So I’m making a start on decorating our front porch. I noticed that the skirting boards that are against the front door frame are wet and all the paint was peeling. I scraped the worst of it off, but really not sure what might of caused it or where to go from here? It’s not an old house or a newbuild, and the door is only about 2 years old and the porch also (as the previous owners added it on). I obviously want to fix it but want to know why it’s happened so I can fix it properly rather then just putting lipstick on a pig so to speak. I’d really appreciate some advice (but please be nice, I’m not a professional and just trying get some help from people who know these things). Many thanks Tara
OP, 1. Remove both skirting boards, & lift the mat - examine them and the wall behind for rot and damp. Post a pic. 2. Is the porch floor a solid floor? Solid floors should have a DPM showing behind the skirting. 3. The outside vent/air brick in the main house wall is too high for a suspended floor - are the main house floors suspended or solid floors? 4. Are the porch walls cavity or solid - measure the thickness. 5. Post pics showing the side of the porch with the down pipe & a shot of the whole porch. Does the Aco drain lead to a gully? Why was the Aco drain installed? 6. Any DPC in the porch has been bridged. 7. FWIW: at the base of the porch walls, above the skirting, the plaster has been painted over - perhaps by the sellers to hide the damp?
I don’t think so as the rest of the porch is absolutely fine, and the windows on the door itself and the main window in the room are always completely dry and free from any moisture. Thank you for the suggestion though
Hi, thanks so much for the reply and all the information. When I’m home from work I’ll take some more photos of the outside area of the porch. The rest of the room and all the walls and windows are completely dry. It’s literally just those two areas at the bottom by the door. So I’m wondering if it’s more the door itself perhaps? But I’ll take some photos and investigate a bit more once I’m home. Many thanks again
You have a surface water drain next to your front door - does it drain into the ground or into drains? If there is a slope away from the house, is the drain clear?
Hi, thank you for your reply. As far as I’m aware it goes into the drain and the drains by our house are clear, I did check that this morning
I might be tempted to keep an eye on it from time to time before rushing to take things apart. The door itself and window may be better insulated than the wall just there. Also, have a look at the ends of the sill.
Nipped home on my lunch break so I’ve taken some more photos and had another look. The windowsill is always bone dry and the inside porch door is always completely dry too, as well as all the other walls in the room. It’s literally just the bits at the bottom by the entrance door. But I’ve looked outside at the bottom and I’m wondering if it could be something there? The door also isn’t completely flush so think perhaps it needs adjusting too? Thank you again
I’ve added afew more photos, of the inside porch door, the window, the door not being flush from the inside and also the bottom of the door frame from the outside. Hope that helps a bit more (excuse the mess, I need to give the outside a bit of a wipe I know )
I have also held my hand down by the bottom of the door when it’s closed and noticed a draft, so I think the door definitely needs adjusting
In that case as Reg has suggested I wouldn't rule out condensation. If the skirting board is getting cold (or the base of the wall above/behind if is more likely) then your moist warm air in the house will simply condense on the coldest surface. If so the solution lies in understanding why that section is particularly cold. Or trying some anti condensation paint in that area. If it's condensation that I'm curious also about some of the earlier questions eg floor and wall makeup. But I wouldn't rule it out.
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