I’m about to embark on what feels like it will be a real fight with Anglia, and am after any insight anyone can offer. I know a bit, but this one is testing me. Nearly 3yrs ago we had all our windows replaced by Anglia, and up to @8wks ago we’d not noticed any issues with them. Considering the extremes of temperature and wet conditions we’ve experienced during that time I’m convinced any inherent issues with the units themselves or the installation would have shown up well before now. Around 8 weeks ago I noticed one morning that there was what looks like a wet area about an inch wide around the sides and top of my office window, I immediately checked all the other windows and found the same in our bedroom. It looks really odd to me, as water ingress around window units like this usually appears in semi circles in isolated spots around a unit, not a consistent line: Since then Mould has started to grow: For one reason or another it took a while to arrange a mutually agreeable time and date for a service visit from Anglia, and they finally came at the end of last week. Note they have already agreed in writing that any issues will be covered under warranty. In the mean time another upstairs window has developed the same wet looking area around it, and another shows very minimal signs of the same thing. The Anglia guy admitted immediately that he’d not seen anything like it, and said what I already know, that water ingress is usually in half round patches around a unit. He hung out of the windows and confirmed that from what he could see there are no gaps or broken sealant around the outside of the units. To be fair to him he was obviously stumped, and started talking about condensation from sleeping occupants rather than leaks from outside. I pointed out that we always sleep with the windows open regardless of the weather, and obviously I don’t sleep in my office. Another room effected is the spare room that nobody has slept in for months. His theory is that Solvent or Oil is leaching out of the Sealant, but as I pointed out, it doesn’t smell, and I can’t see Mould growing on Solvent. Annoyingly I’ve lent out my Moisture meter, and he didn’t have one, so I couldn’t test in front of him, but with a meter I borrowed myself I’ve since got the following results right next to each other. Note the readings are right next to each other but I’m not sure if Oil or Solvent would give the same reading: When I asked him what he suggested could be done next his answer was to paint the rooms in Mould or stain resistant paint. At that point I knew he was stumped and basically got rid of him before I got annoyed. My next step is to get back on to Anglia have a little moan about his last response, and ask them to send somebody out with better knowledge. So, does anyone have any thoughts so I can arm myself? An issue with Thermal transfer has been suggested, and the unit possibly not spanning the inner and outer wall, but that would have been an issue during the first Winter, and the Old windows were the same thickness and positioned similarly fore/aft without the same issue. For the sake of complete info, of the four rooms currently effected, two have been painted since the windows were fitted and two haven’t. There are 3 other upstairs windows that are tiled around and could possibly be hiding the same issue. None of the downstairs windows and doors appear effected. Thanks
I’ve not had chance to read the whole thing, but cold bridging could be a possible cause. Having said that, cold bridging tends to be worse in corners and unless there’s eg: a lintel under the surface, you don’t tend to see regular geometric shapes like that. It’s very odd that it’s a new issue after 3 years and that one of the rooms isn’t used. Are the affected rooms both north or east facing? Are there any other common factors? I can’t see it being oil or solvent, or else mould probably wouldn’t grow on it. FWIW/FYI - My practice includes a lot of housing disrepair work, and I was in the property game before I was a barrister, so I’ve visited untold properties, read thousands of expert surveyor reports and cross examined hundreds of them at trial over the years. Having said that, someone in the building or surveying trade will be better placed than I am to give an informed opinion.
Thanks Z Yep, looks like I dropped it in Speakers Corner rather than the Lounge. Perhaps a Mod can move it for me. The effected rooms are North and South facing, and the first two to show the issue are 1 x North and 1 x South. I'm convinced Cold bridging would have shown up during the first Winter, or even with the old Windows which were the same thickness and position.
Thread moved I have seen this before can't remember if it was in the house that was renovated or a new build or the house I'm in now Renovated house had wooden new window frames and we had wood burners and new plaster and new roof
The two rooms first affected are very different in terms of factors that could cause it. Room 1 - Main bedroom South facing. Windows nearly always open or at least locked open with a small gap. 2 of us and the dog sleeping every night, but with the door open so the dog can move around the house. Nobody in there during the day. Not redecorated since the windows were fitted. Room 2 - My office North facing Windows shut at night and not open that often during the day. Just me in there 2 days a week. Door is never shut. Re-decorated during 2020. Room 1 is over twice the size of room 2. The window in Room 2 is 2/3 size of window in Room 1
Yes, the sudden and uniform occurrence after 3 years is odd. Have you done anything to increase the vapour load in the house recently, such as fitting a tumble dryer or a wet room or taking in half a dozen Ukrainian refugees?
Thanks for moving the thread DB. Yes, this sort of issue can be quite common in a newly built of refurbished house, or even very soon after new windows have been fitted. But not suddenly 3yrs later.
I used to run mine at 21degrees Now I'm running 16 and max 18 and noticed more condensation even on my cracked open window and more mould appearing under wall paper My son sleeps with his window open all year round and bathroom window is slightly ajar through the night and opened fully each time shower is used I also refused to put heating on going into colder weather last year and noticed my walls window side were getting wet.
Nope nothing like that. We've not used our Tumble drier for several years. The washing has always been dried on airers in the spare room when it can't go outside. But we've been doing that for 24yrs and again that would have shown up as an issue immediately the windows were installed.
How about using the heating less, as per Ducbird’s post? Edit: question answered. Has it been a particularly cold winter where you live?
House is 26yrs old Chris. It has been a bit colder I suppose, but I think we've had less rain than usual.
Agree odd after 3 years, Have seen it before where the cavity didn’t have any insulation put in around the frames and when you get a cold season can get damp then mould starts, will be interesting to see how it goes when temperature warms up a bit, Might not be your problem as I’m no fitter but have 40 years as a decorator and seen many problem,
I see the have used trim pieces around all the inside of the windows. You would expect the frames to be inside the plaster board. Those trims could be hiding a multitude of sins and bodges.
