This 1927 stucco home in Laurelhurst had a common Portland issue: water getting in around the original wood windows. This window leak repair project started after the homeowner noticed moisture inside near one of the windows.

After our inspection, we confirmed the cause. The original sash window was leaking because the flashing had failed, and in some spots, it was missing completely. In older stucco homes, and for old houses window repair in general, the cause often comes down to hidden waterproofing problems around the opening.

What We Found

During the inspection, we found several problems that made this repair necessary:

• No header Z-flashing above the windows
• Severely deteriorated metal flashing
• Flat sill flashing that allowed water to sit
• Localized rot in the surrounding wood framing
• Stucco tight to the window without proper drainage

We also found an old piece of metal flashing under the sill. It was an earlier attempt at waterproofing, but it was rusted, flat, and no longer working.

What We Did

Because this is a historic Laurelhurst property, we handled the repairs carefully to keep the original look of the home.

We:

• Removed the trim without disturbing the original window
• Installed code-compliant Z-flashing above each repaired window
• Fabricated and installed a curved metal sill pan
• Repaired damaged wood framing
• Tied the flashing back into the stucco system
• Inspected and repaired other failing windows

This kind of window leak repair is important because a curved sill pan helps move water out instead of letting it sit inside the wall.

Additional Exterior Repairs

After seeing the condition of the windows, the homeowner asked for a full exterior evaluation. We also completed gutter repairs, downspout recommendations, gutter guard installation, stucco repair, and exterior paint touch-ups.

Good water management is a big part of window leak repair Portland homeowners need, especially for older stucco homes.

Result

After the repairs, all restored windows are:

• Properly flashed
• Structurally sound
• Protected with modern waterproofing
• Integrated correctly into the stucco system

Historic homes can still perform very well, but only when window leak repair and waterproofing details are done the right way.