Plastic windows are now installed in all homes due to their affordability, durability and beautiful appearance. Together with them, additional structures are installed - window sills and slopes. In addition, they also install sills on the windows, thanks to which melt and rain water will not be able to get inside the walls. Let's look at what they are, the existing varieties and how their sizes are determined. We will also tell you about the features of installation and connection of two ebbs.
Low ebb at the bottom of the window to drain water Source zvenigorod-okna.ru
General information
When arranging openings intended for the installation of translucent structures, external window sills are important elements. These are inexpensive parts, but their presence prevents the penetration of water as a result of melting snow or rain under the windows and inside the walls. Therefore, the destruction of structures due to the negative effects of moisture is prevented, and houses will not require repairs longer. In other words, their service life increases.
The drainage system is also called an external window sill. However, this is an incorrect name. After all, the installation of such a part is carried out at a calculated angle or it has an inclined upper surface so that water can drain outside the building structures of the house. Drainage also prevents snow accumulation in some cases. When installed correctly, the sound and thermal insulation of the window opening is further increased.
The drainage system protects the facade from moisture and prevents it from entering the wall Source oknakomforta.ru
Thanks to the presence of ebb at the bottom of the window, the façade plaster under the opening does not begin to fall off longer, or this possibility is eliminated altogether. This element also prevents water from getting behind the siding, which can prevent major problems. In addition, low tide is also a decorative element. This detail gives the window a finished look. Therefore, the translucent design looks organic.
In the case of installing a modern plastic window, a gap remains between the translucent structure and the opening below, which is filled with foam. It appears to be a good heat insulator. However, this material breaks down when it is exposed to moisture and low temperatures at the same time. After all, water tends to freeze and expand. It is this process that leads to the destruction of the foam layer. Therefore, it is usually closed from the street side with drainage.
Installing a drainage system protects the foam under the window from water, which will freeze in winter and destroy this material. Source okna-nemplast.ru
Installation of ebb tides is carried out not only when installing windows. They are often secured during the construction of a house. In this case, the installation is carried out before the façade finishing is completed. In addition, some homeowners decide to install drainage systems after putting the house into operation, when furniture has already been placed in it and people are fully using all the benefits of a residential building on their land.
Regardless of the time when it is decided to install window sills, it is better to entrust the work to highly specialized professionals from companies with a good reputation. After all, they know all the intricacies of both the manufacture and installation of drainage systems.
If the ebb is fixed during the construction of the house, then a full range of installation work is carried out. During their implementation, the joints and seams are properly sealed. This process requires less money and time. When fixing the ebb, when the house has already been put into operation, installation becomes more complicated. However, it is still performed efficiently if it is carried out by professionals.
When installing drainage during the construction of a house, all joints are properly sealed Source kapelniki.ucoz.ru
Important! Installation of drip tides is not regulated by GOST. Therefore, only professionals can perform high-quality work using their accumulated experience.
Possible difficulties and errors
Despite the ease of installation of the product, many people make common mistakes:
- Failure to meet installation deadlines. If the installation of the low tide is postponed indefinitely, then the facade will have to be repaired in the future (due to moisture ingress).
This will increase the cost of installation and improvement of the appearance of the window. - Refusal to install a stand profile. This reduces waterproofing and reduces the quality and service life of the window.
- All joints are not sealed. The ebb tide will not perform protective functions, and moisture will begin to penetrate the facade of the building.
- Wrong choice of waterproofing materials. For example, copper or galvanized flashing cannot be tightly attached to brickwork. Therefore, the tightness of the structure will be compromised.
- Incorrect angle setting. Such an error is difficult to correct, and its consequences are serious. Moisture will accumulate on the windowsill or flow inside the window.
Advice. The listed nuances must be monitored during the installation of the ebb tide.
Types of window drains
Low tides must be installed on all windows. They are basically a special board. The most common are metal and plastic drainage systems. However, they are also made from other materials. All types of drainage systems have certain advantages and disadvantages.
Plastic casts
If you install such drainage systems, then you don’t have to worry about noise when raindrops fall on them. In addition, such products are inexpensive. When arranging window openings, less money is required. Only galvanized flashings that are not coated with paint will cost less. However, they are not very attractive and are practically not used in private homes. Unpainted drainage systems are more suitable for industrial facilities.
