Aluminum Windows

A commercial property out on Northeast Columbia Blvd.

Note the mirror-glass. A bit unusual application here that was perhaps employed for structural integrity related to wind-load in the east counties near the gorge.

We have anodized bronze aluminum storefront window frames mulled together by means of steel tubing.

Reportedly, after 20+ years of having no problems, they have begun to leak. And the tenant wants to get new carpet without having to worry about it being ruined.

As you can see, the problem has been going on now for some time. Remember that you can click on the photo to enlarge it.

We did perform a water test before we generated our proposal and we determined the caulking between the aluminum jambs and the steel tubing had simply deteriorated from 20 years of being exposed to ultraviolet rays.

This is of course, one of the reasons that a proper flashing system should not rely on caulking as its only line of defense between whether or not you are going have a water penetration problem.

And frankly, it is doubtful that the existing caulking lasted 20 years. People like to say those kind of things in hopes that a remedy will be a simple and relatively painless affair. As opposed to having to remove all the window assemblies and installing proper sill-pans.

So we documented our concerns in writing, gave our client the options they asked for. These options included the respective limitations of physics that should be expected. The option our client chose was to remove all the original caulking and replace it with new polyurethane caulking.

Approximately a week after we are finished with the job, we came back and performed another water test. No leakage.