Gap below aluminium bi-fold doors

CSutton · 30 Sep 2020

Hi,

I had 2 sets of bi fold doors installed about 18 months ago. Had a nightmare with the supplier and doors initially but that’s another story. I’ve recently noticed a relatively large gap under the door frame and having researched it filled it with expanding foam which I’m regretting as after cutting it is now flush in addition to packers with the brickwork. I’m struggling to work out how to seal it before I build decking up to to the doors...Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Chris

footprints · 30 Sep 2020

Be better left open with a grille of some sort to stop vermin along there like a strip of soffit vent perhaps, your DPC will be at that level and normally there is a vent or air brick of some sort under long doors.

I used black UPVC trim with holes drilled to match the existing air brick.

foxhole · 30 Sep 2020

Cut insulation flush and tile it.

CSutton · 1 Oct 2020

foxhole said:
Cut insulation flush and tile it.

Seems excessive?!

foxhole · 1 Oct 2020

CSutton said:
Seems excessive?!

How?

Best Glaze · 3 Oct 2020

Hello Chris, Bi-Folds need a good solid base to run along as you can imagine. Depending on how visible the gap under the door is, I would probably cut the foam out and cement under the doors, this will give the bottom track some stability and stop problems occurring long term. Could you upload an image so we can see the gap under the door?

CSutton · 4 Oct 2020

@Best Glaze Thanks so much for the advice. Will take a photo no problem once the rain stops today! Cementing seems the most suitable way forward...am I ok to take the plastic packers out with the doors closed just prior to putting in the cement mix? The frame is screwed into the brick on all sides. Doors are ALUK.

Best Glaze · 4 Oct 2020

CSutton said:
@Best Glaze Thanks so much for the advice. Will take a photo no problem once the rain stops today! Cementing seems the most suitable way forward...am I ok to take the plastic packers out with the doors closed just prior to putting in the cement mix? The frame is screwed into the brick on all sides. Doors are ALUK.

Even though the doors are fixed up the sides, the best way to sort the issue out is to:

Leave packers in place (temporarily)
Cement up to one side of the packers (leave a small gap for wiggle room.
Make sure cement is packed into the gap
Wait for first run of cement to go off
Remove packers
Cement remaining gap

If there are several lots of packers, you can cement in sections, allow cement to go off and then remove the packers. Bi-folds can be temperamental at the best of times, if they are not sat on a good base then problems are inevitable. If the doors were fitted in such a way, I would also be concerned that they have not been heel & toed correctly.

CSutton · 4 Oct 2020

@Best Glaze Great, thanks. Yes there are multiple packers. A set in each corner and then every so often across. What mix ratio do you go for? Thanks, Chris

CSutton · 6 Oct 2020

@Best Glaze pics attached... ordered the materials. What ratio mix would you recommend and use of aggregates & size etc? Have two of these doors to resolve.

Best Glaze · 6 Oct 2020

CSutton said:
@Best Glaze pics attached... ordered the materials. What ratio mix would you recommend and use of aggregates & size etc? Have two of these doors to resolve.

Is there any reason the doors were packed up so high? Internal finish floor height maybe?
Four to one mix sand and cement.

CSutton · 6 Oct 2020

Best Glaze said:
Is there any reason the doors were packed up so high? Internal finish floor height maybe?
Four to one mix sand and cement.

Spot on @Best Glaze and (I wish now I hadn’t) at my request. The bottom brick was cut for the new doors so I do think they may also have cut too much to install. Thanks for the ratio advice, more of a screed then. Will crack on with it this weekend.

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Gap below aluminium bi-fold doors

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