Mysterious Patio Door Leak During Heavy Rain

[icu222much]

I live in the Pacific Northwest and have been dealing with a leak in my patio door. The problem occurs during heavy rainfall, typically after two days of continuous rain. Water starts dripping from the plastic trim above the door (as shown in photos #3 and #4). I haven't been able to pinpoint where the leak originates before it reaches the plastic trim.

Initially, I suspected that cracks in the exterior top of the patio door trim (which looks like cracked grout) might be the culprit. To test this, I sprayed the area with a hose for an hour to mimic heavy rain, but no leaks appeared.

I'm stumped and could use some advice. Does anyone have ideas on where else the leak might be coming from or how I can trace its source without having to tear down the wall? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[WorthFlorida]

It's not the slider door that's leaking, its from above.
The stucco on that wall needs to be stripped and redone to the latest code. My son's house just up the street from had a persistent leak as yours after many hours and days of rain. Water would start at the top of the windows, then along the crown molding.

I checked everything, sealed up all the hairline cracks, caulk the seam at the second floor level where there was no open seam. It's more like a drip rail, a solid piece of aluminum. Ran the hose forever. I went home and about 10 minutes later water started dripping. I used to have a video and pictures but I cannot find them.

I contacted a stucco contractor and stated that the code had changed under the stucco to eliminate the problem. Somehow water would seep into the stucco and run down the wall behind the top coat. He stripped the belt line of the wall just above the window. Inside a lot of drywall had to be replaced.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[WorthFlorida]

I found the pictures. my son had remove all the wet drywall for mold remediation My baby granddaughter was having issues and a doctor diagnosed it as a respiratory problem caused by mold.

Water would work down above one corner of a window. Following the very wet cement block it would run along inside the block and continue to the next two windows and drip out. It looked like the top tier of the cement block was filling with water and worked itself around the room.

 

[WorthFlorida]

video and stucco rebuild. Not sure if you have access to the iCloud video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E4oEN0S3yuz4XSFhPEat05zHNyB865PZpQ/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[icu222much]

Thank you for the very detailed response. Wow, that's a huge project.

I'm sorry to hear that your baby grand daughter had respiratory issues caused by the mold

 

[WorthFlorida]

Thank you for the very detailed response. Wow, that's a huge project.

I'm sorry to hear that your baby grand daughter had respiratory issues caused by the mold

This was sept 2017. She was already 10 years old? How time fly's.
I think you need to open the wall and ceiling above the door. Only about 12" of the ceiling drywall from the wall.