New Prehung Door Assembly
#1
06-28-07, 09:20 AM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Tujunga
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New Prehung Door Assembly
I am installing a prehung front door with two attached side windows in new construction. The floor is concrete. The (covered) porch floor just outside is at the same elevation as the interior. The door assembly does not have a drain pan included. There is just a solid wooden threshold and a rubber seal on the threshold.
Should I put a drain pan under the door before installing? Or should I just use silicone caulking under the wood and set it directly on the concrete, and add a bead along the exposed edges? Or shall I do something else?
Should I put a drain pan under the door before installing? Or should I just use silicone caulking under the wood and set it directly on the concrete, and add a bead along the exposed edges? Or shall I do something else?
#2
06-28-07, 03:53 PM
Not sure where you are, but is our area an outside floor on the same level and the house floor is asking for problems. Yes, you should do what you can to seal the inside from the outside. I assume it rains at some time in your area??
#3
07-05-07, 10:17 AM
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My area is Los Angeles. This year had record minimal rain, but I live at the edge of a mountainous region which typically gets twice the rain as the rest of LA (which, again, was almost nothing this year).
The porch is shielded from overhead rain by the roof, but only overhangs the concrete by 14". Wind-driven rain can collect on the porch, but I am relying on the concrete slope to drain water to the lawn.
The porch is shielded from overhead rain by the roof, but only overhangs the concrete by 14". Wind-driven rain can collect on the porch, but I am relying on the concrete slope to drain water to the lawn.
#4
07-08-07, 08:15 PM
Group Moderator
Pan flashings are always a good idea, and they protect the floor and rim joist from damage. However they do not prevent water from getting under the door. Just Bill is right about the danger of having cement porches at the same level as the interior subfloor level.
Pan flashings are highly recommended, but when they are not used, the primary method for keeping water from penetrating door openings is sealant when the door is installed, and sealant across the front of the threshold after the door is installed. If the door has nailing fins, these should be sealed to the building paper with flashing tape to prevent water from getting into the rough opening which would be unable to escape if the front of the threshold has been caulked with sealant. The same technique should be used on top of the door, but the flashing tape should be adhered to the sheathing, then the building paper laps over the flashing tape to ensure that rainwater which penetrates the exterior finish will not drain into the rough opening in the first place. If your cement porch slopes away from the home and the above techniques have been used, there should not be a problem.
Pan flashings are highly recommended, but when they are not used, the primary method for keeping water from penetrating door openings is sealant when the door is installed, and sealant across the front of the threshold after the door is installed. If the door has nailing fins, these should be sealed to the building paper with flashing tape to prevent water from getting into the rough opening which would be unable to escape if the front of the threshold has been caulked with sealant. The same technique should be used on top of the door, but the flashing tape should be adhered to the sheathing, then the building paper laps over the flashing tape to ensure that rainwater which penetrates the exterior finish will not drain into the rough opening in the first place. If your cement porch slopes away from the home and the above techniques have been used, there should not be a problem.
