Looking for source of a leak

Good evening! We are so frustrated with trying to solve a leak. We have now tracked it down to around a window in our second floor dormer. We have replaced the roof, had the siding on the dormer re-done and replaced the window and nothing has stopped the leak. The gentleman who installed the new window last week suggested we caulk the space between the J-channel and the metal fascia that is right below the gutter. He thought since the J-channel sits further out from the house than the fascia above it could explain the leak when there is wind and rain. We don’t have a proper ladder set up to get up there ourselves so we’ll have to hire someone to do anything up there. We’re looking for any advice or suggestions. Thanks!


It’s been leaking for a LONG time! There is a lot of wood damage.

 

You HIRED an installer. Why didn't he properly caulk any questionable space ?

Based on your inside picture..... the window is leaking.

 

Hi Pete!
Yes, we hired a contractor to install the new windows. This was after hiring professionals to re-do the roof and siding. When he looked at the space he doubted the water was from the window itself and suggested that we get back in touch with the roofing guy or the siding guy to caulk that space above the J-channel.

We had a windy rain storm last night and sure enough there was water again. We don’t even know who to call or what to ask for at this point.

 

The water looks to be coming from the window.... not the roof.

 

Would you suggest getting the flashing around the window replaced as a next step? It’s the only thing that hasn’t been redone to try to stop the leak?

 

It's most likely either caulk or the window itself. Weather permitting, I suggest someone climb a ladder with a hose on a light spray while you're inside to find the leak. That will take some time but strikes me as easier than trial and error.

 

Your siding sticks out farther than the fascia does. That in itself is a problem waiting to happen. So yeah, your gentleman who installed the window is right... that is a spot that needs to be caulked. Caulk is a bad way to fix leaks though, because are you going to be able to go check that the caulk is still good 5 years from now?

The area you have circled is also a problem on both sides when the siding installers do not flash the bottom of the j channels out onto the next course of siding below. Water running down the j channels is all funneled behind the siding otherwise. Siding would need to come off to fix that. And no, just because you had the siding redone does not mean that they did it right. I think 1 out of 1000 installers knows how to prevent those kinds of corner leaks. And even if they know, most don't worry about it because they expect the WRB to shed the water that gets behind.