Low threshold, uPVC French door leak.

phil24_7

I have 2 of these fitted in my house and both leak. So I am looking for the best way to seal them.

They seam to seal at the tops but not towards the bottom on both sides. It could be a manufacturing defect but I suspect it is more down to poor storage (perhaps the frames bow slightly).

From what I can gather I could fit new thicker seals (if available, but what type?), add extra seals stuck to the door (seems like a bodge to me) or fit new hinges with better adjustment(again, which ones?).

I think I could also do with better seals for the bottoms of the doors.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Regards
Phil

*N.B. Doors are manufactured by Liniar and from the pictures I have of the build, as long as windows and doors are the same (they are definitely the same make) then they are all Energy Plus windows and doors with double glazing.

thebaldwindowfitter

Is there no upward or downward adjustment on the hinge ,is the gap across the whole of the bottom or just the middle .When you say low threshold is it aluminium or thinner frame section

phil24_7

thebaldwindowfitter wrote: »

Is there no upward or downward adjustment on the hinge ,is the gap across the whole of the bottom or just the middle .When you say low threshold is it aluminium or thinner frame section

If I remember correctly, there is up/down and left/right adjustment on each hinge. There is no in/out adjustment though and this is what I need to be able to close the gap between the door and the side of the frames, towards the bottom.

The low threshold is an aluminium section and the doors have rubber flaps that overhang these (a couple have been damaged where the doors weren't adjusted properly when they were installed).

Regards

phil24_7

Would any further information or some pictures help?

thebaldwindowfitter

phil24_7 wrote: »

If I remember correctly, there is up/down and left/right adjustment on each hinge. There is no in/out adjustment though and this is what I need to be able to close the gap between the door and the side of the frames, towards the bottom.

The low threshold is an aluminium section and the doors have rubber flaps that overhang these (a couple have been damaged where the doors weren't adjusted properly when they were installed).

Regards

So the doors wernt installed properly damaged the gaskets and yet you think its a manufacturing issue . change these first then check all gaps are parellel

phil24_7

thebaldwindowfitter wrote: »

So the doors wernt installed properly damaged the gaskets and yet you think its a manufacturing issue . change these first then check all gaps are parellel

No mention of damage to gaskets, in fact there isn't any contact towards the bottom.

I think (though I am not sure) the frames may be warped slightly and bowing away from the doors. This could be a manufacturing defect but more likely due to poor storage (maybe before delivery, maybe on site). There could equally be something else going on, but not something I can immediately see.

My question was more about weather I could get thicker gaskets, secondary gaskets attached to the door or replacement hinges that offer more adjustment. If so how would I go about choosing which option and how would I go about buying said item(s).

thebaldwindowfitter

The low threshold is an aluminium section and the doors have rubber flaps that overhang these (a couple have been damaged where the doors weren't adjusted properly when they were installed).

Thought you said here

phil24_7

I don't consider the rubber at the bottom to be gaskets, apologies if that is what they are called!

The door gasket/seal is the main culprit, not the threshold. These overhangs at the bottom seem to be to stop draughts as there are plastic bits above these to divert the water.

I will treat the bottoms as a separate issue. It is the door/frame seal I am interested in sorting.

The left/right and up/down appear to be reasonably well adjusted, it is where the external edge of the doors (towards the bottom) meats the frame that is letting water in as the seal that is there does not touch the frame.

I am looking for a work around or solution.

Can you offer any advice on either secondary seals attached to the door (a bodge), a thicker seal (much less of a bodge) or new, more adjustable hinges?

thebaldwindowfitter

without seeing a picture of the hinge i cannot tell you wether you can alter the compression with the hinge against the gasket is there an allen key slot in the top of the hinge

Wookey

phil24_7 wrote: »

I don't consider the rubber at the bottom to be gaskets, apologies if that is what they are called!

The door gasket/seal is the main culprit, not the threshold. These overhangs at the bottom seem to be to stop draughts as there are plastic bits above these to divert the water.

I will treat the bottoms as a separate issue. It is the door/frame seal I am interested in sorting.

The left/right and up/down appear to be reasonably well adjusted, it is where the external edge of the doors (towards the bottom) meats the frame that is letting water in as the seal that is there does not touch the frame.

I am looking for a work around or solution.

Can you offer any advice on either secondary seals attached to the door (a bodge), a thicker seal (much less of a bodge) or new, more adjustable hinges?

Old metal windows used to be sealed using silicone sealant, you would apply the silicone to the one side where the seal was needed on the other side which would push against it you would apply a fine smear of washing up liquid, this would stop the silicone from sticking against it. You would then close the window tight and leave it until the silicone had cured and then trim the access of. This may be a solution in your case, hard to say without eyeballing it, if you do try it do not use undue amounts of silicone and do liberally cover anywhere the silicone will squeeze to with liquid soap/washing up liquid so it is easy removed from unwanted areas.

phil24_7

thebaldwindowfitter wrote: »

without seeing a picture of the hinge i cannot tell you wether you can alter the compression with the hinge against the gasket is there an allen key slot in the top of the hinge

Hopefully these will help!



















Regards
Phil