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window deflection

window deflection

window deflection

(OP)
Thank you for reviewing my question. I have pictures attached for reference.
I am trying to figure out why one window in a three window side by side configuration appears to be leaning downward at the top and away from the two other windows. There are no visible cracks in any of the window glass. Small cracks are visible in the drywall wall surface above the windows. The top of the molding around the left most window (viewing from interior) is out of level by as much as 0.5 degrees. The owner of the home reports that the interior blinds are closed 99 percent of the time so they are not sure when they noticed that the window appeared to be leaning.
Rotting wood framing is visible at the interior base molding of the middle window. The exterior ground slope was measured as 0.0 percent adjacent to the windows and elevated levels of moisture were detected in the wood framing below the vicinity of the rotted base molding of the middle window. No elevated levels of moisture detected in the basement wall framing (block basement walls covered by drywall). The first floor wood joists run perpendicular to the basement wall below the subject window.
No elevated levels of moisture were detected in the exterior wood siding above the window so I am ruling out water intrusion through the wood siding and water intrusion from a roof leak. Do you think that based on the poor surface water drainage that moisture could have been introduced into the exterior of the wood framing member spanning between the basement windows situated below the subject window? I am questioning whether or not the trim that is out of level at the top of the window was just installed that way? I think I need a contractor to start “peeling” it away so I can investigate further, what do you think?
It is possible that jack studs of a previously smaller opening could have been cut to facilitate installation of a larger window configuration. The lean is possibly the result of a lack of installation of a sufficinely stron header above the window configuration, what do you think?

RE: window deflection

Hard to say for sure, but the exterior brick extends too low relative to grade. There should be flashing about six or eight inches above grade so that any water getting through the brick by driving rain can escape to the outside. Behind and below the flashing, the basement wall should be waterproofed to prevent the ingress of rainwater or snowmelt. The grade outside the wall should slope away from the residence to avoid pooling near the foundation.

I would be suspicious of water entering at grade level through the brick and rising by capillary action to cause rotting in the base molding under the upper window.

It is of course also possible that the window was installed out of plumb, but that seems unlikely.

BA

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