the caulking between it and the window frame.

BTW - given its a UPVC frame any water entering near the head of the frame will be able to exploit the hidden profile of the plastic to track further and faster than a wooden frame to re-appear anywhere around its perimeter.