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dcooper · Jul 9, 2008, 08:54 AM

Hi. I have a door at my home that I need to make watertight. It's an outside wood door and twice in the last year there has been a lot of rain & caused about one foot deep water in my back yard for a couple of hours. Does someone know what would be a good procedure?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Dave Cooper

Ps the door is a standard wooden door leading to my backyard. I've wondered about a rubber seal 2 feet up each side and across the bottom but I know the door would have to be kept tight against the rubber somehow.

ballengerb1 · Jul 15, 2008, 09:48 AM

You can slow the leaking with weather strips but it will not be water tight and still open. From what you describe you may be in a flood plain if this has been going on for some time. I'd have to see the area but you might get some results by building a 3 sided box out of 2x12 pressure treated lumber to create a levy around the door opening.

amricca · Jul 15, 2008, 10:51 AM

Ballenger has a good idea. I had a thought, How about installing some kind of drain in front of that door (inside or outside?) so the water doesn't pond. That or reworking your grades and adding some gravel around that area next to the house so the water will drain down to your perimeter drain. Getting the existing door to be completely sealed will be tough.

dcooper · Jul 16, 2008, 07:25 AM

Thanks for those ideas. Since the water gets 1.5' deep (about 1' deep at the actual back door) I don't think a drain would be able to keep up especially since it's a long distance from the back yard to the lower level front yard area and the costs of digging & pipping would be too much. I'm going to try the rubber seal method but having a problem finding solid rubber stripping about .5" x .25" x 8' long. Can anyone recommend a place to buy this? Please see this drawing of my idea and feel free to share any ideas such as best glue for rubber strip, etc. Thanks. http://www.davecooperfreelance.com/water_tight_idea.jpg

Tommyjo206 · Jul 16, 2008, 01:06 PM

You could get a nail on rubber garage door bottom seal. You would need to cut the size strip needed. If you got the 16' seal, there would be enough for at least two seal strips. You can get these at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. I would staple this on the wood door. The seal would rip off if glued on (little surface area). Put the staples close together. Pressure when the door is closed will also help (provided you can get the door closed).

dcooper · Jul 10, 2009, 10:41 AM

I ma presently customizing my home exterior entrance and doing some modifying and using a few special techniques. I plan to post what I did on a webpage by Aug or Sept 2009 in case it can help someone. In the meantime if you are attempting to do the same & would like to contact me send an email to [email protected]. I check that email address every couple of days. Be sure to put "WATERPROOF DOOR" in the subject line IN CAPS so it catches my attention since I get tons of spam mail at that address.
Thanks,
Dave C.

hkstroud · Jul 10, 2009, 03:06 PM

I agree with Bob. It ain't going to work. Bite the bullet and do it right, put in a drain pipe. A 4"' PVC pipe will carry away a heck of a lot of water. Cost of pipe about $2 per foot. Cost of shovel $10, or go for the gold and rent a trencher.

Pathomeowner · May 22, 2011, 06:13 PM

I think that there are lots of ways to solve your problem. I am going through the same process myself. Although I am going to add drainage, it seems that no one is addressing the question you asked about waterproofing your wooden door. I plan to fiberglass my door and then paint it with boat paint. Boat paint is expensive, but it covers extremely well and goes a long way. If water is getting into your basement, that is another subject and will need to be managed another way. You do not need to go to a different level with the drain pipe, just dig a perimeter drain to a dry pit dug by you and filled with gravel. I can tell you more about that if you are interested. It worked very well for me. Pat

gbrown222 · Oct 18, 2011, 03:35 PM

We want to use our garage as a recreation/playroom for grandbabies. We would like to leave the garage door with it still usable. The space is not going to be super "decorated", but more room when all my kids are over. FYI, we live in a townhouse so not any other options for expansion. Would appreciate any ideas for weatherproofing, insulating and for sure keeping bugs out. Thanks!

BONDWD40 · Sep 15, 2012, 12:36 PM

good day to all I am a specialist in converting doors for water and weather resistant . Does the door open in or out. It is better or more economical to build a slip in door between the frame in an aluminium channel that
Has neoprene seals available from zero international this company also sells the complete assembly the flood door is 30 inches high by the width of the door.to prevent the water from seeping below the door there is a special seal and threshold
Reach me at [email protected] for further details with all good wishes

Leslie

BONDWD40 · Sep 15, 2012, 12:39 PM

Refer to my suggestion there are several solutions
Leslie. My address [email protected]