Yeah, warped frames are sneaky. Had something similar happen—thought it was just old caulk, but turns out the whole frame had shifted slightly. Did you notice any sticking or trouble opening the window before spotting the leak? That's usually a giveaway...
Yeah, sticking windows are definitely a common symptom of frame shifting. Another subtle sign I've noticed is uneven gaps around the sash—sometimes they're barely noticeable until you really look closely. Also, if the leak seems worse during windy rainstorms, it might indicate compromised weather stripping rather than just caulk issues. Frames can shift slightly over time due to temperature fluctuations or settling foundations, so it's always worth checking alignment carefully before jumping straight to resealing.
Good points about alignment and weather stripping. One quick way to check alignment is to open the window slightly and measure diagonally from corner to corner—if the measurements differ noticeably, you've got some shifting. Have you noticed any drafts when the window's closed tight?
Great tip on measuring diagonally—I hadn't thought of that before. I've found drafts can sneak in even if alignment seems okay, especially around older windows. Had a similar issue last fall; alignment checked out fine, but turns out the weather stripping had flattened over time. Replaced it, and the difference was night and day. Curious if your window is older or newer... maybe age plays a bigger role than we realize?
Had the same thing happen with my windows—alignment seemed spot-on, but weather stripping was shot. Mine were about 15 years old; newer ones probably hold up better, but seems like even quality stripping eventually flattens or cracks over time... worth checking regularly.
"seems like even quality stripping eventually flattens or cracks over time... worth checking regularly."
Yeah, totally agree with this. I replaced mine about two years ago after noticing some water sneaking in during heavy storms. Thought it was alignment at first too, but nope—weather stripping was toast. One thing I'd add is to check the caulking around the outside frame as well. Mine looked fine at a glance, but when I poked around, it was brittle and cracked in spots. Quick recaulk job made a noticeable difference.
Good call on checking the caulking too—often overlooked. Curious though, did you use silicone or acrylic-based caulk? I've found silicone holds up better outdoors, but it's a pain if you ever need to redo it later...
"I've found silicone holds up better outdoors, but it's a pain if you ever need to redo it later..."
You're spot-on about the silicone holding up better outdoors. I totally get what you mean by it being a pain to redo, though—it sticks like crazy! One thing I've found helpful when using silicone is to prep the area really well beforehand. If you clean it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely first, the silicone adheres better and lasts longer. Plus, using painter's tape around the edges can make cleanup and future removal a bit less frustrating.
Acrylic-based caulk definitely has its place, especially if you're painting over it or working indoors, but from my experience, it tends to crack and shrink outdoors faster than silicone. I learned this the hard way a couple of winters ago when my windows started leaking again after just one season. Ended up having to redo the whole thing—lesson learned, haha.
Also, if you're dealing with persistent leaks, you might want to double-check your weather stripping too. A lot of times, people overlook that because it seems like the caulk should handle everything, but weather stripping is fantastic at sealing those sneaky little gaps that pop up as things shift around over time. I recently upgraded mine to some adhesive-backed foam stuff, and it's made a noticeable difference in drafts and moisture creeping in.
Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track already. It's great to see someone taking the initiative to keep their space energy-efficient and comfortable. Good luck with the rest of the project!
Silicone definitely lasts longer outdoors, but I switched to polyurethane sealant last year—it's flexible, sticks well, and easier to remove later if needed. Weather stripping helped too, but the sealant solved most of my leak issues around windows. Worth considering if silicone's giving you trouble.
Totally agree on the polyurethane—silicone drove me nuts last summer. Couple quick things I learned the hard way:
- Don't skimp on prep. Clean the surface properly or you'll redo it next season (ask me how I know...).
- Weather stripping's great for drafts, but heavy rain? Meh. Sealant was the real MVP.
- Keep some painter's tape handy. Makes cleanup way less annoying.
Good luck—hope your windows stay dry longer than mine did!