I have awning windows in my basement that open inwards, probably 350 days per year they’re trouble free. They leak like crazy when the rain hits that side of the house, and we’ve had a lot of rain the past 2 months. I added some epdm weatherstripping, that slowed the influx of water, it’s still coming in though. There is quarterround to seal them at the bottom, and the water just runs in to the crack, then in. Maybe some kind of drip edge projecting over the crack would help? Here’s a super rough sketch I did in photoshop.
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I think you do need something like a dripcap for draining the water over the quarter round onto the sill. I'd likely just remove the quarter round and put weatherstrip on the bottom of the window though. Do you really need that quarter round? I don't think so.
You could get picture storm windows for the openings. I had single pane basement awning windows (opening inward) with a condensation problem during very cold weather, the storms helped that situation.
we call those "hopper" windows. Bad design for stormy wetseason. Weatherstripping is a must. If it is really bad put in a flashing system which drains the water out
Hopper windows are hinged at the bottom, he has awning windows..just to be clear.
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of course, you are absolutely right. If it is an awning window why would it open INWARDS? wrong installation?
LOL...it IS inside out. Easy fix I hope. If not an egress window for code ( I doubt it) a bubble type window well cover could keep the rain off it, but also stops any ventilation.
I'd either install it right or replace it entirely.
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If it's installed wrong, it's been that way for almost 80 years. I think basements were just for coal when this house was built, so they probably didn't care that much. I can't reverse the windwo, because then it wouldn't have a sill outside, I'd have to rebuild the frame. I'm going to try taking the quarter round off, and use some kind of door weatherstripping on the bottom. The basement is a walkout, so the window is above grade. Thanks for all the responses.
The window needs to be put in right side in. It should seal from outside against the stops, and hinge outward. Take it out and turn it around.
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I added to your drawing to show what I would do. The rain cap piece would have to be very well bonded to the sash, I would gorilla glue it and then bondo the joint if it wasn't invisible, and then put a couple coats of paint on. The drip cap should have a saw kerf out near the edge so that the water doesn't come back around to the window.
My basement windows are exactly the same inswing awnings, except that they are under big enough overhangs to never get wet. They are also about 90 years old.
zak
That looks like a simple solution. We have large overhangs too, it's only when the wind blows towards the side of the house. I'll try it on one window and see how it works. Thanks.