New back door - opinion on sealing job

Adam

Adam

Adam

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I had a new PVC back door installed today, along with all of the windows being replaced. Tomorrow the same firm install a composite door and side panel.

I'm not sure what to make of the quality of the sealing around the back door. I'm not sure I'd be happy if the same is replicated on the front door as it's obviously much more visible.

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It's the same on some of the windows as well, but they are less obvious than the door. I understand the sealant has to be put on thick, but I'm not convinced about how well it's been done. Am I over reacting or is this just how they are done?
 
Hmmm, it's not great, but I'm not sure how much they can do about it because your mortar is uneven, which makes a neat line very difficult.

However the collateral smears are odd. I'd certainly mention it.
 
Even on the brick part they haven't managed a decent finish. They should have at least taped off the brickwork first and finished it properly, it looks like they've run their finger down it rather than some kind of decent edge to finish it.
 
Participant said:
Hmmm, it's not great, but I'm not sure how much they can do about it because your mortar is uneven, which makes a neat line very difficult.

However the collateral smears are odd. I'd certainly mention it.
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Could the smears be from the old door? That was a 15 year old wooden door which they said was ridiculously light and made out of paper. This one feels much more solid.

Cuchulain said:
Even on the brick part they haven't managed a decent finish. They should have at least taped off the brickwork first and finished it properly, it looks like they've run their finger down it rather than some kind of decent edge to finish it.
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That's exactly what they have done, my mum mentioned it to me. What should they have done?

I've got to raise a few issues, some of the windows have scratches on the edges of the plastic and the back door has a few marks including a nice blue scratch!
 
It looks to me like they haven't smoothed it all, either with a tool or finger. The ripples look like those left behind by the gun when you don't move the gun smoothly enough, e.g. when you stop/slow down to release the trigger to let it reset and re-pull. The sealant comes out at a different speed and if it's not consistant, along with a consistant draw of the gun, you get those ripples. Combine that with the uneven brickwork and I'm not sure you could get a lot better. A little maybe, but it'd take more time & effort than your average window fitter would like.

I'd expect fewer ripples with a wet finger being drawn along it on one long, continuous sweep.
 
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It hasn't been tooled up, they have just applied it straight from the gun and left it. It doesn't look too bad, but if you're not happy then tell them you want it tooling up on the front door and just hope they can do that without smearing it everywhere.

Even tooled up the bead of silicone will still follow the brickwork, but it'll be flattened, so you don't get the unevenness from where it has been pumped out.

EDIT: Beaten by badmojo :D
 
Thanks for your opinions, I will bring it up tomorrow that I don't expect the front door to be finished in the same way. Next door has a plastic piece of trim rather than silicone so I wonder if they can use that instead.
 
It should have trim over it tbh I'd complain
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The door in the picture has a trim down each side... Or are you saying there should be a trim to cover the mastic left behind on the brick from the old door frame? A trim flat to the brickwork wouldn't look right, but they could have used some quadrant instead of a flat trim, that would have covered the old mastic line up.

But i thought the OP was talking about the new silicone sealing done by the fitter, which should have been tooled up.
 
I spoke with them this morning and apparently it couldn't be smoothed as it would shrink in the future?

I pointed out my neighbours door which doesn't have any sealant visible. They agreed to add some "quad" to it to cover the sealant. They will also do the same with the front door. I'll take a look when I get home and add some pictures.
 
I'm crap with a silicone gun, but even I can manage better than that without tooling it off.
 
Adam said:
I spoke with them this morning and apparently it couldn't be smoothed as it would shrink in the future?
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Absolute tripe, the reason we use silicone to bridge gaps like this is because it's flexible and water tight. The flexibility accounts in the movement between differing materials with seasonality.

If they use proper frame sealant (which any FENSA qualified fitter should) it should be good for 10 years.

Either way smoothing it would make no difference at all.
 
What a load of rubbish. It even tells you to tool the silicone up on the tube. It pushes it into the gaps and ensures a good seal. Just bunging it on straight out of the gun is just so they can get the job done quicker.

Years ago everyone was using wooden pegs soaked in soapy water to get a nice 45 degree bead of silicone up to the window, but as time has gone on the fitters get paid less and less and now its straight out of the gun or at best a licked finger lol.

The quadrant should look better and should hopefully cover the old mastic line as well.
 
Adam said:
Why couldn't they just do this to begin with?!
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Because 99.9% of customers wouldn't want a gap between the trim and the brickwork and that is not what you would usually do. Looks nice and neat, but it would have looked neat if they had just done a neat job of the sealing in the first place.

Love the front door, looks very smart.
 
Mark A said:
Because 99.9% of customers wouldn't want a gap between the trim and the brickwork and that is not what you would usually do. Looks nice and neat, but it would have looked neat if they had just done a neat job of the sealing in the first place.

Love the front door, looks very smart.
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I suppose not, there is only a gap on the left hand side. I know it's sealed so hopefully shouldn't suffer water any issues from it. It looks so much neater now, very happy that they rectified it.

I wasn't sure about the door, I wanted one which was less modern (i.e. the 4 squares) in navy blue but my mrs and the salesman convinced me otherwise. Really pleased with it now!

arknor said:
you can search by door on google maps now.
already got your address, coming round to poop in your new letter box
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Ok, bit strange :confused:
 
I'm not sure we would have been able to track you down with just a house number! :p

Adam said:
Ok, bit strange :confused:
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Ahh Adam, I see you do not often venture into the realms of General Discussion. If you found that comment strange, then I advise that you never do. :p
 
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