Window waterproofing & leak repair Cape Town covers water getting in around a window rather than through it: perished sealant, failed sills, cracked reveals and lintels above.
On an exposed elevation this is one of the cheapest repairs available and one of the most commonly misdiagnosed as a wall problem. Wall coatings sit under wall waterproofing, and services under Waterproofing Cape Town.
Send the area involved and photos of the surface as it stands. That is usually enough to price it.
Get a QuoteWhere the Water Gets In
- Perished frame sealant. The commonest cause by a distance, and the cheapest to fix.
- Failed sill. No drip groove underneath, so water tracks back along the sill into the wall.
- Cracked reveals. Plaster cracking where the frame meets the masonry.
- Lintel above. Water running down the wall and entering at the top of the opening.
- Blocked drainage slots. Aluminium frames have weep holes that block with dust and paint.
- Glazing seals. Gaskets hardening with UV and letting water past the glass into the frame.
Sealant Alone Is Sometimes the Answer
Unusually for waterproofing, resealing a window frame properly is often the entire fix. Cutting out the old sealant completely, cleaning the joint and applying a suitable exterior-grade sealant deals with a large share of window leaks.
What does not work is applying new sealant over old. The bond is to the perished material rather than to the frame and masonry, and it fails again within a season.
Window Waterproofing & Leak Repair Cape Town Prices
| Job | Indicative range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Resealing around openings | R120 – R280 per linear metre | Sealant type. |
| Crack repair | R150 – R450 per linear metre | Width, depth and reinforcement. |
| Exterior wall coating | R90 – R220 per m² | Prepared and coated. |
| Clear penetrating repellent | R70 – R160 per m² | Face brick and stone. |
| Leak trace and inspection | R750 – R2,500 | Area, access and testing time. |
| Single-defect leak repair | R800 – R5,000 | Flashing, lap or penetration. |
| Surface preparation | R20 – R100 per m² | Cleaning, crack filling, priming. |
| Call-out and assessment | R450 – R950 | Often credited against the work. |
| Re-pointing brickwork | R180 – R400 per m² | Raking out and re-jointing. |
These are indicative market ranges, not a quotation. They are compiled from published South African waterproofing and roofing pricing to give you a starting point for budgeting. They are not the rate card of any company on this platform.
Compare quotes on the system specified, the number of coats, what preparation is included and what the guarantee covers. A rate per square metre means nothing until you know what the rate covers.
Compare quotes on what is included, not on the total alone.
Request QuotesCheck the Weep Holes First
Aluminium frames have small drainage slots along the bottom that let water that has entered the frame escape outwards. Painted over or blocked with dust, the frame fills and overflows inwards. Clearing them costs nothing and resolves a surprising number of reported window leaks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Water comes in around my window in heavy rain. What is it?
Most often perished sealant where the frame meets the masonry, or blocked drainage slots in an aluminium frame. Both are inexpensive to fix and are frequently mistaken for a wall waterproofing problem.
Can new sealant be applied over the old?
No. It bonds to the perished material rather than to the frame and masonry, and fails again quickly. The old sealant has to be cut out completely and the joint cleaned first.
How long does waterproofing last?
A correctly installed torch-on system generally gives 10 to 15 years. Liquid acrylic runs shorter, often 5 to 8. Both assume outlets are kept clear and the surface is checked once a year.
When should waterproofing be booked in Cape Town?
Late summer or autumn. Membranes and coatings need a dry substrate and a dry curing window, and contractors fill up as soon as the first winter fronts arrive.
Can waterproofing be applied over the existing coating?
Only where the existing layer is sound, dry and compatible. Coating over a blistered or delaminating membrane traps moisture underneath and the new work fails early.
What should the quote specify?
The measured area, the system and product by name, the number of coats or layers, the preparation included, how upstands and outlets are detailed, access equipment, the guarantee term and the exclusions.
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