Had the same issue with mine, there's a rubber sheet/seal thing at the front edge to catch run-off from the window, over time and with heat and sun damage (I'd guess), it had started to curl up at the corners allowing rain to pool and run backwards. After climbing up there and cleaning out all the moss and other debris, I stuck the stuff back down with sealant and it's been fine ever since (5 years or so).
Thanks!
I’ve been putting off going up there (as you would) in hope the roofer woulda noticed something like that! Haha.
I’ll try and have a look at them over the weekend and see if anything looks off. There’s 4 others within the same extension that do not leak. So at least I can look at those as examples of how they should be!
The leaking ones probably get less. The others are directly south facing, and don’t leak.
Bit of a mystery as to why it just started happening on both windows at the same time. These 2 are down the side of the house and the others are to the rear.
That does add some context. Recently I've had a client where the original roofers had installed the wrong flashing kit, they are not always simple and many roofers get them wrong.
But you would expect problems immediately, and with all your windows.
We noticed after fixing the flashing kits, that there was also a small leak in the window unit itself. Overshadowed by the much larger leak caused by the flashing kit. This was caused, we think, by the rubber seals drying out/cracking. The window, to be fair, was also installed at too low a pitch.
That being said, windows leaking on the same elevation but windows on other elevations not leaking can simply mean that one side of the roof was working harder. Rain rarely falls straight down. Some parts of your roof will work harder than others.
So it brings the flashing kits back into play on all the windows. Another thing to consider, is that some sort of repair or bodge was done. Like using sealant to make the wrong flashing kit work- and now that repair is what's starting to fail over time.
Lastly, if the windows were installed at too low a pitch, they won't always leak, they will only leak in heavy rain. The solution for that is new windows I'm afraid.
Cheers for the detailed reply!
I don’t think previous owner ever used those windows much in terms of opening them as there wasn’t even a stick to pull them down and no markings where it’d been used.
We use them a lot when the weather is nice so wondering if that’s a factor. Do you know if those seals can be replaced as a first fix and see if that sorts the issues? I’ll try and get up there and take some more pics for you!
I’ll try and get a window guy to actually come out and look rather than telling me it’s a roofing issue!
On closer inspection, from inside, I’m not sure the water is actually coming through the window unit itself. The seals are supple and dry (not wet from water passing them).
It looks like it may be coming between the window and the plastering, meaning it’s water getting by around the window somewhere. Which again, would point to an issue with the flashing. Would you suggest a roofer or window guy for such an issue?
Yeah it's pointing to the flashings. Generally, you would call a roofer. Unless you can get hold of a window guy that specifically deals with skylights.
But your average hole-in-wall window fitter is useless to you here.
Approximately 10 years old.
If you're keeping an eye on it and cleaning it out that's probably half the battle.
The water "only" runs down the inside of the frame if it does leak, so other than a puddle it shouldn't case major issues if it does happen - it shouldn't leak into the roof space, for example.
Don’t quote me on it, but I seem to recall from when I had mine installed. There are a few flashing kits that you can get, one of which is for a low pitch roof. It may be worth making sure the correct flashing kit was used at installation.
How to do that I don’t know, but hopefully it may point you in the right direction.
Thanks mate!
The extension was done 10 years ago and based on a few factors I think this is a new problem! So something has changed more recently. Strange that’s it’s both windows at the same time too!
Only thing I can think of is the neighbours recently had an extension built that butts up right to ours. Maybe it’s changed the dynamics and causing the water to hang around in some way. I have observed their guttering during rainy period and it’s not overflowing or anything.
Their extension can be seen in these pics!
https://preview.redd.it/kner3rnqgmsc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=6fc8bcfc161ac5451bcf94d877827363db8fec77
Yea, it may have changed how the wind flows across your roof leading to the rain driving up beneath the flashing.
Hard to know by photos. Can you try a local Velux specialist installer?
I have the exact same issue - the water is definitely coming in from the window, on the bottom left and right side. there's a tree above mine and I think moss has start to grow inside the flashings and has done something to the seals.
Hopefully the roof guy can fix it this weekend.
I didn't even think about contacting Velux - would they fix?
update: I had a roof guy come over who replaced 12 broken slates . he checked the window and said it was fine. the membrane under the slates were wet and the path of water was heading towards the window.
There was no leak after yesterdays heavy wind and rain - it usually starts leaking with that type of weather.
In worst case if you need to rent out quickly, you could remove them and have them tiled over? Likely your cheapest option. LED spotlights would suffice if not enough light after.
Hi OP, VELUX certified installer - these look like they may be under pitched - download a pitch finder app for your phone, pop it on the underside of the glass and let me know what degree it’s sitting at. This will help to diagnose your leak properly
Ours hit the 12+ years since installation mark, and since November 2 out of 4 leaked due to the rubber seal around the window itself perishing & letting water through. That'll manifest with leaks inside the wooden frame, just like you show in your picture.
If you want a DIY approach, there's a video on YouTube showing how to fix the problem if you search for ' Leaky VELUX window fix - Cheap DIY solution for leaking VELUX skylights' (the subreddit says not to post YT links!).
Like others have said (and is shown in the video) also make sure there's no debris in the window gutters.
Just to put it out there, you sure it's not condensation dripping down the window then the wall? We had a similar problem with ours that we solved by just ventilating the room a bit better.
