leaking door

[oleRocky]

I am having an issue w/my exterior door that I recently installed.
When it comes a heavy rain it leaks some around the bottom of the door.
When I installed it used caulk on the bottom of the threshold (lots!) and I have double checked all of the trim to make sure that it is all caulked properly and I don't see any evidence of any voids in the caulk.
The only thing I figure is that it is leaking under the ruber piece that is between the bottom of the door and the metal threshold. I think its is made of rubber or plastic.

Any ideas or has anyone ever had this kind of problem?
Any advice would be greatly apprectiated.

Thanks

[Rich]

Sounds pretty solid on the bottom side.. if it's not under the door sweep then it's probably at the top of the frame where the brick mold hits the siding. Should be flashing going behind siding and over brick mold and some caulking at the outside edges.

[Tom R]

Could even be a leaky roof, - - then it's running down inside your wall.

[RRG]

Or possibly rain building up on your porch and working it's way back in.
How is the drainage near the door?

[oleRocky]

The roof was just put on so I am 99.9% sure its not the roof.
As far as a porch I haven't put a porch on yet that is my next project when I finish inside. I know that may be bassakwards to how things are done but my finances is why I was going to finish the inside first and then add a porch.

Thanks for all the input.

[Rich]

Not backwards - every job has it's own intricacies to how it gets built.

[dhill]

How much is "some" leaking in? Water is going to find the easiest avenue in. If you've fully caulked underneath the threshold, then the water must be coming in from on top of the threshold which means that it could be coming in under the rubber seal. Best solution to that that I know of is to put a storm door up.

[VALENT]

I know this isnt the right way to figure this problem out but it should work. Get a garden hose and spray a "heavy rain" of water near the bottom of the door only and see if it leaks. If not, then work your way up checking at each height. Sometimes, when you are working hard(especially trying to build a house) the brain lapses. AT LEAST MINE SURE HAS. The best solution is the one which requires little brain behaviour. Give it a try.

[oleRocky]

First of all thanks for all of yall's replies.

It came a t**dfloater the other night and I went to the the door and watched and it looked like the water was coming under the threshold.

I don't know how because I put a lot of caulk under the threshold plus but a bead under the edge where it meets the slab just to be sure. I used Lexel because I thought that was suppose to be good stuff. Anyway I put a bead of caulk on the inside of the threshold just for grins and it rained again last night but it didn't seem to leak. So I don't know how its getting under the threshold but apparently it is. If I can just get my porch added on I guess I wont have these problems. :?

[that_guy]

So... out of curiosity... did you remove this last bead of caulking? If not, aren't you worried about wood rot?

I guess, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[oleRocky]

I haven't but I did think about that. Like I said I need to just get my porch added on and I think it will solve my problems or put a storm door on as was suggested earlier.

But I still don't understand how the water is getting there. Is there any chance that it is soaking up thru the concrete slab? I did use a moister barrier when we poored the slab but I thought this might be coming from the outside edge and soaking up thru the threshold.

[Tom R]

To get that much water comin' in it's either a roof leak, - - or maybe a high water table bringin' it alongside the slab. Until you figure out the problem remove your 'outside' threshold caulk line so the water has a place to get out. Just because the water's not comin' in any more doesn't mean it's not there. I'm still bettin' you have a roof leak, - - somewhere between the roof area above your door and the ridge of the roof, - - any obstructions?, - - vents?, - - valleys?, - - chimneys? - - in that area?

[giddonah]

I did use a moister barrier when we poored the slab.

I hope you can laugh with us on this one Rocky.


(blame Cole, he made me post this :wink: )

[oleRocky]

Alright already! So my spell'n isn't all that great! :lol:



Tom,

There are no valleys, vents or anything that would cause it to leak.
Besides if it was leaking from the roof don't you think it would leave water spots on the ceiling? :?

Thanks for the tip about removing the caulk on the outside.

[Rich]

It wouldn't necessarily have water spots on the ceiling. I've seen water travel quite a distance from up the slope to an exterior wall and down to the plates - eventually rotting them out. Nearly had to remove all the siding and a good portion of the roofing to trace it back.

[oleRocky]

I forgot to say that before I started sheetrocking It rained several times and I never seen a leak. I am going to double check above the door and make sure there isn't a small hole in the caulk that I might have overlooked.

[Cole]

I did use a moister barrier when we poored the slab

Sorry, I couldnt resist.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[oleRocky]

Cole,

I think if you look back someone has already pointed out my mistakes.

Besides, I thought this was a construction forum not an english class. :roll:

Sorry, couldn't resist!

[giddonah]

hahahaha, and Cole was the one who told me to post it! :lol:

Someone getting senile at 21?

[Tom R]

Hey, - - it's not his fault, - - and he's goin' on 22!! :lol:

[Cole]

Cole,

I think if you look back someone has already pointed out my mistakes.

Besides, I thought this was a construction forum not an english class. :roll:

Sorry, couldn't resist!

I was joking buddy.

Calm down. :D

[oleRocky]

I guess I should have said that it wasn't a spelling error it was just my Texas slang coming out in my typing. :)

No offense taken Cole. I don't mind a little humor at my expense! :D

Yall have a good easter!

[Cole]

Yall have a good easter!

You too. :D

[skstone]

We had this leaking door trouble too. It would leak in under the door and a ton of it would go down into the basement below... we're talking gallons! :shock: It turned out that because we have 2X6 construction, an extension sill was added to the bottom of the door's frame and that the joint between the two sill parts leaked like a sieve. The rest of the door leaked too... but that is another story for another day. Anyway, we ended up removing the door and replacing it, and when we did, we put a Jamsill in to ensure that any future leaks went to the outside rather than the inside of the unit.