What is this mysterious blue powder that keeps collecting on the inside of our window and sill?
Our home was built in 1989 and all of the windows are original. We purchased the house in 2010 and it had the original builder grade trim on all the windows and sills. This window was a little cruddy on the inside when we bought the house, but we chalked it up to the fact that the house sat vacant for several months after foreclosure. But we had the trim replaced and it is a custom made casement. We're stumped as to the source and the identity of this mysterious blue powder. We've simply been vacuuming it up and wiping the window to remove it periodically.
Before we did anything to it - the window opening was sheetrocked and only had a sill plate and apron trim underneath it. ...»
My dad built the new interior sill and frame as one piece that slid into the window opening and it butts all the way up to the glass. So there are no openings in the trim. We may just end up having to caulk around the window where the trim and window unit meet.
But again we don't know the source of this substance. The only thing near the window on the outside is a large rhodedendron and haven't seen anything like this powder on the outside of the house or the foliage of that plant.
I you scoop up some of this, take it out side and place it on a concrete surface and lite a ...»
This also can be from foam in the walls being destroyed by insects as well.
Lastly. During the construction phase of the house, lots of cutting, drilling and banging ...»
Did you drill any holes to hang blinds? Does it appear to be coming out of the corners of the top of the window frame? Sometimes there are small openings in that area where stuff like this can fall out.
FYI the windows were constructed in 1988. February for that matter. :)
My husband also wondered if the substance could be coming from within the actual window.
There is a channel on either side of the window and I'm not sure how to describe it other than there is a piece that helps prop the window up when it is open where a spring or some other ...»
@Woodbridge - since you brought up the manufacture date for the windows - could you tell me a bit more about them?
All I know is that they are double paned glass with a decorative piece sandwiched in between them to simulate the appearance of a traditional multi-paned window.
I took some more photos from both inside and outside of the house. I apologize, but the inside ones are not as good [due to poor lighting] as they were previously. ...»
Of course at the thought of possibly dealing with some sort of infestation - I did a little research online. The exterior of the house does not show any evidence of mud tubes where termites might be present. Although I realize this is not the only indicator for those specific pests and there are also other undesirables that may be to blame instead.
Our house is on a slab foundation with cinder block wall for the first level of the house. The way the house is built, the first floor is considered a basement since the back portion of the house is below grade. It is built into the side of a hill, with the front entry being grade level.
There is a faux stone facade over the block on the first level and wood siding on the second level.
My husband also wanted to add that when he removed the old sill plate and apron, he also removed portions of the sheetrock around the opening because it was a little uneven [the new sill/casement was built as a single unit and slid into the opening] and and took it back to the studs and didn't see any of what we're seeing now or any damage to the studs.
That's why he was wondering if possibly the "blue stuff" is coming out of the piece on the left side of the window that is broken. Hopefully, the pictures will illustrate the piece that I'm trying to describe.
While there is residue on the inside of the window, it is concentrated on the left side.
Also like to note - it is rare that we have opened the windows. We live in an area that seems to have higher than usuall pollen counts during the more temperature friendly months and I have allergies and asthma, so we generally do not leave windows open for comfort.
The window you have is metal? or so it appears from the first photo that you provided. My guess is that its insulation either from a foam from window sealant, or within the wall cavity. I doubt ...»
My thinking is that when they were installed the contractor used blue window and door foam ...»
The mystery critters causing the problem WERE indeed ants. They were very tiny ants...little pieces of ant body parts started appearing in the blue fluff in the windowsill along with dead and dying ants after spraying around the area and the source trail we found on the front porch column. ...»
Mystery solved! Thanks to all who offered their comments & suggestions. :)