Window with plastic tint Source eurolux56.ru
Plastic castings are modern products. They are used when installing PVC windows. To produce such drainage systems, modified plastic is used. It is resistant to sunlight. At the same time, its modern brands are increasingly used. They increase the resistance of products to ultraviolet radiation. However, despite the modified structure, slow destruction still occurs in the material.
In plastic, the connection between molecules is broken over time. Therefore, his fragility increases. In addition, plastic can crack under dynamic loads. Microcracks also form in the material. Dust accumulates in them and moss appears. Even if the manufacturer guarantees many years of operation of plastic ebbs, the actual durability is a maximum of 30 years.
Important! Plastic turns from a snow-white plastic into a gray or yellow material after a few years. It will not be possible to return it to its previous appearance even with the use of super expensive detergents. Therefore, many homeowners change the tides after about 10 years.
Snow-white plastic drainage becomes gray or yellow over time Source ooostroy31.ru
The disadvantages of plastic also include high flammability. In addition, the material has significant thermal expansion. After all, any plastic begins to melt when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, if a cigarette butt, for example, hits a plastic surface, at least a yellow spot will appear on it, and at most a hole will appear.
If such window drains are installed rigidly, then a disadvantage may appear due to thermal expansion, which will certainly occur in hot weather. In such a situation, there is a high probability that the plastic surface will become wavy. However, as the temperature decreases, it usually returns to its original state.
On a note! To prevent negative consequences after thermal expansion, specialists make an oblong hole in the edge of the ebb. Craftsmen also do not fully tighten the screws that secure plastic products. Such measures help ensure that the drains will not leak during operation.
When attaching a plastic drainage system, the screws are not fully tightened Source okna-pmr.com
Experts also leave thermal gaps on the sides of the products. The empty space is filled with sealant. However, only waterproof material is used. This will also prevent the formation of a wavy surface in hot weather. With this installation, plastic products simply expand slightly without negative consequences. As the flashings increase in size, the plastic sealant contracts.
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in doors, windows and related work
Metal casts
Before correctly installing ebb tides on plastic windows, you need to become familiar with the features of such metal products. First of all, they are durable. Therefore, they are often installed by homeowners. However, they choose coated galvanized products.
To protect and decorate such drainage systems, manufacturers use polyester and plastisol. The first coating option is quite popular because it is used during the production of metal tiles using well-established technology.
Metal window drainage Source flugarka.ru
Polyester coated flashings are available at low cost. Their production is mainly carried out by companies that manufacture metal tiles and other roofing products.
Drains coated with plastisol are more expensive than products with polyester. However, this protective and decorative layer is thicker. Therefore, products with it are not so noisy when raindrops fall on them. In addition, plastisol allows you to create a coating on the metal that is smooth, leather-like or embossed.
The problem of noise, which is the main disadvantage of metal drainage systems, is partially solved with the help of polyurethane foam. It fills all the empty space when installing tides on the windows. This allows you to reduce the “drum” effect when water drops fall on the metal.
To reduce the “drum” effect, all voids under the metal shimmer are filled with polyurethane foam Source okonremontik.ru
During installation work, foamed rubber material or other similar sheet sound insulator is also used, which is able to withstand significant temperature changes. After all, it is secured on the street. Sound-absorbing rubber or other material is placed at the bottom of the metal product. It is usually used together with polyurethane foam. This combination can significantly reduce the noise of metal drainage systems.
One of the types of metal drainage is an aluminum product. It is usually powder coated. Aluminum has less ringing than galvanized steel. However, products made from it are more expensive. In addition, they are quite difficult to find. In most cases, they are made to order only by certain companies as they are not produced in mass quantities.
If you choose a metal cast, it is recommended to give preference to a product with a zinc coating. Although it will cost more than products without it. Any of the options can be painted in the desired color. Therefore, it is always possible to solve design ideas.
Metal drainage systems come in a variety of colors. Source s11.buyreklama.ru
The metal product has no installation restrictions. Thanks to this, it can be installed on a plastic window in a wooden house or building made of bricks. In any case, a high-quality drainage system will last at least 50 years.
Important! You cannot walk on metal castings. After all, they have low mechanical strength.
Other tide options
Drainage drains made of concrete alone are rarely found in private residential buildings. They are created, but a plastic or concrete product is additionally mounted on top.
