Hi,
I’m doing a bathroom remodel and after tearing off all the old tile around the tub I noticed heavy wood rot below the window sill. The window is located in the tub area. I was going to buy a new window but I’m not sure if I should wait until the tile is in place (inside of the window opening) then measure the final dimensions. Looks like the water was leaking where the tile butted up to the window frame. I was thinking if the window went over the top of the tile the problem would be minimized.
All help and advice appreciated,
Mike
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Replies
A window in a shower area is always problematic. Whatever you do will be wrong, so just take your best shot.
you could use an interior window pan integrated into the water proofing. We did this on a recent project.
Edited 8/3/2009 11:03 pm ET by bluejae
Like DanH says, windows in showers are always problematic.
I would install the window first after installing a sill flashing pan and making sure the sill has a slight pitch toward the shower area. Leave an 1/8" or slightly larger space between the tile and the window when installing the tile. do not grout the gap. Instead caulk it with a premium caulk that is color matched to the tile grout.
From that point on it is a maintenance issue. Frequent inspections and refurbishing the caulk should keep the water away from the framing.
BTW this is one area I would definitely use a vinyl window.
I would treat it as part of the shower, just as you would a seat or ledge. Run the membrane over the entire sill and jamb out to the drainage plane on the exterior wall and lap the building paper. Install the window and tile up to it leaving a 1/8" gap caulked as other have suggested. Then if the caulk fails the membrane will protect the framing.
Thank you.
Mike