Covered on a Rosemead visit
- Garden-hose testing from outside
- Dried-out exterior caulk removed and replaced
- Weep holes and slider tracks cleared
- Gaps between frame and stucco filled and sealed
- Loose sill trim reset
- Wet drywall below the window opened and checked
Outside what we take on
- Cutting new openings for doors or windows.
- Glass replacement; a glass shop handles panes and sealed units.
- Garage door openers, springs and tracks.
Aluminum sliders on 1950s houses
With a median build year of 1959, many Rosemead homes began with steel or wood windows and later had aluminum sliders fitted into the old openings. The joint between new frame and old stucco is only as good as its caulk, and decades of sun crack it.
Stains spreading from a window corner mean water has reached the drywall. The EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, which is why we check the wall as well as the window.
Steps
Test
Hose on the window from the bottom up while you watch inside.
Clear
Weep holes and tracks cleaned out.
Seal
Old caulk cut out and the frame resealed.
Check
Wall below the window probed for moisture.
Where Rosemead windows leak
Window leaks in Rosemead usually show up during the first heavy rain after a long dry summer. Sun cracks the caulk around stucco openings, and the weep holes at the bottom of aluminum frames fill with dirt. Water then runs into the wall instead of draining out.
We start by finding the path. Water stains under a window do not always mean the window is the problem; a cracked stucco seam above it, a missing drip edge or a clogged gutter can send water to the same spot.
- Weep holes cleared so the frame drains outside
- Old cracked caulk cut out and replaced with exterior sealant made for stucco
- Frame corners and glazing beads resealed
- Interior stains noted and drywall checked for softness
After the leak is fixed
Once the water is stopped, we check the sill and the wall below for soft drywall or swollen trim. Small damaged areas can be patched and painted.
If we find wet framing or mold behind the wall, we stop and show you before going further. The best time to have us look is during or right after the rain, while the drip is still visible.
Not ours
Replacing the window, changing the opening size or repairing framing behind it.
While we’re out for this, Rosemead customers often add window caulking and draft sealing, sliding window repair, drywall patching and crack repair or door leak repair.
What to text
Photos of the window outside and in, the sill, and any stain below it.
Window leak questions
Why is my window sill wet after rain?
The weep holes are blocked or the caulk under the frame has cracked.
Should I caulk over the weep holes?
No. They let water out of the frame; covering them makes the leak worse.
Do I need a new window?
Rarely. The seal around the frame is the usual culprit.
Why does only the west window leak?
That side takes the most sun and the most wind-driven rain, so its caulk fails first.
What does a window leak repair cost?
We price it from your photos; the estimate is free.
Before you text: our notes on aluminum sliding windows and screens, for anyone booking window leak repair.
Window tips
- Aluminum sliding windows and screens that stickWhy aluminum sliding windows in Rosemead homes get hard to open, how to clean the track and weep holes, and when rollers, latches or screens need replacing.
- Making a drywall patch match the textured wall around itWhy smooth patches stand out on textured walls in Rosemead homes, and how we match orange peel and knockdown texture so repairs disappear.
Jobs like this one are everyday work for our Rosemead handyman service, from the blocks off Garvey Avenue to the streets near Rosemead Park. A photo by text gets you a quote first.
Part of door and cabinet repair. You can also browse all our services or read about repairs in postwar Rosemead homes.