Advice on wooden windows

Eireann81

I'm hoping to get a bit of advice on my wooden windows. The wood in the frames has become exposed to the elements, and I'd like to sort it out sooner rather than later. It's only happening at the base of each window. Any advice on how to treat it and prevent it from reoccurring would be appreciated. I've attached pics, and if it helps, they're Danish made, Vrogum windows.

Right2Write

Wait for dry weather and for frame to be dry as possible. Use a scraper to remove all loose paint, you could use a small wire brush and sandpaper - but don't go too hard! Just aim to remove anything loose and get back to good surface. I'd paint on some wood preservative then. Patch any holes with a suitable filler. After that you could paint back with a suitable paint to match existing, couple of coats. Or go over whole window. Look at them again annually. A little bit of maintenance and touching up will keep timber windows going for many years.

Our windows are stained with a Sadolin exterior paint/ stain. The joiner we got them off recommended this rather than standard gloss paints etc. Seems to work well, but not suited to white frames.

FrancieBrady

The problem seems to be that that section isn't sloped and it should be. The water is sitting on it and undermining the paint over time. It should be an angled or bevelled finish to ensure the water runs off. This is sometimes achieved with a angled slip called a weather bar

https://www.google.ie/search?q=run+off+slip+on+window&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=869&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivvaKugqnSAhWDK8AKHa3sDr4Q_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=weather+bars+on+wooden+window&*

Maybe look at retro fitting these with a suitable sealer?

The vertical joints don't look healthy either but that could be part of the same problem with water seeping into joint. tbf.

Eireann81

Thanks for the replies. That section is sloped, but the angle that I took the photos from makes it look level. I've attached a photo from a better perspective. The windows haven't been maintained over the years, which is causing the problem. I've just bought the house, and I'm hoping to sort it out for now and the future. They're nice windows, and I really don't want to end up replacing them if I can avoid it.

FrancieBrady

Ok, maybe it is just wear and tear. I would still worry that the section is getting damp from water ingress either along that bed of sealer or from the open joint. Definitely seal that up.

Right2Write

Eireann81 wrote: »

They're nice windows, and I really don't want to end up replacing them if I can avoid it.

Unless there is deep rot, definitely repair, maintain & keep them. That's the great thing about timber, it does take a little care but given that, your windows have the potential to last many decades.

Whereas look at all the fads that have come in for alternatives over the years - galvanised frames, aluminium, PVC etc etc. Try fixing one of these, easier to just rip them out and replace with the latest fad.

We have a couple of cheap softwood frames in a porch for 24 years now. Going by conventional wisdom, they should have rotted 2 or 3 times over now. Yes, I need to look at them annually and I've needed to patch here & there but otherwise they're still grand and quite weathertight.