Why does water keep seeping into our newly renovated door despite our efforts to seal it?
Asked by Laly Brunet 
7 months ago
Last Updated: May 21, 2024
Hey there! Can you help figure out why water keeps getting in? This door is pretty new, but we’ve already tried redoing the j channels, taping, spray foam, and caulking to no avail. We thought we had it fixed, but a rainstorm showed otherwise. We even put in new weather stripping, door seal, and caulked inside the door recently. Yet, today’s rain still managed to find its way in. We’re feeling pretty frustrated and are considering drastic measures at this point.
Can you describe the appearance of the exterior?
Inspect the roof
Do you know what’s going on outside? That’s likely the source of the problem.
Like others mentioned, the grade outside and water location are probably the main factors.
Could you please take a picture of the front door from about 20 feet away?
It sounds like your problem is likely outside, possibly related to the ground level. Did they seal under the door with silicone before installing?
Our door was having issues because the patio outside was on the same level and was slightly tilted towards the house. The deck added by the previous owner was missing ice and water shield, causing water to seep through. After adjusting the patio, replacing the door, and fixing the deck, the problem was solved. It seems like the problem might be external.
The water is actually seeping from beneath the door. It seems like the area where the door threshold is situated is the source. My guess is that the exterior is sloped towards the houses, not away.
Can you provide additional pictures of the interior and exterior?
Did you make sure to caulk underneath the door during installation?
Chances are, the leaks are happening where the door meets the wall and under the door. It’s possible that the doorway wasn’t properly prepared or installed.
When it comes to keeping water out, focusing on the outside property grade, foundation walls/footings, gutter systems, roof, etc. is key – not just the door or window.
Seems like the water is seeping in from the wall, not the door.
Definitely a case of poor installation. You’ll need to remove it, repair the damage, and have a professional install a new door.
Most likely located under the threshold.
Have you applied silicone to the threshold before installing? Is it for a door or a wall? Is it located in the basement? Is it below ground level and is there a blocked drain? Either the door isn’t tight enough or something wasn’t sealed properly.
Now that we’ve identified where the water is leaking out, where exactly is it seeping in? Is it on the main level, in the basement, at ground level, or up on a porch? What does the area around the door look like? What is situated above this door? Another wall? A roof? A second story? How was the door frame installed and sealed? Did you apply a generous amount of silicone caulk when installing the threshold? Have you added a rain cap or drip rail to redirect water running down the wall above the door? Is there a storm door installed? It would be helpful to have pictures of the sides, top, and threshold area, especially from the exterior of the door.
Could it be that the issue lies with the wall?
If you fail to stop it externally, it will always find a way inside.
The key is to address the issue outside. Redirect water away from the area and the house to solve most of the problem.
So we live in a 2 story house. The leaks occur on just one side of the door. We made sure to tape and silicone under the door. When we fixed the j channels and removed the siding, we noticed the house wrap wasn’t covering the wood properly, but we fixed that. We used spray foam, caulk, and tape. Then we added tape over the j channel holes, caulked between the j channels. I also caulked a broken piece of siding temporarily. I could feel a draft from the wall this morning. We can only do so much now, considering there’s a snowstorm coming tomorrow in ND. I think removing the damaged drywall might reveal the extent of the damage inside and help us locate the source outside. Serve Pro came to dehumidify and found moisture only at the bottom of the wall. We thought the water might be coming from higher up, but apparently not.
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You should prevent the water from entering from outside, not deal with it after it’s already inside
It appears that there is no drip cap above the door, which could be allowing water to enter from the top and trickle down. Additionally, the removal of the brick mold might be causing leaks along the sides and subsequent water tracking.
I agree with what others have mentioned – the root of the issue is likely on the exterior. Applying caulk and sealant inside may offer a temporary solution, but it won’t completely fix the problem. There could be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed outside. To get a permanent fix, I recommend having a professional inspect the door installation thoroughly to identify and resolve the problem. It’s possible that the sill is not draining properly, causing water to seep inside. Even a small misalignment can lead to water draining in the wrong direction. Do you often notice rain hitting the door directly? To prevent this, you might consider installing a patio cover or similar structure to shield the door from heavy rain, although this can be a significant investment.
Can you provide more context to help us better understand the situation? Our walkout basement is facing water issues and we need a clearer view.
Caulking can be removed with water… you need to use 100% silicone around the door and beneath the threshold