Bifold door leak issue

[smaj]

Hi everyone

The skirting that meets the bifold door internally is leaking water.

I am not sure where this is coming from exactly. I have pulled a hose out and watered the bifolds from outside, however, nothing is leaking in.

I'm confused right now what is going on. The bifold fold externally if this helps.

Please can someone help ke out here.

 

[Notch7]

Unfortunately there are no external pics.

Its either coming through bifold door / frame or the through a fail in the damp and or weathering arrangement in sides or cill or even head.

If you can identify that, then that narrows it down

When does it happen? Is it after any rain, or rain and blustery conditions?

It’s aly which is prone to condensation - there’s what looks like that at bottom of glass - not likely to cause puddles in those positions

 

[smaj]

I've noticed something if it helps.

See the photos attached.

The thing is I have used a hose pipe externally to check if it leaks when I spray it with water and nothing is coming through. Its happened in the bad weather over the last week, before that it was fine.

The bottom corners externally the silicone sealant is not the best on both sides, but it doesn't leak when I wet it with hose pipe. The bottom of the cill has no sealant on it whatsoever.

 

[noseall]

I've noticed something if it helps.

See the photos attached.

The thing is I have used a hose pipe externally to check if it leaks when I spray it with water and nothing is coming through. Its happened in the bad weather over the last week, before that it was fine.

The bottom corners externally the silicone sealant is not the best on both sides, but it doesn't leak when I wet it with hose pipe. The bottom of the cill has no sealant on it whatsoever.

Check the drain holes are clear.

 

[Notch7]

as Noseall says check drain holes as a first

open doors and look for the drain holes in the threshold

your first picture indicates the leak appearing from under skirting reveal returns -which gives me the impression it might be getting in through the head or sides

try getting a hose pipe with a watering can type spray and aim it at the brickwork and sides of the frame -start at bottom, do a bit then check, go a bit higher, rinse and repeat, keep going up to the brickwork above the door frame sides -a leak at the to pcan run down. You have no water staining on the plaster reveals so if its coming in at the sides its running down to the bottom and tracking in

its possible the detailing at the sides is incorrect -in theory there should be a vertical dpc which would prevent water ingress -which it may do until it gets to the bottom of the opening

I cant see from the pic what your internal and external heights are -usually the outside is lower so any water getting under the cill would just go into the cavity or just run back out if thats filled

 

[smaj]

I think some of the sealant is coming away from the wall ir nifold, I hosed it and no water was showing inside

 

[Highway Man]

Shouldn't there be a drip lat built into the cill, as it is just flat to allow water to run down the cill and underneath it with water getting in under the cill?

 

[Notch7]

I think some of the sealant is coming away from the wall ir nifold, I hosed it and no water was showing inside

it could be getting in at the head -you need to look at the whole of the connection between frame and brickwork

Also the doors like they are internally beaded -have you checked to make sure water isnt getting in at the bottom beads -it should escape into a channel behind the glass but the drainage holes could be blocked

unfortunately leak paths can be very difficult to trace so you have to work through every component. I cant tell from the pic but sometimes there are tell tale signs of staining which can indicate where



is the lintel above the doors correct -is there a cavity tray either above lintel or built into lintel (ie catnic style) you should be able to see weep holes in the brick perps above the doors

 

[smaj]

So I have sort of found the issue.

I poured some water in the drainage channel where the door sits into, I noticed the water leaving from the weep holes but then I noticed it was leaking into the house too from the skirting from both sides as in the pictures above.

What could be the reason for this?

 

[Notch7]

So I have sort of found the issue.

I poured some water in the drainage channel where the door sits into, I noticed the water leaving from the weep holes but then I noticed it was leaking into the house too from the skirting from both sides as in the pictures above.

What could be the reason for this?

Ah I see.

So your first pic shows the brickwork under the threshold is above the internal floor level.

My guess is that the frame cill is a chambered section so water can only exit at the ends, I’m not familiar with these systems but I’d guess the end caps should be water tight and the underside of the cill should have exit holes near the front edge.

You cill end caps don’t look very good - a bit gappy

Are there any drainage hole in the underside of the cill - you might need a mirror to see.

Somehow you will need to seal the ends - either by removing the skirting and use some expanding foam or somewhere else if you can access.

Maybe you could drill a hole in the end cap - low down.