An exotic option is a stone drainage system. In its manufacture, polished marble or granite is used. Such products have an attractive appearance and high strength. They can only be broken with a sledgehammer. In addition, they do not make noise when water drops fall on them. However, the cost of these products is very high.
Some homeowners order the production of drainage systems from facade tiles. This option is used when finishing wooden or plastic windows. It is often chosen when the base of the house is lined with facade tiles.
Window drainage made of tiles Source the-brick.ru
When making tile flashing, the material is placed so that it protrudes beyond the facade by 10 mm. Lay the tiles on a slope. To install it and create a slope, a cement-sand mortar is used. Typically, all work on the manufacture of such drainage systems is carried out before finishing the facade.
Features of sizing
Some manufacturers produce metal window drainage in the form of a strip. Its length can be up to 6 m. In most cases, the manufacturer cuts a long casting into several parts in accordance with the required dimensions. Usually the order is fulfilled in such organizations. After all, turning to them allows you to purchase window sills, the dimensions of which will exactly correspond to the installation location.
Experts determine the length of the product by the width of the window opening. The calculated size is increased in most cases. In this case, the main dimension by which the ebb is selected is its depth. This size for a metal product is usually at least 90 mm. It increases in increments of 20 mm.
The minimum depth (X) of metal casting is usually 90 mm Source polymer-plus.rf
The total width of the metal product is made 40-80 mm larger than the originally measured value. In other words, a window molding is made, the dimensions of which on each side are increased by 20-40 mm. This allows the edges to be folded. Moreover, its width in most cases should be greater than the depth of the street part of the window opening. Although in some cases the drainage is made flush with the outer surface of the wall. It all depends on the façade finishing.
On a note! They do not make the drainage overhang too large beyond the façade. However, it all depends on the design of the wall and ease of use. After all, a large product can look ugly and even get in the way.
Usually, moldings are made for windows whose dimensions are approximately 40 mm larger than the street part of the opening. In other words, each of the manufactured products, after installation, will protrude beyond the facade by 4 cm. A protrusion of this size is quite enough to prevent water from entering the wall, which will begin to flow from the window during rain. With this design it will flow onto the blind area.
The size of the ebb protrusion is often 40 mm Source oostroy31.ru
If you decide to install a plastic drainage system, then difficulties often arise when choosing a product. After all, its smallest width is 140 mm. In addition, this size increases in specific increments. For most manufacturers it is 40 mm. Because of this, it is difficult to choose a flashing whose dimensions will exactly fit a specific opening.
Important! When choosing a drainage system, take into account the frequency of people moving under the window, as well as the quality of the wall, foundation, blind area, construction and finishing materials used, including waterproofing. After all, a large product will interfere with free passage under the opening, and a small one will not protect the bottom of the facade and the base from getting wet.
Using the lower area for storage
As many have already understood, a loft bed is not just a sleeping place, it is a convenient way to organize space. It's time to talk about how you can use the free space below.
The most obvious solution is to install a closet in which bed linen, clothes and various household items will be folded. It is better to place the closet doors on the side of the bed: this way the second wall will serve as an additional support point, additionally saving space for rational use of the remaining space under the bed.
The option with a longitudinal cabinet arrangement close to the wall is also good. A deep cabinet of this kind is optimal for a children's bed: the side support panels experience minimal load, and the overhanging bed, if high enough, will not interfere with approaching the cabinet.
The fastening of the cabinet walls is identical for all versions of the base: one of the outer sides is simply covered with a sheet of chipboard, shelves are attached to it with confirmations, and a straight panel suitable for hanging doors is attached to the shelves.
Instead of a closet with three doors, the loft bed can be equipped with open shelves or drawers. The panels form a straight box, which can be divided as desired by horizontal and vertical partitions. The remaining space can be used to install a small sofa.
Basic requirements for the installation of window drainage systems
The specialist knows perfectly well how to install a sill on a plastic window. However, if any mistake is made, it can only be detected after the consequences of improper installation have become apparent. It could even be the destruction of a wall due to exposure to water. Therefore, you need to trust the installation to professionals. Then you won’t have to spend a lot of time and money correcting errors.
