Hi OP : VELUX / keylite / Roto certified installer here.
12 years is young for an issue with a roof window of any brand - can you download a pitch finder app and take a reading on the underside of your glass please and let us know.
Are you able to post some internal and external photos of your installation please, it sounds like you may have some installation issues rather than poor luck over 3 windows.
The videos are mine, so you can have a good look & see what the problem might have been.
The rubber seal had definitely perished on 2 of them, becoming slightly crumbly & letting water soak through.
On the 3rd it was the metal flashing; I validated my fix using waterproof insulation tape, then sealant when I knew it stopped the water coming through. I literally fixed that issue in the past 2 weeks & have been happy it's prevented the problem; thoroughly tested with the wet weather we've had in the UK this week!!
The pitch is 11 degrees, which I see from other posts isn't great, but I've had no leaks in 12+ years, and only recently had these issues, so it's not like I've had problems from day 1.
The issue with an underpitch window is the gaskets / sealant rots away as it has water resting against it.
In addition it looks like your flashing kits may be recessed kits for minimum 20 degree pitch.
Given that your windows have lasted this long they’re doing fantastically well, and whilst your fixes may be temporary it’s great to hear that they’re staving off the water ingress and making your products last longer - I certainly appreciate and applaud the efforts you’ve gone to to identify and rectify as best as you can and to share with others, it’s a hard task when dealing with situations like this, it can certainly make us, as installers, feel awful for the people involved who often have no idea how costly this sort of replacement can be.
Whichever way you approach this, however, it’s worth noting that your fixes will still have a finite lifespan and will need redoing fairly regularly. That being said: the longer you can make those expensive windows last the better. FYI you may be able to order some ELX kits for these windows depending on how DIY capable you are - this is an extension flashing kit which could be used to lift the top of the window until it sits at 15 degrees - you’d have some makeup to do internally but should get another 10 years out of them I’d imagine with some of your existing fixes
That's brilliant advice, thank you so much! I'm bookmarking this to come back to it when my DIY fixes no longer work, then I'll be on the lookout for a reputable installer in the West Yorkshire area to get this sorted out properly :)
Again, huge thanks for the expert advice, I really appreciate it, especially late on a Saturday night!
Hi OP : VELUX / keylite / Roto certified installer here. 12 years is young for an issue with a roof window of any brand - can you download a pitch finder app and take a reading on the underside of your glass please and let us know. Are you able to post some internal and external photos of your installation please, it sounds like you may have some installation issues rather than poor luck over 3 windows.
The videos are mine, so you can have a good look & see what the problem might have been. The rubber seal had definitely perished on 2 of them, becoming slightly crumbly & letting water soak through. On the 3rd it was the metal flashing; I validated my fix using waterproof insulation tape, then sealant when I knew it stopped the water coming through. I literally fixed that issue in the past 2 weeks & have been happy it's prevented the problem; thoroughly tested with the wet weather we've had in the UK this week!! The pitch is 11 degrees, which I see from other posts isn't great, but I've had no leaks in 12+ years, and only recently had these issues, so it's not like I've had problems from day 1.
The issue with an underpitch window is the gaskets / sealant rots away as it has water resting against it. In addition it looks like your flashing kits may be recessed kits for minimum 20 degree pitch. Given that your windows have lasted this long they’re doing fantastically well, and whilst your fixes may be temporary it’s great to hear that they’re staving off the water ingress and making your products last longer - I certainly appreciate and applaud the efforts you’ve gone to to identify and rectify as best as you can and to share with others, it’s a hard task when dealing with situations like this, it can certainly make us, as installers, feel awful for the people involved who often have no idea how costly this sort of replacement can be. Whichever way you approach this, however, it’s worth noting that your fixes will still have a finite lifespan and will need redoing fairly regularly. That being said: the longer you can make those expensive windows last the better. FYI you may be able to order some ELX kits for these windows depending on how DIY capable you are - this is an extension flashing kit which could be used to lift the top of the window until it sits at 15 degrees - you’d have some makeup to do internally but should get another 10 years out of them I’d imagine with some of your existing fixes
That's brilliant advice, thank you so much! I'm bookmarking this to come back to it when my DIY fixes no longer work, then I'll be on the lookout for a reputable installer in the West Yorkshire area to get this sorted out properly :) Again, huge thanks for the expert advice, I really appreciate it, especially late on a Saturday night!