What could be causing water to leak into our screened-in porch whenever it rains and how can we prevent it in the future?
Asked by Yannik Gautier 
3 months ago
Last Updated: September 2, 2024
What’s the cause of this issue and how can we solve it? My husband thinks it’s just the wind, but it happens every time it rains, even when it’s calm. Should we put something on top? Or maybe seal it with something? Thank you for your help! Oh, and just to clarify, this is about our screened-in porch.
No one here has any idea what is above this, so you are not allowing anyone to even make an educated guess. Could it have been blown in by the wind?
Hey Nathan! Just wanted to let you know that the screened porch is leak-free. We were expecting wind, but got rain instead.
Is someone standing there watching during a rainstorm, Heather? The wind part was half of a joke because of your husband’s same theory.
I was literally sitting out there watching. It doesn’t get wet by the sides or the door, but it forms a puddle in that particular spot.
By is asking if the brick wall gets wet.
Said no
Where can I find this location? Is it a porch or a mud room? I would need additional details to provide a helpful response.
Doesn’t it appear that the wall is enclosed by screens?
Hey , this is actually our screened porch.
Hey by, unless you can determine that it’s coming from above the room, I would guess it blew in from somewhere else?
The screen is not effective in preventing water from entering.
Wow, , thank you so much for solving the issue!
Looks to me like the base of a hill… coming in from that grassy area, maybe consider digging a trench to redirect water away from the house.
Just dropped 5k on that. We’ve got French drains underground and the plastic surface ones all along the screened porch on that side.
By, next time it rains, make sure to check if the gutters are clogged.
It’s difficult to determine without additional information (such as climate, water table, height difference between pad and soil, level of enclosure, presence of overhead water source, etc). If the puddle is located in a low area and the concrete is sealed, it’s highly likely for rainwater to accumulate there.
It’s important for individuals to share clearer pictures when seeking advice. Consider taking a photo from a distance to provide more context. Based on the concrete finish, it seems like there may be other issues in the vicinity. If the opening at the top of the initial pictures doesn’t have a door, rain is likely to seep in during heavy downpours due to the poor concrete finish and the sloping towards the area where water accumulates. Installing a storm door could help prevent rainwater intrusion.
I uploaded a photo of the screened-in porch. It seems like the landscaper we hired did a terrible job fixing our drainage problem. We definitely need to find a better one.
I recommend inspecting the roof where it meets the house.
Can you please take a photo from a greater distance?
By, do you see any moisture along the brick on the right side? It seems like it in the picture but I can’t be certain.
Kirstie Haller, nope that’s completely dry.
Hey there! Earlier I mentioned grabbing a garden hose and spraying up high to find an entry point. Or you could also wait for rain to start again and look for an entry point directly above.
By, is that puddle located next to the original exterior of the house?
What is directly above it?
Would you happen to have a photo from a distance facing that wall?
Sealing might not be the best solution. It seems like there is a low spot that allows water to come in easily, even with just a little wind. The slab appears to be sloped towards the house and the finishing job was poorly done. If there’s a roof over the porch, water might be pooling on both sides due to incorrect drainage. The entire slab looks wet in the picture. Could it be that there is no plastic underneath? Perhaps a thin layer of concrete was poured without any plastic? More information is needed to come up with a proper solution, but from the quality of work, it seems like it won’t be straightforward.
I don’t see any signs of leaks coming from above.
By Do you think this could be a recent leak? Or has it been happening for a while?
By Hey, I noticed some cracks in the brick wall, near the light on the left side. That might be where the issue is coming from.
Hey by, I work in contracting and my recommendation would be to hire a professional contractor to go up on the roof and inspect right above that area. Also, have them check out the connection between the sunroom roof and the current roof.
Hey , thanks a lot. We’ll make sure to do that.
You can even use a garden hose with a sprayer nozzle to mimic rain and observe any potential issues
Make sure to check the roof. If the brick wall extends above the roofline, ensure that the transition is properly sealed.
Have you checked for a downspout or an elbow attached to the downspout on the roof? It could be leaking in that area.
If I were you, I’d suggest placing an object near the puddle to determine if rainwater is hitting it, or if the puddle forms afterwards. Another idea is to lay down paper when everything is dry and observe which area gets wet first.
When it rains next, go outside and observe where the water is seeping in from.
Are you certain the pad is sloping away from the house?
So basically, a low spot is indicated by ponding. When it comes to concrete finish work, it’s pretty much as bad as it gets.
Yeah, sadly that’s pretty consistent with everything else they did in this house. Do you think it would be crazy expensive to have them redo the porch concrete to make it slope correctly?
The ground slopes a bit, but you only really feel it about 4 feet from the door.
By Hey, is this a brand new construction? Or maybe just recently built? Redoing construction work can be really pricey, especially tear out projects. If it’s still pretty new, it might be covered by your state’s builder warranty. Try reaching out to the builder first. If that doesn’t work, contact the Licensing board before the warranty expires. Some states have warranties up to 5 years, but in my state, it’s just 1 year unless the builder offers more in the contract.
Doesn’t have a ‘crazy old’ house from the 1970s, but I believe the screened porch is approximately 10-12 years old.
By is unable to contain her laughter at the mention of a ‘crazy old’ house from 1970?! The house I was raised in was constructed in 1810…. I bet about half of the individuals on this page are just as old as your “crazy old’ house. Haha
Can you describe the condition of the roof?
At my parents’ house, we have a section of concrete that forms a puddle during heavy rain because of inadequate drainage around the porch.
Roof leak my friend
But wouldn’t I notice some damage or discoloration on the ceiling if that were the case?
By It’s not always the case. Water can find its way into unseen areas. It might be getting behind the siding without you knowing. Checking the roof would be a good idea. It’s a probable cause.
By So now that I’m zooming in, it seems like your concrete slab is below ground level in that specific spot. Right by the wall, you could seal the seam where the slab meets the wall with waterproofing. It seems like that’s where the issue is coming from, but the root cause is that the slab is below ground level, allowing moisture to accumulate and seep in from the surrounding low areas. I would seal the seams and if that doesn’t solve the problem, I would raise the slab.
Thank you, . I will inspect the roof tomorrow. Could you please explain what waterproofing the area entails? If we have to elevate the slab, can it be limited to the front problem area or must we address the entire porch? The latter option may exceed our budget.
Is there a noticeable gap under the door where I marked?
Confirmed that he currently has towels placed there while he figures out how to put in a door sweep on a wooden door.
By has a really great idea to begin with that.
Noticed that the wall/ceiling area above the door appears to be wet.
I know it may seem that way but it’s just a really poor paint job. Those people were incredibly careless and cheap. I’ve inspected the wall and there’s no moisture. While there’s no visible moisture on Celine, I still need to look into the roof as some have suggested near where the house roof meets the porch.
Possibly require a new, more noticeable threshold and a door sweep.
Hey , could you explain what you mean by a new high-profile threshold?
Hey there! by is looking up exterior door thresholds. There are a variety of adjustable options to choose from, whether you need inswing or outswing for your door. Typically, they are 36 inches long but can be found shorter at 30 inches or cut to size if you’re handy.
The brick wall next to this puddle in the picture looks damp. Maybe a leaky roof?