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jbeem2323

New build, rain water problem

25 days ago

Hello, we built this house a few years ago. The pictures show our porch, during the warmer months the glass is replaced by screens. We put removable windows and screens in the porch and we change them out. The problem is these windows are not water tight. and obviously either are the screens. So when it rains hard we get a lot of water in the porch. We are trying to figure out what we can do to keep the water out. An awning? exterior blinds? a new eave or overhang? Thank you for your help.



Comments (19)

  • PRO
    25 days ago

    You could install a white wall pergola with either a flat or slanted top. Acrylic sheets can be installed to shield the screens from rain.



    Or you can train a flowering vine to grow through the pergola and protect the screens a bit from rain.


  • 25 days ago

    Thank you!

  • 25 days ago

    I would install real windows with screens so you can open the windows as needed and it becomes more water proof. There are sun porch windows that are flexible that you pull down for windows and up for screen but for the price I would install real windows. Since it is fully open seasonally were scuppers installed at the floor level to let the water out? Is the interior fully water proofed?

  • PRO
    25 days ago

    There just isn't enough roof eave overhang to prevent rain from entering your porch. Lorraine leroux's suggestion of installing windows seems a quite valid idea. I don't see any way that you could install awnings on the eave sides of your porch. There appears to be plenty of room on the roof rake side but you would have to be careful with your selection because that could cheapen the look of your house. Sunbrella water resistant fabric awnings might work well.

  • 25 days ago

    Is it waterproofed, so constant water isn't damaging the patio floor and garage ceiling?

    An "outdoor" room over an "indoor" room has to be properly designed for water management, like a balcony over living space.

  • 25 days ago

    i wonder about white Bermuda/Bahama shutters for the windows? if you google them and look at images, you’ll see all types of installations

  • 25 days ago
    last modified: 25 days ago

    I think anything added on the outside will darken the sunroom and full protection may not happen with certain wind/rain directions. For the cost of new windows with screens, it may save you structural damage over time, consider ease of use, control of amount of air wanted, and maintenance/upkeep vs awnings, shutters.

  • 25 days ago

    Hi, yes the interior is totally waterproof and the builders suggested a drain but we (not so smart) thought it was unnecessary because we never needed a drain in our previous house.....


    Our builders also suggested real windows... and we didn't listen either... how come some home owners are so stubborn.... We can only blame ourselves. We will talk to them and see what they think.


    The windows on the side of the porch are not a problem for some reason, it is just this large face of the house.


    thanks for everyone's suggestions. This site is the best!

  • PRO
    25 days ago

    EZ Breeze Window System


    These are specifically designed for porches. The windows slide down in sections and the screens are exposed. Economical.




  • PRO
    25 days ago

    Rolling storm shutters...Cape Cod on the water and one side of the house would get hit in nor'easters. Build was tight, windows, storm rated, still got water. You can get individuals, but the entire side an be covered in one. I don't know where you live, but East Coast loves these babies.



  • 24 days ago

    I'd start by going out and looking at what the rain is doing when the porch gets wet. Is there one problem spot? Or is the rain coming from all windows? Is the rain pelting nearly horizontally? Sometimes, the answer is really obvious when you look outside in the rain. Not just a quick look out the windows, but time inspecting in the middle of the downpour.

  • 24 days ago

    Rain is hitting the windows and running down the window, it gets into the unsealed bottom of the window, rests on the ledges (which are LP smartside) then pours onto the floor. The floor is tiled and completely water proof. I then use towels and a squeegee to push the water out the door. The windows are large. Maybe 4.5x5.5.


    You can see they are just clipped into the frame.



  • 24 days ago

    I wonder if the removeable windows need some sort of weather stripping of some sort under the bottom edge of the window framing to stop the water entering under the window? Something that can be compressed to stop the water from entering?

  • 24 days ago

    yes, I thought about that too, it would be worth a try

  • 24 days ago

    But that won't help if screens are in use. It seems real windows with screens may be the best answer. I would assume you would would close the windows when it rains and when you leave the home. Otherwise, some sort of awning/covering may be necessary.

  • 23 days ago

    do you think an awning like this would work? but above the windows?


  • 23 days ago

    You say that the water "rests on the ledges" - don't you have a window sill that is sloped to drain the water away?

  • 22 days ago

    What dennis said. 👆 The rain water has to have a place to go. You’ll have to provide a different place for it since you don’t like it running under the unsealed bottom of the window.

    Apparently this side of the house faces the prevailing winds in your area, which are blowing the rain toward the windows..