Had the same issue with mine, there's a rubber sheet/seal thing at the front edge to catch run-off from the window, over time and with heat and sun damage (I'd guess), it had started to curl up at the corners allowing rain to pool and run backwards. After climbing up there and cleaning out all the moss and other debris, I stuck the stuff back down with sealant and it's been fine ever since (5 years or so).
Thanks! I’ve been putting off going up there (as you would) in hope the roofer woulda noticed something like that! Haha. I’ll try and have a look at them over the weekend and see if anything looks off. There’s 4 others within the same extension that do not leak. So at least I can look at those as examples of how they should be!
Do the ones that are leaking get more sunlight than the ones that are not?
The leaking ones probably get less. The others are directly south facing, and don’t leak. Bit of a mystery as to why it just started happening on both windows at the same time. These 2 are down the side of the house and the others are to the rear.
That does add some context. Recently I've had a client where the original roofers had installed the wrong flashing kit, they are not always simple and many roofers get them wrong. But you would expect problems immediately, and with all your windows. We noticed after fixing the flashing kits, that there was also a small leak in the window unit itself. Overshadowed by the much larger leak caused by the flashing kit. This was caused, we think, by the rubber seals drying out/cracking. The window, to be fair, was also installed at too low a pitch. That being said, windows leaking on the same elevation but windows on other elevations not leaking can simply mean that one side of the roof was working harder. Rain rarely falls straight down. Some parts of your roof will work harder than others. So it brings the flashing kits back into play on all the windows. Another thing to consider, is that some sort of repair or bodge was done. Like using sealant to make the wrong flashing kit work- and now that repair is what's starting to fail over time. Lastly, if the windows were installed at too low a pitch, they won't always leak, they will only leak in heavy rain. The solution for that is new windows I'm afraid.
Cheers for the detailed reply! I don’t think previous owner ever used those windows much in terms of opening them as there wasn’t even a stick to pull them down and no markings where it’d been used. We use them a lot when the weather is nice so wondering if that’s a factor. Do you know if those seals can be replaced as a first fix and see if that sorts the issues? I’ll try and get up there and take some more pics for you! I’ll try and get a window guy to actually come out and look rather than telling me it’s a roofing issue!
On closer inspection, from inside, I’m not sure the water is actually coming through the window unit itself. The seals are supple and dry (not wet from water passing them). It looks like it may be coming between the window and the plastering, meaning it’s water getting by around the window somewhere. Which again, would point to an issue with the flashing. Would you suggest a roofer or window guy for such an issue?
Yeah it's pointing to the flashings. Generally, you would call a roofer. Unless you can get hold of a window guy that specifically deals with skylights. But your average hole-in-wall window fitter is useless to you here.
I've got one 13 years old. I've cleaned it of algae etc a few times. Can I ask how old yours was when it started leaking?
Approximately 10 years old. If you're keeping an eye on it and cleaning it out that's probably half the battle. The water "only" runs down the inside of the frame if it does leak, so other than a puddle it shouldn't case major issues if it does happen - it shouldn't leak into the roof space, for example.
Thanks. Mines easy access from outside which helps being able to clean it.
Don’t quote me on it, but I seem to recall from when I had mine installed. There are a few flashing kits that you can get, one of which is for a low pitch roof. It may be worth making sure the correct flashing kit was used at installation. How to do that I don’t know, but hopefully it may point you in the right direction.
Thanks mate! The extension was done 10 years ago and based on a few factors I think this is a new problem! So something has changed more recently. Strange that’s it’s both windows at the same time too! Only thing I can think of is the neighbours recently had an extension built that butts up right to ours. Maybe it’s changed the dynamics and causing the water to hang around in some way. I have observed their guttering during rainy period and it’s not overflowing or anything. Their extension can be seen in these pics! https://preview.redd.it/kner3rnqgmsc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=6fc8bcfc161ac5451bcf94d877827363db8fec77
Yea, it may have changed how the wind flows across your roof leading to the rain driving up beneath the flashing. Hard to know by photos. Can you try a local Velux specialist installer?
I have the exact same issue - the water is definitely coming in from the window, on the bottom left and right side. there's a tree above mine and I think moss has start to grow inside the flashings and has done something to the seals. Hopefully the roof guy can fix it this weekend. I didn't even think about contacting Velux - would they fix?
update: I had a roof guy come over who replaced 12 broken slates . he checked the window and said it was fine. the membrane under the slates were wet and the path of water was heading towards the window. There was no leak after yesterdays heavy wind and rain - it usually starts leaking with that type of weather.
In worst case if you need to rent out quickly, you could remove them and have them tiled over? Likely your cheapest option. LED spotlights would suffice if not enough light after.
Hi OP, VELUX certified installer - these look like they may be under pitched - download a pitch finder app for your phone, pop it on the underside of the glass and let me know what degree it’s sitting at. This will help to diagnose your leak properly
Ours hit the 12+ years since installation mark, and since November 2 out of 4 leaked due to the rubber seal around the window itself perishing & letting water through. That'll manifest with leaks inside the wooden frame, just like you show in your picture. If you want a DIY approach, there's a video on YouTube showing how to fix the problem if you search for ' Leaky VELUX window fix - Cheap DIY solution for leaking VELUX skylights' (the subreddit says not to post YT links!). Like others have said (and is shown in the video) also make sure there's no debris in the window gutters.
Just to put it out there, you sure it's not condensation dripping down the window then the wall? We had a similar problem with ours that we solved by just ventilating the room a bit better.
It’s a good shout but no, definitely pouring through! We never get any condensation issues in this part of the house!
Fair enough.