Construction defects in windows

Construction defects in windows are no small nuisance. When you take an apartment from a contractor, or before you close on a resale sale, check the sealing on sliding windows, recessed windows, and exterior seals generally, to avoid a lot of trouble later.

Exterior window sealing is one of the most important things to check in a home, along with strong, reliable water sealing. Window sealing problems are unfortunately common, and once sealing fails, other problems tend to follow, which is why it is one of the first things we check in a home inspection.

The windows on the market

Sealing issues can show up on sliding windows, recessed (pocket) windows, exterior seals, and more. Windows fall into a few main categories: standard aluminum windows with roller shutters, Belgian steel or aluminum windows, tilt windows (mostly in bathrooms), tilt-and-turn windows (opening two ways), and sealed safe-room (mamad) windows. Most come with electric or manual roller shutters.

Standards for windows

Under the Sale (Apartments) Law, the contractor or renovator is bound by a number of standards covering windows and shutters, addressing sealing, glass strength and other properties, material quality, installation method, corrosion resistance, frame and cladding properties, hardware quality (rollers, latches, hinges, and so on), paint quality, and more.

Construction defects and standards for windows

The standards spell out exactly what manufacturers and installers must do. When work departs from the standard, fully or partly, the result is a construction defect. Construction defects in windows can cause a wide range of problems, ones we run into constantly as home inspection engineers doing building inspections.

The full list of defects we see

Window and construction defects in this category can include:

• Water getting into the apartment.

• Wind getting into the apartment.

• Wind entering through roller shutter switches.

• Uneven leveling of the frame or the shutter box.

• Corrosion in steel frames, mainly in mamad and Belgian windows (see picture).

• Glass that does not meet the required strength and poses a safety hazard.

• Defects in the glass pane, such as dents, bubbles, and scratches.

• Poor profile installation, such as inconsistent spacing between profiles.

• An exterior or interior angle set too far from the roller shutter.

• Squeaking or warping when raising or lowering the electric shutter.

• A shutter motor too weak for the size of the shutter.

• Pull straps for the shutter crumbling.

• Missing drainage openings.

• A mamad window that protrudes past the wall plane and shrinks the room (see picture).

One of the most frustrating problems is a sealing failure that lets in dampness or wind, a defect that shows up even with windows from the best manufacturers. Dampness gets worse on west- and north-facing facades, and wind infiltration worsens the higher the floor.

Installing windows correctly means coordinating closely with the other trades on-site: the stone cladding installer, the plasterer, and the sealing contractor.

When the site manager properly supervises the work, dampness will not get in. One tip on wind coming through a roller shutter switch: wind infiltration has several possible causes and should be checked individually by a home inspection engineer, but here is one common culprit that comes down to an electrician's oversight.

The conduit carrying the wiring to the shutter motor needs to be sealed; if it isn't, outside wind travels through it into the shutter box, then to the wall switch, and into the apartment. You are welcome to read further on the subject of aluminum windows

If you are dealing with sealing problems, contact a home inspection company right away. Whether you are closing on a resale home or just received the keys to a new one from the contractor, get the checks done so you do not end up absorbing repair costs that were never your responsibility.

Remember that the seller is legally required to cover various construction defects. While you are in the buying process, contact a home inspection company to confirm exactly what faults or defects exist, if any, and make sure you understand the contractor's warranty on the home you are buying.