Waterproofing aluminium framed windows

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Waterproofing aluminium framed windows

Aluminium framed window is about to be waterproofed

We came across an unusual case. . Our client has a large aluminium framed window in the master bedroom. The water ingress left the internal sill badly damaged and the water had migrated up to 500mm left of the window sill. See Fig. 1 - 3. We knew out of experience that inadequate waterproofing below the window frame was to blame. The specified procedure is to have a bituminous waterproofing membrane applied below the frame including a 150mm upturns into the side walls. We discovered that the water runs in the hollow of the frame and collects at the bottom. Due to design errors the water does not drain sufficiently towards the outside. Many builders and aluminium window installers omit the waterproofing below the frames as they are not concerned with the waterproofing or do not care for it.

We insisted on the removal of the window frame and to apply the waterproofing below the frame but also inserting first an aluminium angle to prevent the water to ingress inwardly and to force the water outward. See the drawing Fig 4.

Waterproofing needs to be done because the water is running towards the inside of the aluminium window

Close up picture of the damage caused by the water to the wall on the inside of the window

Below we've drawn up a side view diagram of the aluminium sliding door we are waterproofing. First we've fixed the aluminium angle in place and leveled the base upon which the sliding door is going to rest with cement. The next step was to apply the 4mm torched on waterproofing membrane on top of the aluminium angle.

Picture of how we are going to possition the aluminium angle and 4mm torch on

What happened in this particular case was that fuel was added to the fire in that the water from the pitched tiled roof was not draining into the gutter sufficiently but ingressed between the gutter and the fascia, running down the wall and onto the window adding more water to the frame. See in Fig.6 the water visible below the frame in the corner. What we did was to apply a flashing from the timber into the aluminium gutter. See Fig.5.

Pitched tiled roof roof tiles removed because water is not draining into gutter

Water visible below aluminium frame in corner

Internal sill made from Nutec fiber cement

Broken Internal sill made from Nutec fiber cement

The angle iron that the previous people used was a cheap piece of mild steel angle. The waterproofing was done with an acrylic waterproofing system which retains the water. See Fig 9.

Preparing the project by taking out the window frame. Fig 10.

Fitting a 38 x 38mm aluminium epoxy coated angle. The angle needed to be fitted level . Fig 11 and 12.

Fitt the 38 x 38mm aluminium epoxy coated angle into the corner to rest the window on

Making good the surface to receive the torch on membrane. The surface needs to be flat, smooth, even and free from voids and protrusions. See fig 13 and 14.

Cement the 38 x 38mm aluminium epoxy coated angle level with the base to be used to rest the window on

Before you can apply the torch on memebrane the surface needs to be flat, smooth, even and free from voids an protrusions

Making good the plaster around the window on the inside and on the outside. This is quite a messy business and care needs to be taken to control the mess. We found that there needed to be constant communication between the waterproofers and the aluminium specialists regarding the logistics of the project and coordinating the removal of the frame, the preparation of the surface, the waterproofing, the re-fitting of the frame and the making good of the surfaces again.

What job! Having done all that all it needs now is a coat of paint.

I hope the information with regards to waterproofing a aluminium window was usefull and easy to understand. Brows through our other pages for more usefull articles.

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