What could be causing water damage and peeling paint on my north-facing windows in my 2-year-old house, despite no visible window leaks?
Asked by Gavin Burton 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
My house is pretty new, about 2 years old, and I’m the only one who has lived in it. I’ve got four or five windows facing north that seem to have some water damage and peeling paint, at least in my humble opinion. The builder stopped by today to check it out, and he thinks it’s from condensation during the winter. I’ve never seen water actually leaking in through the windows, but I have noticed a bit of condensation when it gets really cold. I’ve adjusted the humidifier since then and haven’t had any more condensation issues. Any thoughts on what might have caused this damage and the best ways to fix it? Thanks for any input!
I suggest reaching out to the window manufacturer to address the water intrusion issue and request them to inspect the windows. Most windows come with a ten-year warranty. You could also try contacting the state licensing board about the builder, as this might grab their attention. In most states, new constructions are required to have a 10-year warranty that builders must honor.
Reminds me of a *insert any track home builder name here* home
Makes a good point lol
This is definitely not typical.
The workers’ helpers likely didn’t install it properly. This is not acceptable for new buildings.
What kind of heating system are you using?
Mentioned that central air is being delivered by a geothermal unit.
Hey , it’s important to monitor the humidity level to help prevent or slow down condensation. I don’t believe the builder is to blame, but it wouldn’t hurt to contact your HVAC technician to check for any leaks in the ductwork.
Sand and paint it, that’s totally normal. Sometimes windows sweat because of the extreme temperature difference between inside and outside. It’s more common now with newer homes being so airtight. Back in the day, homes used to leak air so this wasn’t as much of an issue.
A two-year-old house that was not properly flashed, caulked, or insulated should not have any condensation on modern double pane windows. Certainly not enough to cause this type of damage.
Can you grab some pictures of the exterior? Maybe ask your neighbors if they have the same issues. It’s strange, right? How come we’re dealing with these problems when the builder thinks it’s normal? I’m willing to bet those windows weren’t installed properly. They must have missed something…
We encountered a similar issue with our new house. Using a dehumidifier solved the problem.
Lower the humidity levels on extremely cold days. Additionally, make sure the ceiling fan is running in the upward flow position and open the drapes or blinds on the windows.
Even during the summer, you may experience this if you maintain a very cold indoor temperature. The contrast in temperatures between the inside and outside will lead to condensation. Using a dehumidifier can be beneficial throughout the year.
We often encounter this issue in Nebraska. It seems to be caused by condensation.
Seems like it wasn’t primed properly in my opinion.
It’s all condensation. I’ve come across this in nearly every house I’ve worked on, until we switched to PVC vinyl jambs. Now, I only notice it occasionally on the MDF casing. Remember to keep your blinds up and use a dehumidifier.
It looks like the issue is definitely from condensation, but it also seems like the surface wasn’t properly primed since the paint peeled down to the raw wood.
It was most likely due to high humidity, but it also seems like the primer and paint weren’t great quality.
Seems like they forgot to caulk any of the seams!!! Remove anything loose and apply caulk to the seams before painting!!! ‘t forget the red can of kilez primer!!!
I really wish I had your problems. Imagine being the third or fourth owner of a house from 1960.
Anyway, I’m just repeating what others have mentioned. It seems like the issue is condensation damage and applying a better primer/paint job would be beneficial. I doubt you’ll have much success in reducing the condensation without using a dehumidifier.
I reside in a home constructed in ’57 and have not encountered this problem…
The neighborhood where I reside was created with the goal of providing affordable housing for those who may not have been able to afford it otherwise. Many corners were cut, quite literally. For instance, every home has a “full basement”, however the builder skimped on one row of cinder blocks, resulting in ceilings of barely 6ft 4 inches. While this is one of the more minor shortcuts, there are also issues like front doors being held in by mere molding. I have had to fix many of these shortcuts myself and redo repairs that were previously botched by former owners.
Condensation is a possibility here. With so much moisture present, it’s no surprise. I’m noticing signs of water damage on the vertical side (extension jams) trim.
I would want to investigate INFILTRATION as a potential cause.
If that’s caulk on the sill, I would recommend removing it and observing during heavy rain to check if water is getting through.
I’m not sure, it’s really hard to say.
No content
Condensation? I’m a little skeptical.
This happens in every house I’ve owned. I’m in Michigan. Builder grade windows are inexpensive and not great. I also don’t want to use a dehumidifier in the winter because it’s already very dry. Keeping your shades open (I don’t like doing this) helps, but won’t completely prevent it.
Do you keep curtains on them that are usually closed?
My initial impression is that there might be poor insulation around the windows. Remove the casing and use spray foam in the empty spaces.
I believe it could be the primer and paint. My windows experience this issue and even the cat scratching the window sills doesn’t lead to paint peeling. Strip off the peeling paint, apply a quality primer and paint, and I think that should resolve the peeling problem.
A lot of new home builders might not compensate their sub contractors fairly. I’ve observed a significant amount of cutting corners. It’s a tough call. Checking for any wet spots after removing the casing would be a good way to rule that out because if there is moisture present, you can hold the builder accountable. I wouldn’t be surprised if the painter skipped priming and condensation turned out to be the cause.
I live in a house from ’57 and I haven’t experienced this problem.
I don’t think this is a problem with the paint. It seems more like a moisture issue. There might be a problem with insulation or sealing.
Give the window manufacturer a call and ask them to come take a look. It’s the quickest way to get it repaired for free under warranty.
Those cheap builder grade windows… causing condensation as your builder mentioned… if getting better windows isn’t an option, I’d suggest hanging curtains in the winter and using a dehumidifier.
Seriously, what did you have your humidifier set at? If it was too high, that could explain the issue (no offense, just a simple mistake). Many new homeowners struggle with indoor humidifiers. ‘t worry, it’s an easy fix.
During the colder months, I lower it to 30% and keep the shades slightly open for ventilation. I didn’t really see much moisture buildup last year. Being in Kansas City, it’s extremely dry during winter with significant temperature changes. I have not been satisfied with the painter’s work and there were multiple other areas he attempted to fix. I highly doubt he used any primer, but I suspect there might be some moisture issues. The house itself is good and the builder is quite reputable, but his subcontractors were not the best.
In my opinion, it appears that the sill wasn’t adequately primed, if at all… Additionally, there is clear evidence of water seepage on the panel’s right side. I suggest addressing this before anything else to prevent potential disasters.