Nightmare Window Leak - No Mortar on Lintel, What Now?

[Kingo206]

Hi everyone,

I'm at my wit's end with builders and contractors. We recently had a window installed, but it's leaking badly during heavy rain. The window itself seems fine, but I believe the issue lies with the lintel installation.

The builders created the opening and put in a lintel, but it looks like they didn't use any mortar to secure it (see attached photos). Ffs, I'm so frustrated with having to constantly deal with shoddy workmanship.

I guess the proper fix is to remove the window, take out the lintel, and reinstall it with mortar. But getting all the involved parties back here is going to prove difficult now that they've received their money.

Has anyone else experienced this? What are my options? Can I somehow fix this without removing the window? Any advice on dealing with the builders and getting them to take responsibility would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[23vc]

Mastic the gap between intel and brick and see if it fixes it
Can’t see any sign of a cavity tray above though, which may be a further issue

 

[JohnD]

Is water running down the wall from a spilling gutter or something?

 

[crank39]

Cavity tray, did they install one?

 

[RandomGrinch]

Can’t see any sign of a cavity tray above though, which may be a further issue

...or weep vents.
I would expect a build-up something like...

 

[23vc]

Yeah, that’s what I meant. Although it’s still a quick win for the OP to just seal that obvious gap, more likely that than some huge torrent coming down the cavity

 

[crank39]

If there's a window above then I'd be checking that for areas for water ingress, failing that check the gutter for blockage or even pushing up some roof tiles to check the condition of the felt, old bitumen that once lapped into the gutter can and will rot and that creeps upwards until the felt drops down behind the fascia and could allow water into the cavity

It's not even a proper lintel but rather 10mm thick flat steel, they'll definitely be no cavity tray because looking at the mortar above it's not been repointed so no bricks were removed, they've just chased out the mortar at each end and slid the flat steel in

 

[Kingo206]

Thanks for the responses all, yes this was a retro fit for the window, so it seems that they simply chased the plate in.

There's no window above, as it's a one storey rear extension.

This only happened during the torrential rain, but it's still very concerning would rather resolve now before everything is sealed up

 

[23vc]

Sealant between lintel and bricks above, and sealant between lintel and window, is highly likely to fix it. Pretty unlikely that there’s a load of water coming down inside the cavity wall above it.

 

[Kingo206]

Note: Guttering is on that side of the wall, and as we have a cold roof it has an air gap around the perimeter of the wall. BUT I don't think that's the issue, 1) The perforated fascia is downward facing 2) a larger area of the wall would have been wet.

I also don't think mortar on the lintel is a big issue too.

So you suggest to apply sealant?:

- above and below the "lintel"

Anything sealant specifically...

Another photo that might add something, the water came onto the internal wall too...

 

[23vc]

Post a pic of outside
I’d just put some general purpose silicone in it. Takes a couple of mins and a hose on it an hour later will tell you if it’s fixed. Nothing to be lost by doing it, particularly easy as it’s ground floor

 

[Kingo206]

I don't have a full photo of the outside but this is the image I took on the same night.

Note: it could even be from the huge extractor fan hole , but there were no signs of it coming from there tbh

 

[Kingo206]

Edit: unsure tbh

I think as you suggested a hose test will give a good indication of next steps.

 

[Kingo206]

I think given the discussions as you have all stated - and given that I just realised the glaring exposed hole:

1) This hole is the most likely culprit, and it has exposed the weaknesses of the window installation
a) lack of weepholes
b) possible installation issues re: sealent (less likely)

Solution:
- Will temporary put a cowled hooded vent there.
- Window installer has agreed to pop down on Monday to have a gander at the sealent.
- Also consider retro-fitting weepholes