VELUX Window Installers › Maesteg › Guide
A drip beside a roof window sends most people straight to blame the window itself. In our experience the glass is seldom at fault. In a valley that gets as much driving rain as Maesteg, the fault is nearly always in the details around the frame, and finding it takes some careful looking.
Flashing that has lifted or been poorly matched
Every roof window needs a flashing kit made for the roof covering it sits in, whether slate or a particular tile profile. If the wrong kit was used, or the flashing has lifted, bent or corroded, water runs under it and into the roof. This is the most common cause we find on older terrace roofs. On a wet valley roof, even a small gap lets in a surprising amount of water over a winter.
Sealing and the roof covering around it
Mastic and seals harden and shrink with age and weather, and gaps open at the corners. Slipped or cracked slates and tiles just above the window can also send water onto the frame. The window gets the blame, but the roof covering beside it is the real fault. We replace the flashing kit with the correct one for your covering where the original was never right.
- Cracked or slipped slates above the frame
- Perished sealant at the corners
- Moss or debris building up in the flashing gutter
- Lead or flashing pulled away from the frame
Condensation that looks like a leak
Not every wet window is leaking. Warm, moist air in a loft room condenses on cold glass and frames, then runs down onto the sill. Bedrooms and bathrooms are the usual culprits. Poor insulation or vapour control around the opening makes it worse, and the dampness can mark the lining over time. A damp patch that appears only after heavy rain points to a leak, while one that comes with cold mornings points to condensation.
Misted glass between the panes
If moisture sits inside the glass, between the two panes, the sealed unit has failed. That is a different problem from a leak, and it will not clear by itself. The unit or the whole window needs replacing, which we can assess when we look at the frame and its age. A new unit in an otherwise sound frame is often all that is needed.
How we trace it
We start inside, looking at the lining, the stains and the insulation, then check the roof covering and flashing from the ground and, where safe, close up. Please do not go on the roof or reseal it yourself. Call us for a proper look, and we will say plainly what is wrong. If the fault is in the roof covering, we explain it and repair it instead of just resealing the window.
Need velux window installers in Maesteg? See our velux window installers in Maesteg page, or call 07766 547309.
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Common Questions
Is my VELUX window faulty if it leaks?
Rarely. Leaks usually come from the flashing, the sealing, condensation or the roof covering around the window, not from the glass. We trace the actual source first so the right part is repaired instead of replacing a window that was fine.
Can I seal a leaking roof window myself?
We would advise against it. Working at a roof window means getting onto a sloping roof, which is dangerous, and a bead of sealant on top of a failed flashing often hides the problem. Call us for a proper look instead.
Why is there water running down the inside of the glass?
It is often condensation, not a leak. Warm air in the room meets the cold glass and turns to water. Better ventilation and correct insulation and vapour control around the opening usually help, and we can check these.
Get a Quote in Maesteg
Tell us what the roof is doing in Maesteg and we will look at it. Call 07766 547309, message us on WhatsApp or use the form below.