Incorrectly installed ebb and flow can even cause destruction of the wall under the opening Source silverstar.by
During installation, specialists always follow specific rules. They are simple, but allow you to provide a guarantee for the work performed. First of all, all connections are properly sealed. Particular attention is paid to places where the drainage area is adjacent to the slopes.
On a note! Craftsmen use sealants as an additional material. The reason for this is their durability of several years. Over time they begin to peel off. As a result, cracks are formed where moisture freely penetrates.
Another rule is that slopes and ebbs for plastic windows are mounted only level. In this case, the lower shelf is installed exclusively along the horizon in the same way as the window, but only with a forward slope. Otherwise, water will drain from it in one place. It can even accumulate. If the slope is installed strictly horizontally, then drops will drip from its entire outer edge. Therefore, the area under the drain will become evenly wet. This will allow it to dry faster.
The long edges of the window sill should be horizontal Source fasad-sp.ru
Another rule is to build a solid and level base. Typically, a solution of cement and sand is used to create it. However, fastening the ebb to a PVC window is done using self-tapping screws, and to a concrete base using polyurethane foam.
During installation, the drainage system is aligned horizontally. Adjust its position using wedges. The resulting free space is filled with polyurethane foam. This installation option allows you to do the job inexpensively, but efficiently and quickly.
Important! The use of wedges strengthens the structure. In some cases, you can even stand on it with your feet, for example, when washing windows from the outside.
When installing sills on plastic windows, their usually curved side edges are placed under the slopes. This will prevent water from flowing under the finishing elements. If the slopes are planned to be made from plaster mixtures, then the edges of the drains should cut into the finish by about 10 mm on each side.
The side edges of the ebb should extend under the vertical slopes Source tildacdn.com
Important! The gap between the vertical slope and the ebb is never sealed with only one sealant. After all, it will collapse over time. Therefore, to better seal the joints, the drains are placed under the side slopes or cut into them.
Every professional knows how to properly attach sills to plastic windows on the first, second or even third floor. Often, for ease of work, the master removes the double-glazed windows from the frame and removes the sashes. Less often, he collects scaffolding from outside the building.
A selection of videos on the topic
Tips for choosing drainage systems for plastic windows from the pros:
Installation of drainage systems and sealing of the loggia by industrial climbers:
Structurally, the drainage system looks simple, and its fixation is carried out using standard fasteners. The difficulty lies in the fact that the main work is carried out on the outside of the balcony. Therefore, it is important to follow safety measures and, most importantly, not expose yourself to excessive risk.
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The process of professional installation of metal drainage in a stone house
Metal flashings are installed in 95% of cases. Typically, these parts are made in the workshop of the company that manufactures and installs the ordered windows. Drains made of metal and plastic are installed according to the same scheme. Additionally, gaskets are used with steel products to reduce the drumming effect during rain.
Installation of ebb sills on plastic windows by professionals is quick, as the craftsmen have all the necessary tools and consumables. The process itself is carried out sequentially by specialists.
Step 1
Before installing sills on plastic windows, always check the condition of the lower slopes on the street side. If they have defects, including large cracks, depressions and elevations, then they are plastered using a mortar of cement and sand. Tile adhesive is also used when surfaces have small irregularities.
On a note! Basically, a cement-sand mixture is used if the base in the window opening of a house made of brick or other similar material has not previously been prepared for work.
Before installing the ebb, make a base from a cement-sand mixture Source tvplaneta.ru
When leveling the lower slope, create a slope of approximately 10°. This work is done as follows:
- Place a layer of the prepared mixture on the wetted surface with a thickness that exceeds the required value by approximately 10 mm.
- Make the recess in fresh solution at the required slope using a level. To do this, the tool is pressed into the mixture in the middle and edges of the base.
- Remove excess solution. The result is a surface whose slope matches the slope of the created grooves.
After this, the surface is finally leveled. Then wait for the cement-sand mass to harden.
Installation cost
Drainage sill for a window
The cost of the ordered product and installation work consists of several factors;
- Dimensions of ebb tides;
- Window opening configuration;
- Material of manufacture;
- Production time;
- Other.
As a rule, the master considers the time spent, the complexity of the work and the complexity of the installation. A metal window sill is easier to install than one made from epoxy resin. Therefore, this type of work will be cheaper.
