What I fix
- Rotted or cupped wood sills patched or replaced in kind
- Door bottoms trimmed, sealed and fitted with a new sweep
- Weatherstrip on the hinge and latch sides renewed
- Open joints between casing and plaster or stucco recaulked
- Slider and French door drain paths cleared
- Paint on bare wood edges so the door stops soaking up water
Older doors, older sills
The city’s housing element reports 52.3 percent of San Gabriel homes are more than 60 years old. Many still have their original wood entry door and sill, and the bottom edge of an old door is often bare wood that wicks rain like a sponge.
Covered porches help, but a door facing the storm still gets soaked. The EPA says to dry water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours, so I check the floor and trim just inside the door for soft spots.
How I work
Watch it leak
You stay inside; I run water against the door one area at a time.
Find the gap
Sill, sweep, side seal or frame joint.
Repair
Patch, refit or reseal that part.
Test again
Water back on until the floor stays dry.
When it isn’t the door
If water is coming down from the wall or ceiling above the door, or the framing around it has rotted through, that needs a general contractor. I’ll tell you if that’s what I find.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about door threshold replacement, weatherstripping and door sweeps, sticking door repair or window leak repair.
What to send
Photos of the door from both sides, the sill up close, and where the water collects.
Door leak questions
Why does my old wood door let rain in?
The bottom edge is often unpainted and swollen, the sweep is gone, or the sill has worn hollow.
Can a rotted sill be fixed without a new door?
Often yes. I can patch or replace the sill and keep the door you have.
Will planing a swollen door make the leak worse?
Not if the cut edge is sealed and a sweep goes back on. Bare wood is what causes trouble.
Why does water come in at the top corner?
The joint between the frame and the wall has opened. Fresh caulk usually stops it.
What would a door leak repair cost?
I quote from photos, and the estimate is free.
Related guide: Door leak repair tips from our guide to heavy plank doors and strap hinges.
Guides
- Getting a thick-walled house ready for winter rainA fall checklist for older San Gabriel homes with thick walls and deep windows: sills, doors, drains, caulking and outdoor outlets.
- Heavy plank doors that sag, drag or will not latchHow we fix heavy plank and arched doors with iron strap hinges in San Gabriel's Mission Revival homes: sagging, dragging and latches that miss.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our doors, cabinets and hardware group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.