VELUX Window Installers › Caerphilly › Guide
A drip below a roof window is easy to blame on the window itself, but in most cases the glass is sound. With the rain that sweeps down off the hills around Caerphilly, small weaknesses show up quickly. Working out the real cause is what stops the same leak returning after a repair.
Flashing that does not match or has failed
The flashing is the metal and sealing kit that carries water around the window frame and over the roof covering. If it was the wrong kit for the covering, or has been disturbed, water finds its way in at the corners. We would rather tell you straight than sell you something unnecessary.
Slate roofs on older terraces and concrete tile roofs on newer estates need different kits. A mismatch, or a kit that was not fitted tightly, is one of the commonest causes of leaks around a roof window. It does not take long to check, and it saves guesswork.
Seals, fixings and ageing
Rubber and sealant around the frame can harden and shrink over time. Wind-driven rain on exposed hillside roofs finds any gap, and a small failed seal can let a surprising amount of water into the reveal. We look at this on site rather than guessing from the road.
Sometimes a fixing has worked loose or the window was never seated squarely in its opening. Neither shows from the ground, so the cause only appears when the surrounding area is opened up and inspected. Every roof in the area behaves a little differently.
Condensation that looks like a leak
Droplets running down the room-side glass or the lining may be condensation, not a leak. It happens when warm, moist air meets a cold surface, and is made worse by poor insulation or a missing vapour barrier around the opening. We explain what we find in plain terms before any work starts.
Misting between the panes is different again. That points to a failed sealed unit, where the seal around the double glazing has gone. The glass unit then needs replacing, but the flashing may be perfectly fine. It is worth getting it looked at before the next wet spell.
- Water running down room-side glass after cooking or showering
- Mist trapped between the panes
- Damp only on cold, still mornings
- Staining on the lining but dry flashing outside
The roof around the window
Leaks that appear near a roof window often come from slipped tiles, cracked slates, moss or a blocked gutter above it. Water runs down the slope and meets the window frame, so the frame gets the blame. That is the sort of detail we check on every visit.
Moss on shaded Caerphilly slopes can hold water against the flashing and lift tile edges. We look at the roof above and beside the window as well as the frame itself, so the repair covers the real cause. Local weather makes this more of a concern than people expect.
What to do and what to avoid
Place a bowl or towel under the drip and note when it happens: during rain, after rain, or only on cold mornings. That detail helps us work out whether it is flashing, condensation or the roof covering. We would rather tell you straight than sell you something unnecessary.
Please do not climb up to seal it yourself, as sealant over a poor detail usually traps water. Call us for a proper look and we will explain what is wrong before we repair or renew anything. It does not take long to check, and it saves guesswork.
Need velux window installers in Caerphilly? See our velux window installers in Caerphilly page, or call 07766 547309.
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Common Questions
Can a leaking roof window be repaired?
Often yes. If the fault is the flashing, a seal or the roof around it, we can repair or renew those parts. A failed sealed unit means replacing the glass. We find the cause first. We look at this on site rather than guessing from the road.
Is it a leak or condensation?
If the water appears only in cold conditions and runs down the room-side glass, it is probably condensation. If it follows rain and stains the lining, it is more likely a leak. A proper look settles it.
Should I seal around it myself?
No. Sealant applied over a poor detail often hides the cause and holds water in. It also means working on the roof, which we advise against. Call us and we will check it safely. Every roof in the area behaves a little differently.
Get a Quote in Caerphilly
Tell us what the roof is doing in Caerphilly and we will look at it. Call 07766 547309, message us on WhatsApp or use the form below.