To calculate the cost of installing drip tides, it is best to contact a specialized company. The master will coordinate the visit with you, measure the opening and recommend the material for making the product. The final cost can only be announced after taking into account all the nuances and wishes of the client. You can find out the average cost of installing and manufacturing a particular type of drip sill by calling the company at the number listed on the website.
Correct sizing for drainage
The quality of the final result depends on the accuracy of the original dimensions according to which the casting is made. If they are removed correctly, there is no need to redo the work. At the same time, it is performed as quickly as possible. However, an error of a few millimeters is allowed.
To make sills for windows, the dimensions of which will be as accurate as possible, the master performs the following steps:
- measures the length of the window frame together, where the drainage system will connect to it;
- first applies a construction square to one side and then to the other side of the window;
- measures in each case the small leg of an imaginary triangular figure that is formed between the applied tool and the slope;
- adds the sum of the small legs to the previously measured length of the window frame to obtain the final length of the drainage.
Measuring drainage for a window opening Source torg111.ru
After this, you need to know how the drainage will be installed. If it is factory installed under vertical slopes or simply touches them, then the craftsman makes bends on its side edges. Therefore, it increases the overall length of the product by approximately 40 mm - 20 mm on each side. If the drainage bouquet crashes into plastered slopes, then this size increases by 10 mm on each side.
Required Tools
How well the installation of drip tides will go depends not only on your skills, but also on the correctly selected installation tools. Don't forget to prepare:
- tape measure, ruler, marker;
- metal scissors;
- polyurethane foam;
- drill/screwdriver;
- self-tapping screws;
- sealant (preferably silicone based).
Before purchasing sills, take measurements of the window. It is important that the ebb extends beyond the level of the wall by at least five centimeters. Then he will cope with his task more effectively.
Once you have prepared the necessary tools and materials for installing window sills, you can begin to work.
Methods for bending drainage edges
Experts use different methods to bend the edges of metal window sills. All of them have been tested in practice and allow you to get high-quality results.
One option involves using a tinsmith’s tool – these are special pliers. This device is distinguished by the presence of wide jaws. Thanks to the increased size, metal can be captured over a larger area.
Another method involves the use of pincer clamps. They clamp the metal along the bend line and bend it. In this case, wooden blocks are additionally used. The entire process is carried out on a flat surface.
Plier-shaped clamp for bending the edges of metal window drainage Source chebo.pro
Important! When using clamps, it is necessary to deviate 1 or 2 mm from the bend line. This distance is required to accurately bend the metal.
If the third method is used, then the workpiece is placed on a flat, stable surface. It could be an iron table. In this case, the fold line is placed on the edge of a stable surface. Then they take a mallet and bend the metal. This process begins at some end of the bend line. If necessary, pass over it with a mallet several times. They strive to achieve an even and precise bend.
If the drain is made of thin metal, it can be easily bent with just your fingers. In this case, be sure to wear thick gloves or mittens on your hands. They will protect your fingers from cuts. If they appear, then it will take a lot of time for them to heal.
On a note! To obtain the maximum even and precise bend, a beard is made on the back side of the metal workpiece in the desired direction.
General recommendations
To suit the overall design of the façade, window drains should not be provocative or massive. This is unlikely to be a problem, because the elements are made to order, taking into account the color.
When constructing a new building, installation of flashings is carried out at the stage of facade work, when there is a possibility of high-quality sealing of seams and joints. In a finished house, the low tide is installed when glazing the balcony or inserting a new window. When glazing a balcony, also install an upper external window sill, attached to the above balcony slab.
Features of installing metal ebb and flow in a wooden opening
The main fundamental difference between installing a metal drainage system in a stone house and installing it in a wooden opening is the creation of a base not from a cement-sand mixture, but from bars. The frame is made from them. It is on this that the ebb will rest.
Depending on the features of the building and the horizontal slope, only a few bars can be used. However, they will not always have the same thickness. The bars are attached to the building structures of the house using nails or self-tapping screws.
During installation, additional foam is used. It allows you to strengthen the fixation and prevent snow from falling under the tide.
On a note! To prevent the drainage from moving when the foam expands and to prevent it from moving, a weight is used. In this case, you need to choose the right weight. It should not bend the metal and allow the mounting foam to move it in any direction.
Using the lower area for storage
As many have already understood, a loft bed is not just a sleeping place, it is a convenient way to organize space. It's time to talk about how you can use the free space below.
