moisture under front door
 

I've recently discovered a moisture problem under my front door. It is
only visible from the basement. The sill plate and joists that sit
atop my concrete foundation wall and directly below my front door are
moist during rainstorms. There does not appear to be any evidence of
moisture stains or damage to the plywood subfloor around the door. I
suspect that water is making contact with the framing under my front
concrete step and then wicking in. I'd like to fix before I have
serious problems. My home is 4 years old.

Has anyone else seen this? Any advise on how to repair?

Thanks,
RD

RD wrote:
I've recently discovered a moisture problem under my front door. It
is
only visible from the basement. The sill plate and joists that sit
atop my concrete foundation wall and directly below my front door are
moist during rainstorms. There does not appear to be any evidence of
moisture stains or damage to the plywood subfloor around the door. I
suspect that water is making contact with the framing under my front
concrete step and then wicking in. I'd like to fix before I have
serious problems. My home is 4 years old.

Has anyone else seen this? Any advise on how to repair?

Thanks,
RD

This is a common problem.
The solution is not cheap, but will save long term deterioration of the
frame.
Install a pan flashing below the door.
Also look at the conditions around the door that might promote extra
water and splashing.
TB

TB,

Thanks for your response. How would the pan flashing help if the water
is coming in from under the door? I should have mentioned in my
initial post that the front door is covered by a A-shaped roof so there
is no splashing to speak of.
RD

Water may be entering the framing because the concrete is above the
bearing for the frame.
That's also common these days.
If the bearing for the wood frame is above the level of the ground,
this seems likely.
If that is the case, some water is working its way down off the
concrete step.

A way to flash from the door sill down between the wood frame and
concrete is needed.
That's hareder to deal with at long distance.

TB

Thanks for the clarification. Using the garden hose to water plants
next to the step, I find that moisture is apparent. In this case no
water was dripping down from the concrete. Does this mean that the
bearing for the wood frame is below the level of the ground? If so,
does this mean I need to dig up the step, regrade and repour? Again
thanks for your help.

RD

RD wrote:
Thanks for the clarification. Using the garden hose to water plants
next to the step, I find that moisture is apparent. In this case no
water was dripping down from the concrete. Does this mean that the
bearing for the wood frame is below the level of the ground? If
so,
does this mean I need to dig up the step, regrade and repour? Again
thanks for your help.

RD

You have to look at the building to find the relative positions of the
various parts.
Once you know that, look at the condition of the masonry to see if the
water is wicking up from the gorund or working its way down from some
highter point.

TB