Advice Needed – Cold Air and Neighbour's Cooking Smells Coming Through Pocket Door

[aasiah]

Hi everyone,

I've recently had a downstairs wetroom installed, which includes a sliding pocket door.

I've noticed gaps around the sides of the pocket door, and I can feel cold air coming through them. I can also smell my neighbour's cooking odours coming into our living room through these gaps.

The joiner has fitted brush strips around the door, but this hasn't resolved the problem.

The builders have suggested that the smells and draughts are coming from the wall cavity.

My questions are:

- Should a pocket door allow air and smells to come through from a neighbouring property?
- Could this indicate that the wall cavity hasn't been properly sealed?
- Would this raise any concerns regarding Building Regulations or fire safety?
- What would be the correct way to fix this issue permanently?

I'd really appreciate advice from any builders, joiners or Building Control professionals.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Diver Fred]

My questions are:

- Should a pocket door allow air and smells to come through from a neighbouring property?

No

- Could this indicate that the wall cavity hasn't been properly sealed?

Yes

- Would this raise any concerns regarding Building Regulations

Not sure but would seem so.

or fire safety?

I'd think so.

- What would be the correct way to fix this issue permanently?

I have my thoughts - but that would be expensive; I hope people with better knowledge offers their thoughts.

I'd really appreciate advice from any builders, joiners or Building Control professionals.

Sensible.

 

[endecotp]

I've recently had a downstairs wetroom installed

What was there before?

Installing the pocket door itself clearly can’t let in smells. I guess that there must also have been some modifications to walls, including holes that could be the root cause. Maybe post photos?

Another thing to consider - does the new room have a fan, that could perhaps be sucking in smells somehow?

 

[Alec_t]

How is the wetroom ventilated?

 

[aasiah]

The wetroom extends 2 feet into my living room, separated by a new stud wall. A sliding pocket door has been fitted in this wall. Cold air and my neighbour's cooking smells are coming through the gaps around the door. Wetroom is ventilated by ceiling extractor fan.

 

[aasiah]

What was there before?

Installing the pocket door itself clearly can’t let in smells. I guess that there must also have been some modifications to walls, including holes that could be the root cause. Maybe post photos?

Another thing to consider - does the new room have a fan, that could perhaps be sucking

The wetroom extends 2 feet into my living room, separated by a new stud wall. A sliding pocket door has been fitted in this wall. Cold air and my neighbour's cooking smells are coming through the gaps around the door. Wetroom is ventilated by ceiling extractor fan.

 

[danfre]

Would think open cavity is the cause.
Must say that the wall and pads bearing the steel looks really rough.
Has it been inspected by building control?

 

[aasiah]

Im not sure whether they did at that particular stage.. building control would come without my knowledge...is it worth pointing out now by emailing this image to building control?however all plastering, painting work has been completed.

 

[endecotp]

Do you have any more photos of the steel / padstones / wall?

Others will have better understanding than me, but maybe smells are the least of your worries.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

by emailing this image to building control?

Good idea. Hopefully their response won't be that they have no knowledge of your project.

 

[aasiah]

Do you have any more photos of the steel / padstones / wall?

Others will have better understanding than me, but maybe smells are the least of your worries.

 

[aasiah]

I found this in my email...from building regs...what i did notice was hair lines and slightly bigger lines in the above upstairs bedroom when they were placing steel beams in...builders came following day..removed upstairs plaster ..put 2 metal straps and replastered...I dont think building control was aware of this...

 

[aasiah]

More pics of padstone /steel beam