Marine-grade silicone is definitely a solid choice, but I've found that even the best silicone eventually gives way if the underlying drainage isn't sorted out. Had a similar issue a couple years back—thought I'd sealed everything perfectly, but water still found its way in during heavy storms. Turned out the window sills themselves weren't angled properly, so water pooled instead of running off. Ended up having to shim and re-angle the sills slightly, then resealed again. Bit of a hassle, but haven't had a leak since.
Have you checked if your sills have enough slope to shed water effectively? Sometimes even a slight adjustment can make a huge difference, especially in coastal areas where wind-driven rain is relentless.
Marine-grade silicone is pretty reliable, but honestly, relying just on silicone or even adjusting the slope might not always be enough. Had a similar issue at my place, and after messing around with sealants and angles, I finally realized the real problem was the lack of proper flashing around the windows. Once I installed some decent flashing tape underneath and around the sills, things improved dramatically. Silicone alone can degrade over time, especially with constant exposure to salty air and harsh coastal storms.
Also, if you're dealing with persistent leaks, it might be worth checking out your home's overall moisture management—like gutters and downspouts. Sometimes water getting in isn't just about the window itself; it's about how water flows off your roof and siding. Improving drainage away from your house can make a huge difference in keeping things dry inside.
Just my two cents... silicone's good stuff, but it can't always do all the heavy lifting on its own.
"Sometimes water getting in isn't just about the window itself; it's about how water flows off your roof and siding."
Couldn't agree more. Had a client down by the coast who kept patching leaks around his windows with silicone every year—same story, storms hit, leaks returned. Turned out the gutters were undersized and overflowing, sending water straight onto the windows. Once we upgraded the gutters and added proper flashing, those leaks disappeared for good. Silicone's handy, but it's usually just a band-aid fix if you don't tackle the bigger moisture issues...
This makes a lot of sense. We had a similar issue last year—kept sealing around the windows, but every storm brought the same headache. Eventually realized our siding was channeling water right toward the frames. Adjusted the siding angle slightly and added some flashing, and it's been dry ever since.
"Silicone's handy, but it's usually just a band-aid fix if you don't tackle the bigger moisture issues..."
Makes me wonder, though, how often people overlook siding angles when troubleshooting leaks? Seems like an easy miss...
You're spot on about siding angles—it's surprising how often they're overlooked. I've seen homeowners chase leaks for months, only to find a slight tweak to the siding or adding proper flashing solves everything. Good catch on your part...bet that's a relief.
You're definitely onto something with the siding angles and flashing. Ever notice how people tend to underestimate the role of window installation in these coastal leak issues? I've had clients swear their windows were faulty, only to realize later that the window itself was perfectly fine—it was the installation technique or placement causing all the trouble. Sometimes even a tiny oversight in shimming or sealing can lead to months of frustration...sound familiar?
It's always satisfying when you finally pinpoint the exact cause, though. Curious—did you find adjusting the siding angle alone solved it completely, or did you end up adding extra flashing too? Either way, nice detective work on your part.
Had a similar issue last winter—thought for sure the windows were defective. Turned out the installer skipped sealing around the top edge properly, and water was sneaking in behind the siding. Ended up pulling off some siding, adding extra flashing tape, and carefully resealing everything step-by-step. Took a weekend, but zero leaks since then...so satisfying when you finally nail down the culprit. Glad you figured yours out too, sounds like you're on the right track.
"Took a weekend, but zero leaks since then...so satisfying when you finally nail down the culprit."
Haha, totally feel this. Reminds me of the time I was convinced my roof was shot—every storm turned my attic into a swimming pool. After climbing around up there (and nearly falling through the ceiling, don't ask...), it turned out the vent flashing had cracked. A quick patch job and some sealant, and voila, no more indoor rain. Always a relief when it's something simple, even if it takes forever to pinpoint it. Glad yours worked out!
Yeah, tracking down leaks can be a real detective job sometimes. Did you notice any subtle signs beforehand, like discoloration or dampness, or was it just suddenly obvious? I've seen cases where homeowners chased leaks for months, only to find out it was something tiny like a loose shingle or a clogged gutter. Glad you got yours sorted—nothing beats that feeling of finally having a dry house again.
"Glad you got yours sorted—nothing beats that feeling of finally having a dry house again."
Definitely agree with you there! Had my own little adventure when I moved into my first place last year. Thought it was just condensation at first, but nope, turned out to be a sneaky crack in the window frame. Took forever to pinpoint. Ended up using the old "hose-down trick"—sprayed sections bit by bit until water showed up inside. Did you guys ever try something similar, or do you have other methods that worked better for you?