damp beneath pvc doors

[mozzy1990]

Hello everyone sorry im a complete newbie and just in my first home a few months, having issues with damp underneath our pvc doors front and back in the kitchen although it has also spread around part of the floor in the kitchen behind the skirting just wondering if anyone would to give some advice as im worried sick it could be something serious pictures attached are of where the water seems to come from it actually sits on the floor a few inches out just a thin layer kind of puts me in mind of condensation

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

Open the door and inspect the plastic threshold. They normally are like a channel with the inner wall higher then the outer one so they can get water in them due to the doors outer seal not being perfect. In a good door frame there will be a little slot at the bottom of the outer wall to allow this water to drain out. What some installers do is to drill the bottom and put a screw or two through the bottom of the channel into the floor. The water leaks out through the screw holes. So take out the screw one by one and put a glob of silicone around the hole before putting the screw back. It might be possible just to put some silicone over the screw head.
Frank

 

[mozzy1990]

Thanks for the reply Frank il have a look at that later when home from work and report back, do you think that would be letting enough water in to spread round the corner to the piece of wall in pics 2 and 3??

 

[jeds]

Is that an outward opening door? A photo of the external would be useful. My guess is the threshold drain is blocked somehow or just not very efficient. In that case the water has nowhere to go and ends up inside. What people then sometimes do is seal the external of the threshold in the mistaken belief they are keeping water out and in fact all they are doing is keeping water in.

 

[mozzy1990]

Hi jeds thanks both doors front and back are inward opening I will get some pics of the external and post them up later its a strange one there doesnt even seem to be a change with weather like heavy rain etc. It will just be damp il dry it up and a few days later it would be damp again although I cant remember it being a problem during the warmer months

 

[mozzy1990]

Hello again ive took some external pictures and also pictures of the drain holes they seem to be fine as i poured some water into the frame and it seemed to drain to the outside as it should with no leak inside sorry i went a bit snap happy its driving me insane!

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

yes your threshold looks fine. I am a little confused by the outside pic. Under each side window you seem to have a bit of trim. Is this sealed properly to the frame? Also would that not cause some sort of sealing problem under the threshold?
Frank

 

[mozzy1990]

The white pvc trim just under the windows?? i cant work it out originally thought it was some sort of condensation coming from the small what looks like concrete step below both doors they always seem to be wet while pvc above is bone dry which made me come to the conclusion it wasnt coming in off the door? Im stumped im actually starting to wonder if the concrete step is the problem but not wanting to try and waterproof it as it will only hide and probly not fix the problem

 

[mozzy1990]

Just a small update ive spotted a gap under the bottom corner of my back door which is definatly letting in water it is currently raining pic. attached although havent yet located source from front door

 

[ree]

On the back door pics there are short squirts of remedial(?) caulking below the frame - lower left and lower right. There's a bead of caulking all around the cill and brick shoulders.

You could clean out the newly discovered interior "gap" & go back to bare brick on both reveals. And then gradually water test the external caulking.

Inside, remove the two pieces of RH skirting and examine the plaster behind, & the back of the skirtings.

Any metal corner bead to be cut off to whatever height plaster is removed - replace with plastic angle bead.
All damaged plaster will have to be replaced with a render.

All damaged underlayment must be replaced.

Fitting a canopy/porch roof above the rear entrance steps would be a help.

At the front door: perhaps, remove all trim at the base of the frame and water test. Again, perhaps a porch canopy be fitted.