Damp inside external door.

alanandlyn · Post by **alanandlyn** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:55 pm

We have a kitchen extension, completed in 1985, the wooden door was replaced with UPVC in about 2000. We are now starting to get damp and mould spores appearing on the inside walls, surrounding the door. I have also noticed that the mortar appears to be leaching salts. This particular corner of the house gets the prevailing wind and rain.

Some pictures are attached.

I am assuming damp is being driven through the outer wall and is either bridging the cavity via the insulation (the block type, inserted during the build) or via the door frame.

I realise I have to strip the plaster off to clear up the inside but how to I prevent this recurring? Is there a way to seal the wall to prevent water coming through? Would this create other problems? Is there any other likely cause for the mould?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:26 pm

It's likely that the cavity was blocked when the new door was installed. Try and remove one of the lower bricks and clear out the blockage.

Sir Harry · Post by **Sir Harry** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:37 am

There appears to be a possibility that the concrete door step (and maybe the floor) might be bridging the DPC

alanandlyn · Post by **alanandlyn** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:01 pm

Thank you for the thoughts. Unfortunately I don't think it is as simple as the cavity being bridged by rubbish inside. The signs of mould are showing all around the door frame. The picture below shows the top of the door. Above this is the roof, it is a single story ground floor extension with a sloping tiled roof.

Is it possible that the door frame is compromising both the cavity and the door step DPC; allowing damp to leach through to the inner wall? I'm pretty sure there is no DPC surrounding the frame, something that has been suggested to me where the frame is on the outer layer of a double skin wall at another house.

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:11 pm

Looking at the last pic you have spots on the ceiling as well.

Time to have a look above the ceiling

gaffatape · Post by **gaffatape** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:37 pm

Could water be getting in somewhere above the door from perhaps a window with perished or missing sealant around it and running down the cavity? I have seen this before

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:41 pm

Is the silicone seal around the door frame intact?

It looks like it is damaged from here!

It'll be difficult to reseal as thos bricks look pretty rough, but for the cost of a £5 tube of silicone it may be worth a try.

alanandlyn · Post by **alanandlyn** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:44 pm

Thanks for the thought ultimatehandyman but all the seals look fine. I gave them a close inspection today and can't see anything wrong. There are no holes or gaps in the mastic.

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:47 pm

I still think you need to check the roof, damp spots are showing on the ceiling, which cannot be penetrating.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:49 pm

It could also be water getting in the cavity. Are there any vents on the outside of the property?

alanandlyn · Post by **alanandlyn** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:41 pm

Scruff; I'll check out the roof, thanks.

ultimatehandyman; there are drain holes above the door, I seem to recall it may have a metal, tray type of lintel.

I guess I'm going to have to get someone in to have a look.

1kt · Post by **1kt** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:11 pm

Are your drain holes blocked on the door frame ?

mortimer33 · Post by **mortimer33** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:09 pm

Hi Mate.

Is that door north facing? I have a similar problem as you're describing.. I think that my problem is related to condesation gathering on the cold walls around the door...Just my 2 cents..

alanandlyn · Post by **alanandlyn** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:12 pm

mortimer33 wrote:Hi Mate.

Is that door north facing? I have a similar problem as you're describing.. I think that my problem is related to condesation gathering on the cold walls around the door...Just my 2 cents..

It's a good thought but no the door is South facing. Mind you that wouldn't seem to me to prevent your idea being a good one; especially as the problem improves during the warmer months.

stuart45 · Post by **stuart45** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:08 pm

Mould is often a sign of condensation as it likes the pure water produced by it. There can be cold bridging at the reveals as they weren't insulated then. Penetrating damp can also lower the temperature of the wall which in turn adds to the condensation problem. The vertical DPC might have been damaged when the frame was replaced.

Damp inside external door.

Damp inside external door.

Signs of damp all round the door