The most obvious solution is to install a closet in which bed linen, clothes and various household items will be folded. It is better to place the closet doors on the side of the bed: this way the second wall will serve as an additional support point, additionally saving space for rational use of the remaining space under the bed.
The option with a longitudinal cabinet arrangement close to the wall is also good. A deep cabinet of this kind is optimal for a children's bed: the side support panels experience minimal load, and the overhanging bed, if high enough, will not interfere with approaching the cabinet.
The fastening of the cabinet walls is identical for all versions of the base: one of the outer sides is simply covered with a sheet of chipboard, shelves are attached to it with confirmations, and a straight panel suitable for hanging doors is attached to the shelves.
Instead of a closet with three doors, the loft bed can be equipped with open shelves or drawers. The panels form a straight box, which can be divided as desired by horizontal and vertical partitions. The remaining space can be used to install a small sofa.
Features of connecting two ebb tides
The need to connect two drainage systems arises when one of them is not enough to completely cover the lower slope of the window. Although this situation happens extremely rarely. After all, it has already been mentioned what low tide is in plastic windows, and what it may look like. Basically the product is a metal strip. Its length can reach 6 m if necessary.
If you still need to connect two metal products to reduce the final cost, then soldering is used. It is performed with a soldering iron with a power of at least 200 W. Hydrochloric acid is also used in this work. It will allow you to remove the zinc coating from the metal at the soldering site. After all, ordinary solder will not cope with such a task.
The master connects the two ebbs as follows:
- Places products with overlap.
- Eliminates large gaps by pressing one drainage pipe against another with some kind of weight.
- Pour a small amount of hydrochloric acid onto the joint or apply it with a brush. The solution is distributed throughout the joint. Otherwise, the metal will not connect in unlubricated areas.
Hydrochloric acid is poured or applied with a brush to the joint Source torgopthim.ru
- Heats up the soldering iron so that solder brand, for example, POS 60, melts on the tool.
- Applies the heated end of the soldering iron along with solder to the joint where hydrochloric acid is already present.
- Removes the load, but only after the solder has cured.
Usually the seam is made from the front side. If necessary, solder can be passed from below the joint to increase the strength of the connection. At the end of the process, the adhesion site is washed with a solution of water and baking soda. This allows the remaining hydrochloric acid to be neutralized.
The connection of two galvanized sheets is also done using a lock. It consists of two parts. They are created on the opposite edges of the connected drains. An experienced locksmith will always make a quality lock. After its creation, a folded seam is obtained.
The lock itself consists of two curved edges in opposite directions, which hook into one another. After this, the seam is compacted with a mallet. Strong blows are made on it with the instrument. They are performed first on one side and then on the other side of the seam.
The order of making a seam when connecting two ebbs Source castle.pri.ee
Briefly about the main thing
Shutters are installed to drain water from windows during rain and prevent it from getting under translucent structures and inside walls. They are mainly made of plastic and galvanized metal. However, they can also be created from facade tiles, aluminum, and stone.
Drainage drains made of plastic and metal are produced in mass quantities to standard sizes. It is easier to order steel products to order in the required dimensions. It is easy to cut them at the installation site to fit the size of the openings, leaving a metal reserve of 10-40 mm for bends.
Galvanized flashings can be connected by soldering or locking. They are installed on a prepared concrete or wooden base. During installation, foam and self-tapping screws are used. Their side edges are bent and brought under slopes or straight edges are deepened into them when they are plastered.
Semicircular or figured windows
Not all windows are linear. But what are the best sills for semicircular windows? All the same metals can save you. But just this time, the ideal option is copper shimmer. Copper is a ductile material and a slight curvature can be simply achieved by tapping it with a hammer.
You can make shaped products from copper
If copper is too expensive, there are factories that make radius castings to your measurements. Since this is an individual order, the cost of such a low tide will also be calculated in each specific case.
Radius flashings for windows in bay windows must be ordered
If there is a need to save money, you can make ebbs for figured bay windows from ordinary galvanized ebbs with a polymer coating. In this case, they are cut into pieces, with which you can create the desired bend.
Semi-circular ebbs from standard materials
With this method, one piece should overlap the adjacent one (by 3-5 cm) - this will make leakage less likely. To further reduce the likelihood of water ingress, a layer of sealant is applied to the joint.
