I HAVE BROSCO DIVIDED LIGHT (6 OVER 6) WOOD WINDOWS AND NOTICED AFTER A HEAVY RAIN STORM THAT WATER HAD COME THROUGH TO THE INSIDE OF A WINDOW AT THE TOP OF THE BOTTOM RAIL AT THE MUNTIN(THE WINDOW WAS COVERED BY A WOOD SCREEN WINDOW). THE WINDOWS ARE BARELY FOUR YEARS OLD. I ASSUME THAT THE GLAZING PUTTY IS FAILING. IS THIS UNUSUAL FOR SUCH A YOUNG WINDOW? HOW DO I TEST THE OTHER WINDOWS FOR LEAKS(OTHER THAN USING A GARDEN HOSE)? COULD THERE BE ANOTHER CAUSE? HAS ANY ONE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE BROSCO WINDOW OR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE? ARE THERE SOME OTHER SIGNS OF FAILURE THAT I SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR? IF IT IS THE PUTTY MUST ALL THE EXISTING PUTTY BE REMOVED AND WHAT IS THE BEST REPAIR MATERIAL?
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I am not familiar with the brand of window that you have, but I have done some glazing. So to go any further with this thread I need more info.
Is this a single glazed window?or insulated?
Is the glazing putty really "glazing putty" or is it a butyl or elastomeric polymer?
Is the window clad? or wood on the exterior.
If it is a wood exterior............has it been primed and painted?
If yes to the painting......was the paint lapped over the glazing and onto the glass ti seal the putty/glass interface?
............................Iron Helix
Thank you for your response. The answers to your questions are as follows:
1. Single glazed
2. glazing putty
3. wood exterior. Windows are made by Brockway Smith
4. primed by the manufacturer; were acclimated and painted before installation. Paint was lapped over the glazing and onto the glass.
Look forward to your further help.
Skip
Oh Skip, I only have more questions!
Do all lites on the bottom rail leak? or only one?
What does a close inspection of the lapped paint joint show? Has the paint or glaze pulled from the glass? or the paint from the glazing?
Put the hose away and try a spray bottle to reduce the potential water damage.
Ask the your supplier of the window what the glazing product really is! And have the rep come look....although I doubt a defective window, but would consider a bad batch of glazing compound.
I have found latex glazing to be substandard to linseed oil based glazing, but I've also returned gallons of both for overly wet or dry batches.
Consider that the finish paint did not: A.) mate to the glazing or B.) the glass was not clean when glazed or painted, or C.)the assembler forgot to use glazier points and the wieght of the glass on the glazing is causing a sag and gap.
What about all the other windows in the house?
Have at it inspector "Skip"........................Iron Helix
.........................And yes, condensation...single pane is notorious for same.
not all of the panes show leaking.
The problem is in many, but not all, windows . The paint has not pulled from the glass; it is hard to tell whether the glazing putty has pulled. In at least two areas it appears to have shrunk. The manufacturer's rep is coming tomorrow morning.
Skip
Skip,
Where are you located?
Phil
I'm glad you secured a rep....I only hope he is interested in a solution to the problem and not in avoiding use of Brosco's warranty for whatever reason.
Let us know what happens.....it builds the information data base!!
............................Iron Helix
Thanks to all who joined in this discussion. It was helpful. The representative from Brockway-Smith (Brosco) and the local dealer came to the house today (7/25). Both were responsive and pleasant. Brosco has agreed to replace all of the sashes where water was coming in. Although we will have the additional cost and labor of repainting this was a satisfactory solution, promptly accomplished. We will let you know when the sashes arrive which should be within the next two weeks.
Skip
How nice to know the reps came to solve the problem not dodge the bullet! That puts a feather in the company's hat for being a responsible business.
Did the reps suggest the reason for the problem?
What about future failures?
Just curious..........................................Iron Helix
No suggestion as to cause. Said never had the problem before - ? I suggested a bad batch of putty as you had hypothesized and they agreed that it could have been. We will see what the future holds but we suggested they inspect the glazing putty work very well. Thanks again for your help.
Skip
To Iron Helix and all other interested parties:
This is a consumer alert!
This is just a heads up concerning Brosco (Brockway-Smith). The company has backed off their promise to replace the leaking sashes and our local supplier is trying to prevent Brosco from reneging on a cleaqr promise. So to all who were pleased to hear that it seemed Brosco stood behind its product - stay tuned. They are disappointing their purchasers right now. What don't they get!
Skip,
1st: PLEASE TURN OFF THE ALL CAPS. It's a pain to read stufgf in all caps. (PLus, on-line, it's considered to be shouting.)
I don't know that brand of window, but think it unlikely to be a glazing compound issue, given the structure of typical windows.
Far more likley would be condenstation if the outside temp significantly dropped during the rainstorm.
Early failure like that could be from a latent defect. Such defects are unusual, but not so very unusual that you should be surprised to find one.
Yes, you can test with a garden hose. Also get some duct tape and poly (test to be sure the tape won't hurt your paint), and isolate the area under test before you hit it with the hose. This isolation is absolutely necessary to be sure that you don't go fixing the parts that ain't busted.
-- J.S.
There are two reasons why people choose Brosco windows. Either they are trying to match an old pattern style in a single glazed or they are looking for the cheapest window they can find. I've used several of their two over two for garages and see this bottom muntin meeting rail leak more often than not. I don't know if their glazing is latex or oil but I don't think they seal the glass to the inside with a bead of caulk either.
Piffin,
What are your comments on Brosco quality of front door/side light make up units? I am about to replace ours, and Brosco is a major supplier in our area.
Phil
Never used their doors. if the windows are any clue, I wouldn't chance it. Brokway-Smith handles seveeral other lines of good stuff. Sorry.
Excellence is its own reward!