Flat sale - condensation

AliceBanned

Thanks ComicGeek. A window fitter who does repairs is going to send me a quote tomorrow. I sent him the pics.

ThisIsWeird

ComicGeek said:

That timber external sill looks to be split along the width of the doors. The photo showing the full length has lots of splits in it - that's why timber needs so much maintenance. The splits marked in red below allow water to bypass the brown sealant (which is probably useless itself now) and the water runs in under the door frame. Replace or cover the sill and reseal everything. You can see where someone has tried to seal inside the door frame, but you have to stop the water on the outside.

If you were to replace the doors you would replace the sill at the same time. Modern sills would be sloped away from the door as well.

Ooh, good observes.
That could actually be the cause, tho' not in the obvious way. It's actually what I meant earlier by 'the wrong person might make it worse, by sealing along the outside' along there.
AfaIk, such hardwood timber cills (and ditto with PVC or Ali types) is fitted fully underneath the door frame, and goes flush with the inside edge of the frame. The cill has a flat section along its top for the Ali frame to sit on, but begins to slope away at a point before the outside front frame edge. Ie, the slope should be seen to disappear under that outside Ali frame face, leaving a small gap along there.
The bottom section of the Ali door frame should have a number of drain holes, either along the front face (I can't see any) or possibly along it's underside. For the latter scenario, that wee gap needs to be left open to allow any water to escape out over the timber sill.
If that is the case here, then sealing along that outside ali-timber joint - an escape gap that is meant to be left open - will force that draining water inwards instead, wherever it can escape. And soak carpets :-)
NB, that's just a theory. 

Where's Stuart, S62, and Doozer?! 

ThisIsWeird

AliceBanned said:

Thanks ThisIsWeird. I’ll try and find someone. The problem really is access to the far end. I guess a big enough ladder or they might need scaffolding 😬.

If there isn't room to squeeze out there, then the sliding and fixed doors are removable with not much difficulty - I think by unscrewing a couple of securing strips. The two sections are then just lifted out. This will give perfect access - it's a big open frame!

ThisIsWeird

Just to let you know, I've asked about the hardwood cill thing on another thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81045855#Comment_81045855

This may be something that whoever comes out needs to consider.

AliceBanned

ThisIsWeird said:

Just to let you know, I've asked about the hardwood cill thing on another thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81045855#Comment_81045855

This may be something that whoever comes out needs to consider.

So helpful ThisIsWeird! After rain last night there is no damp inside and no condensation - vents are quite big and left open. I’ll sleep on there tonight and see what happens as it’s been empty for a few nights.

thanks for your help, I’m just working out the bit about the sill so that I understand 😅

AliceBanned

Well I ended up agreeing with buyer that I would pay 2/3 cost of replacement (full price quoted at £2k) and this was in writing. All agreed with sale price. Now the buyers (or just their conveyancer) want me to get door replaced before completion and they pay the remaining 1/3 on completion.

seriously skating on thin ice if they want to proceed! I have declined because this would inconvenience me, be a risk to me financially that I would have taken earlier before putting it on the market if I wanted to, and could raise the value of the flat above what they agreed back in November. I am rapidly losing confidence in this sale!

ThisIsWeird

AliceBanned said:

Well I ended up agreeing with buyer that I would pay 2/3 cost of replacement (full price quoted at £2k) and this was in writing. All agreed with sale price. Now the buyers (or just their conveyancer) want me to get door replaced before completion and they pay the remaining 1/3 on completion.

seriously skating on thin ice if they want to proceed! I have declined because this would inconvenience me, be a risk to me financially that I would have taken earlier before putting it on the market if I wanted to, and could raise the value of the flat above what they agreed back in November. I am rapidly losing confidence in this sale!

Not worth losing the sale over ~£700, surely?

Why not suggest they up their offer by £666 (:-)) and then get it done? If they try and drop the price again, just pull out. You'll have a house with a new door to sell.

AliceBanned

£1300 and it means I pay £2k up front. Not what we agreed when we negotiated sale price. At the time they were happy with £1300 on completion and then choosing their own balcony door style etc. They are constantly moving goalposts and it isn’t good for me to accept until close to exchange - knowing their behaviour so far they may well think they can call the shots until last moment. I’m not that concerned about losing this buyer, no because they are too demanding.

AliceBanned

I see what you mean yes perhaps I get it done in advance if sale price is increased by their share. :-D