Leaks Into My Lower Floor Window from Above? Help!

[ItalyEd]

I have a 12 year old home built to resemble one from the old south. The roof has eaves that are exposed. In other words, you can see the rafters from the roof from below. The roof does not have facia or soffits.

Under most normal rains, my home is weatherproof. However, 8-9 times a year, the rain is mixed with fairly strong driving winds (35-50 mph). When this happens, water leaks through 2 or three windows. Bear with me here. If you walked to the window, the glass is not leaking. What is leaking, is the window trim inside the casing above your head. In other words, water is somehow behind the wall.

This is my question:

1. Is it possible that the high winds are pushing the water into the eaves, over the top of the wall on the second floor? If I go into the attic I can see daylight between teh wall and the roof. Probably 1/8" gap in some places.

2. Or, is water merely seeping through the vinyl siding? My siding guy came out, pulled the siding away from the window and it was clean as a whistle. No evidence of leaking or water penetration. The wood underneath was very dry.

This is in the Dallas area. Anyone want to take a stab at repair?

Thanks.

ItalyEd

[grumpydasmurf]

Chances are likley, though youc an see the rafters, the wall extends all the way up to the bottom of the roof deck.

What's more likley is a leak in the siding. It doesn't have to be coming directly from the window. Vinyl siding is not water tight, which is why you need tyvek behind it. The water could be coming in somewhere else and making it's way through a rip or mis-lap in the tyvek.

Heck the water could be coming in from a vent on the roof and rolling down a rafter then through the wall. Water is tricky like that.

[Tom R]

So far, you haven't mentioned how steep the roof is, or how much of an overhang you have. That said, the particular conditions you mention sound like a leak coming from further up the roof. Most leaks do show up at the ceiling/wall intersection. Check the area of the roof anywhere above the leak for any vents, chimneys, valleys, basically anything with a flashing that a 'wind-driven' rain could blow water up and under.

[grumpydasmurf]

Better yet, go in the attic and look for dark stains or wet wood in the attic. That will tell you exactly where the water is coming from, if it is even coming from the roof.

Personaly I think the siding/tyvek is more suspect.

[ItalyEd]

Thanks for the input so far guys.

When I went up in the attic I did notice water staining on the walls from the inside. Further, there was water stains on the 2x4's that run above the wall area in the attic. The staining is not sufficient to damage the wood, but clearly enough to indicate water leakage. So would that suggest to you guys that water is creeping in through the evaves.

If I cover the eaves with facia and soffits and add a "lip" where the soffit meets the vinyl siding, this should eliminate the water issues, don't you guys think.

I appreciate all input and thoughts.

Ed

[Tom R]

It sure couldn't hurt to have soffit and fascia installed, - - but 99% (or more) of the time, - - the leak is coming from somewhere 'above' where it's detected. You still haven't given the 'top secret' information, - - how steep is your roof? - - and how far do your overhangs project?

[grumpydasmurf]

Further, there was water stains on the 2x4's that run above the wall area in the attic. The staining is not sufficient to damage the wood, but clearly enough to indicate water leakage.


Follow those water lines UP and you will find the origin of your leak. It might not be your only leak, but certianly is one leak.

I'm not sure why you reproduced that style of architecture. It is flawed in so many ways to have exposed overhangs, IMO.

[ItalyEd]

Here's pics of the house. It shows the approximate slope of the house. I don't know the degree of slope.

[ItalyEd]

The house was built to resemble this Confederate War Hero's home in Georgia.