homeowner question: how to seal a window

**flat-top** · 02-01-2011, 12:01 PM

so, I just bought a 60yr old house. In the shower there's a window. The home inspector told me I should fix it or do something to keep the water out of the window. Eventually there's going to be mold.

Any suggestons? perhaps a small curtain over the window? do they make kits for this?

**Spaz** · 02-01-2011, 12:07 PM

i'm not sure i follow... how will mold grow on it... is there caulking around it??? post a picture if you can...

**The Manalishi** · 02-01-2011, 12:08 PM

Why not just remove the window and close it off?

**Aetos** · 02-01-2011, 12:09 PM

**korndawg** · 02-01-2011, 12:10 PM

Window sealer/caulk.

**KahanaReef** · 02-01-2011, 12:10 PM

Couldn't you find a bigger picture?

**Aetos** · 02-01-2011, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

Couldn't you find a bigger picture?

I put it in thumbnails

**KahanaReef** · 02-01-2011, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Aetos

I put it in thumbnails

Much better.

**whitelightnin99** · 02-01-2011, 01:36 PM

rain water or water from the shower?? if youre talking rainwater put an awning over it outside. if its shower water u might want to invest in one of these:

**Smkn_TA** · 02-01-2011, 03:32 PM

My parents house is 150 years old. There was literally a giant window a foot above the tub in the shower. It never got mold on it, but to keep water damage from happening you had to keep it painted well. Seal around it with silicone. And after a steamy shower it would swell and not open. Luckily they did a complete bathroom remodel like 15 years back and got rid of it.

**Zapper2003** · 02-01-2011, 03:36 PM

So the window is IN the shower, or just in the bathroom?

Regardless, if the water is between the panes, the window is no good (gas is gone) and needs replaced or repaired. If it's just water on the outside, keep the wood sealed, and keep the edge where the glass meets the wood sealed. If any of these don't apply to you...

GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE THERE'S MOLD EVERYWHERE! YOU AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS DYING FROM MOLD!!!!!

stupid mold.

**Smkn_TA** · 02-01-2011, 03:40 PM

Zapper the way I take it, the house has a window literally IN the shower, and not a modern window, an old wood around the glass panes sliding in a wood track window.

**PartsGedder** · 02-01-2011, 03:44 PM

I had the same situation. I had a new window built with metal panes and used a composite molding in the shower for the trim, then had than wrapped that in exterior aluminum used to wrap window molding outside. I figured if it held up to the outside weather, inside should be ok. It worked well, but was a little pricey.

Be sure to get a really good vent fan in the bath room as well.

Dan

**flat-top** · 02-02-2011, 05:12 AM

yes, the window is IN THE SHOWER.
it is pretty well caulked and painted...it's a new bathroom, but the house is 60years old.

I didn't know if I should put a smaller shower curtain around it to keept the shower water away.

I'm just going on what the home inspector said.

**Spaz** · 02-03-2011, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by flat-top

yes, the window is IN THE SHOWER.
it is pretty well caulked and painted...it's a new bathroom, but the house is 60years old.

I didn't know if I should put a smaller shower curtain around it to keept the shower water away.

I'm just going on what the home inspector said.

i wouldn't worry about it... if you feel weary about it get some stuff called mold-x... it's used to clean hospitals... i used it when my basement flooded...

**flat-top** · 02-03-2011, 10:11 AM

ahh, the basement..now that's another post.

water is coming up out of where the oil tank line goes into the concrete.

**Spaz** · 02-03-2011, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by flat-top

ahh, the basement..now that's another post.

water is coming up out of where the oil tank line goes into the concrete.

/gasp

use some cauking around the tube and get some concrete sealant... it will only get worse when it freezes...

**Zapper2003** · 02-03-2011, 10:33 AM

basement floor shouldn't freeze.

Sounds like there is no vapor-barrier under the concrete, or your house is in a swamp. I would consider having a heating company replace the oil line and put it on top of the floor. Concrete corrodes copper pipe something fierce, and you do not want heating oil contaminating the dirt.

**Spaz** · 02-03-2011, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Zapper2003

basement floor shouldn't freeze.

Sounds like there is no vapor-barrier under the concrete, or your house is in a swamp. I would consider having a heating company replace the oil line and put it on top of the floor. Concrete corrodes copper pipe something fierce, and you do not want heating oil contaminating the dirt.

water coming in through the wall where the pipe comes in could freeze from the outside in...

**Zapper2003** · 02-03-2011, 11:17 AM

He said 'up out of the concrete'. Makes me think the line comes up through the floor. I see a lot of oil tanks in the basement where the contractor poured concrete over the copper line so that the only exposed copper is from the tank to the floor and from the floor to the oil burner. Not my favorite setup.