Hi.
I have inherited a summer cottage and in the south-facing bathroom there's a window with a window frame that is starting to deteriorate.
I planned to replace it today and began demolishing. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that it was much worse than I thought. The frame is completely rotten and all the surrounding studs are also rotten. See attached images.
My question is, how can this happen?
Where could the water be coming from?
Opinions?
I suppose I'll have to tear down the gable in the spring and hope for answers, but I find it strange that it was this bad when it looked fairly fresh from the outside...
It is correct that there has been no upper drip edge. And it is likely, as you say, that the absence of this is the culprit in the drama.
The cottage is from the 1920s but this particular part was built in the early 1980s.
Recognize the problem. In my experience, it is due to the flashings above and below being incorrectly positioned and not sealed tightly against the frame. It only takes a very small misplacement/leakage to lead to damage like this. Rainwater seeps in over time and can only lead to rot and mold. It is especially vulnerable on gables, this is a typical damage that takes time for an untrained homeowner to notice, but once discovered, you just have to bite the bullet. You should replace the studs and anything you may not currently see under/in the wall that is affected.
In addition to the possible causes mentioned in other posts, I would like to highlight the window's orientation and the small overhang created by the roof. A consequence of the facade being built outward without extending the roof.
I would like to highlight the window's placement in relation to the cardinal directions and the small protrusion the roof creates.
I agree that the roof overhang is small. But there are actually houses built entirely without roof overhangs just for the sake of design/modernity. It is, of course, a factor that does not improve the situation but can hardly be the core of the problem. In the event of a roof renovation, one should also extend the roof overhang; in my opinion, the house looks better then.
In Skåne, for example, the building tradition is to construct without any roof overhangs at the gables, but then the façades are made of brick. I just wanted to point out the connection between renovation and building damage. During my rather long career in the construction sector, I have encountered many such examples. Naturally, a façade should be sealed around a window regardless of orientation, roof overhang, and façade material. If the roof overhang is poor and/or the distance between the window and the eaves is great, the flashing above the window is extremely important. Additionally, the lower window flashing must be correctly folded at the edges. If one doesn't know how to do this, they should use a sheet metal worker. It pays off in the long run.
Thank you for all the answers. I'll fix it in the spring, then it will be to tear off the panel, replace all bad material, and build it up correctly (with correctly mounted upper and lower flashing).
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