Condensation on new front door

northwest1965

We have recently had a new front door and side panels fitted. I have never experienced this problem before with doors. (we have a tiny bit on the very bottom of our windows when its really cold) Condensation runs down the sides nearest to the door. Is this normal. As you can imagine I am not happy, as it leaves a pool of water on the flooring!

Jeepers_Creepers

Wow - that is bad! Does condensation also form on the glass section? If not, that means the vertical PVC frame section is colder even than the glass - that's some going. That takes skill.

I can only guess that there's a notable gap between the door frame and the side panel's frame which is simply hidden behind that sticky-out vertical trim on the inside, and presumably something similar - perhaps more flat - outside? So there's no real thermal break between the outside and in at that junction - just an air gap with PVC on each side. If this gap is draughty - and good chance it is - it'll be as cold as the outside temp, which at the mo' is pretty darned chilly.

In which case I guess it needs filling with insulating foam - something that'll make that gap match the U value of the plastic frame itself and also draught-proof it (by 'draught', I mean it's venting to the outside so getting cold air into the gap.)

I'd hope it's this, and I hope foam will sort it, 'cos that would be a quick and easy cure. (But remiss of them if it is...)

Jeepers_Creepers

I'm assuming it's condensation and not actually a leak from outside? That silicone beading looks as tho' it has droplets forming on it all the way up? In which case almost certainly condie.

grumbler

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Wow - that is bad! Does condensation also form on the glass section? If not, that means the vertical PVC frame section is colder even than the glass - that's some going.

Look closer and you'll see that the water is leaking from the right side, from under the glass (the door?).

Jeepers_Creepers

I can't see that, Grumbler. All I'm seeing is droplets of water all up the silicone beading? Hard to tell, tho'.

grumbler

https://us-noi.v-cdn.net/6031891/uploads/editor/4a/jassabh5oml0.jpg

Zoom it

However, I do see some droplets on the vertical left side inside the door frame.

That said, It's still normal for a frame to have worse thermal properties than a good cavity wall, but I'd expect the glass to be even colder and have condensation first.

northwest1965

It just has droplets running down the beading. No water on glass at all. They came out last week to "try" to insulate it.

grumbler

I don't think that this is normal. Complain to the fitters.

Typically it's insulating all the gaps around the frames that they fail to do properly. In this case it's probably some gap between the parts.

neilmcl

You might want to fill that hole in the silicone at the bottom.

northwest1965

Just in from work and all along the bottom of the door is wet (from one side to the other

northwest1965

grumbler said:

https://us-noi.v-cdn.net/6031891/uploads/editor/4a/jassabh5oml0.jpg

Zoom it

However, I do see some droplets on the vertical left side inside the door frame.

That said, It's still normal for a frame to have worse thermal properties than a good cavity wall, but I'd expect the glass to be even colder and have condensation first.

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