How do aluminium double glazed windows drain when the seals get old?

[opps]

Last year I painted the exterior of my mum's home. I now need to paint the lounge. There are water stains below the window sills in the room. I suspect that rain water landing on the windows is leaking in to the interior walls.

I am aware that uPVC windows have weep holes to let the water out, what about ali windows?

The ali windows were fitted into the old sliding sash boxes. I guess that they are 30-40 years old.



Thanks in advance.

 

[Wayners]

I think there are holes under glass in frame

 

[opps]

I think there are holes under glass in frame

I know that is true of uPVC windows, but with her's the lower part has always been sealed where the ali meets the old timber frame.

I guess I need to shout out to @ronniecabers and @crank39. Sorry guys... I appreciate that you are busy, but it is my mum's home...

 

[crank39]

Aluminium frames fitted into the old boxes, hmmm not really a fan of that but it is what it is. Hard to tell whether it's odd leg or even leg alu profile and where the drainage is meant to be, some of the old ali systems just had a milled slot just under the bead where you'd put a knife in to remove the bead and then the bead itself would have a cut out in it corresponding with the notch in the frame, I guess the only option is to remove the glass and take a peek, that'll tell you whether the window is actually drained or not, this old stuff was very weird, firms did all sorts of crazy things back then, like fitting into existing boxes lol.

 

[ronniecabers]

Yeah I'll second what Crank is saying , old Ali seemed to be an odd case... most Ali these days drains the same as pvc , either face drain or base drain. Best suggestion is Cranks , remove glass and see where the drainage goes lol

 

[opps]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

I have a sneaking suspicion that there are no drainage holes. I guess it is possible that there was an escape route where the white part of the ali meets the old timber but that has been caulked for as long as I can remember.

I have only ever removed uPVC beads. How is the dark coloured beading removed? I can't see any kind of gap to pry it out away from the white.

 

[ronniecabers]

Hard to tell from that pic ... but most ali has a ' wedge ' gasket that'll need removing so the glass can move and release the bead

 

[opps]

Hard to tell from that pic ... but most ali has a ' wedge ' gasket that'll need removing so the glass can move and release the bead

Thanks. Will take another photo when there tomorrow. Am worried that the gasket/seal is so old that it will fall apart if I try to remove it though.