Window Perimeter Sealing
The sealed junction between a window or door frame and the surrounding wall, normally formed with a backer rod and flexible sealant.
On an actual building
Frames and masonry move differently and at different rates, so the junction needs a flexible seal with adequate movement capability. Sealant has a finite life and is a maintenance item.
What we most often have to correct
That water at a window means the window is faulty. It is far more often the perimeter seal, the sill fall or a missing drip.
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Backer Rod
A closed-cell foam rod pressed into a joint before sealant, setting the correct sealant depth and preventing it bonding to the joint base..
- Sealant Movement Capability
The percentage of a joint's width that a sealant can accommodate in extension and compression without failing, stated by the manufacturer..
- Drip Mould
A groove or projecting profile on the underside of a projection that forces water to drip clear rather than run back along the soffit to the wall..
More building elements terms
Window Perimeter Sealing — questions we get asked
What does window perimeter sealing mean in waterproofing?
The sealed junction between a window or door frame and the surrounding wall, normally formed with a backer rod and flexible sealant.
Why does window perimeter sealing matter on a real project?
Frames and masonry move differently and at different rates, so the junction needs a flexible seal with adequate movement capability. Sealant has a finite life and is a maintenance item.
What do people commonly get wrong about window perimeter sealing?
That water at a window means the window is faulty. It is far more often the perimeter seal, the sill fall or a missing drip.
Have a building showing this?
If a term on this page describes something you are looking at, a site inspection will tell you how far it has gone and what it needs. It costs nothing.
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