Water damage around windows is unfortunately common, and it can make your home an unsightly mess. This type of damage can develop because of moisture from a variety of sources. For example, moisture can come from rainwater during a shower or thunderstorm as well as from condensation and high levels of humidity. In many cases, there may be mold or mildew growth as well as warped wood and drywall from the moisture and humidity around the window. If your home has been impacted by this type of damage, you may be wondering what steps you can take to improve the situation. There are a few steps that you can take to repair the damage to your home.
Repair the Damaged Areas
The most common damage that will result is a rotted or warped sill as well as warped drywall around the window. The first step to take is to remove these damaged areas and to replace them. In some cases, the wood on the window sill can be sanded down so that it is smooth once again, but drywall generally needs to be removed and patched up with new drywall or a patching kit. Keep in mind that some of the damage may have extended to the exterior of the house, so inspect the exterior surface around the window as well. Once the area has been repaired, you are then ready to move on to sealing the window.
Re-Seal the Window
Water damage is most commonly caused by windows that are not properly sealed. This may be because of improper construction for newer buildings, or it may be from settlement of the home or even age. The caulk around windows can break down over time and does need to be replaced. With this in mind, some windows may need to be entirely replaced, but most will only need to be re-caulked around the perimeter. This is a simple enough project that you can complete for all of your windows rather than only for the affected ones, and this can prevent other windows from exhibiting signs of water damage and mildew growth.
Pay Attention to the Outside of the Window
While you want to seal the interior of the windows with a fresh layer of caulk, you also want to remember to work on the exterior of the windows as well. These areas will also need caulk so that moisture does not penetrate into the home. You can paint over this caulk so that it matches the color of your home perfectly.
Some windows are only challenged by condensation that is caused by a temperature differential between the interior and exterior of the home, but others may have such significant leaks that the moisture drips or even streams down into the home when it is raining outside. Regardless of the type of issue that you are deal with, you need to fix the damaged area and prevent further damage from happening. These tips can help you to keep your home maintained in great shape.