Repair under way! (1 Viewer)

Brightonian

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Well,, made a start on repairing damp in MH and it's not as bad as i thought (hope i haven't tempted fate saying that:cautious:)

Got a mate who's gonna help me, he's very practical so all in all gone from feeling quite depressed about it to feeling quite confident.(y)

This is the damp area
 

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Dec 12, 2010
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Damp area ? I think you need to rename it the "shallow end" :)
Seriously, once you've pulled that stuff away and sorted the source of the ingress, it shouldn't be too bad to repair, always easier if you have a willing mate to help too. Good luck.
 

My Dog Likes Fishing

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Blimey good luck with that one. At least you know the job is going to be done properly and will last you years.

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Popeye

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You're well on the way now you've stripped back to the source. Having a knowledgeable / handy mate helps get your head straight too, well done; it won't go away by ignoring it so hit on, summers coming.

If it ever happens again you'll feel a lot more confident stripping out and rebuilding.
 
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Brightonian

Brightonian

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ouch... good luck ..

and post pictures of progress.. will help others
Thanks Jim, will do!(y)

Best of luck, way beyond anything I could take on, have you identified where the water got in yet?
Yes looks like its coming through window and also to the far right behind front seat where there's a join!
Blimey good luck with that one. At least you know the job is going to be done properly and will last you years.
Going to try and do it right! hopefully will last years(y)
 
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Brightonian

Brightonian

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You're well on the way now you've stripped back to the source. Having a knowledgeable / handy mate helps get your head straight too, well done; it won't go away by ignoring it so hit on, summers coming.

If it ever happens again you'll feel a lot more confident stripping out and rebuilding.
Thanks Popeye, got to take it back a bit more hopefully won't find to much more!

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hilldweller

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That looks well doable. Find the leak, a hosepipe might help, then make sure everything to seriously dry before you rebuild.
 

hilldweller

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Good idea using hosepipe will give it a go. I will re silicone that whole side just to be sure.

If you can, it's best to remove the window and really clean everything up rather then going Rambo with a silicon gun.

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Dec 12, 2010
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Good idea using hosepipe will give it a go. I will re silicone that whole side just to be sure.

Don't use silicone, it'll create more problems. If you're feeling flush, use sikaflex or a polyurethane mastic from a motor factors (Tigerseal) and @Terry recommends one from Toolstation. Might need a non setting mastic around the window although I'm not sure but someone will be along shortly to advise. (y)
 
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I've got 3/4 of a sheet of that wall board spare! Had to do a small area of my last van. Not as extensive as your problem though.
 
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Brightonian

Brightonian

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If you can, it's best to remove the window and really clean everything up rather then going Rambo with a silicon gun.
Yes going to go the whole hog and remove window, clean up and replace rubber seal rotten wood and sikaflex where needed

I've got 3/4 of a sheet of that wall board spare! Had to do a small area of my last van. Not as extensive as your problem though.
Thanks for the offer but it's just a bit far for me to travel and i think i can buy some not far from me in Lancing(y)

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Brightonian

Brightonian

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Don't use silicone, it'll create more problems. If you're feeling flush, use sikaflex or a polyurethane mastic from a motor factors (Tigerseal) and @Terry recommends one from Toolstation. Might need a non setting mastic around the window although I'm not sure but someone will be along shortly to advise. (y)
Yes meant to say sikaflex(y) Got this one hope it's a good one? It's made by Sika
imgres.jpg
 

Terry

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toolstation Puraflex 40only £4.10ish a tube -if you are useing sealant on window you don't need a new gasket ;) EDIT the above is good
terry
 
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Brightonian

Brightonian

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More Pics.

Taken bench seat and water heater out and you can see just how rotten wood is!

One lesson learnt is not to force anything and use the proper tool for the job:cautious: You can see from last picture
i have cracked the fiberglass when removing the boiler:(

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musson

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Hi
i did a caravan many years ago and were i joined new wood the old frame I used wood
hardener made a very good waterproof job.
 

hilldweller

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Taken bench seat and water heater out and you can see just how rotten wood is!

You are obviously up to the job. It's, what, 5% of the total van. Just stick at it, nice and slowly.

Fibreglass is dead easy to fix, especially if you can get at the back where you don't have to be so neat.

PS. That will take some drying out, rig up curtains and blow in warm air for weeks, I did.
 
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Brightonian

Brightonian

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Parts of the wooden battens are so rotten they need replacing. Next job is window out and see what hides under the rubber seal:oops:

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Brightonian

Brightonian

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Update on repair!

Floor around area is rotten, which i think makes it a bit more tricky:eek: but without tempting fate it looks like just a small area.
I'm on my own a bit with the repair as mate is so busy with work he hasn't too much free time but will advise and try and talk me through the job.

I need to just keep telling myself, "I can do it and hopefully save a few hundred quid"(y)
 

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Sep 24, 2013
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When I did a similar area in my Autocruise (smaller area as leak was about 10 inches above floor....poor seal around heater vent) some of the battens were rotten. I replaced what I could and injected neat antifreeze into remain pieces. Apparently the ethylene glycol kills any rot spores. After a few weeks to dry out I used a syringe and needle to inject wood hardener. Seems to have done the trick as the dealer who assessed it for a trade in couldn't find any damp in that area a year later.

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hilldweller

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Brightonian

Brightonian

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You can do and you'll be saving thousands.

Is that so terrible or just the surface layer ?

What you need is a vibrating plunge cutter to surgically cut back to good wood. Here is a cheap one, Bosch do an expensive one. You can make impossible cuts with mm precision.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CEL-MultiPRO-240V-AC-Oscillating-Multi-tool-MT4-/381465247861
Think it's just the surface layer! I will start by removing the area of lino over the damp using a heat gun and scraper, then i can see just how far into the van the damp goes. If it doesn't come off easy i will invest in that tool but hopefully i can do it without as i have a few days free and don't want to wait until end of week before it arrives.
 
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What you need is a vibrating plunge cutter to surgically cut back to good wood.
Yep. That's what I used. I think mine came from Screwfix. I bought it just for that job.

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Anthea M

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Ooh it makes me wince looking at all that damp. Good luck and I'm sure you can do it with advice from the forum !(y) Ours is in for a damp check on Tuesday .:(
 
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Brightonian

Brightonian

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Just thought i would upload a few more pics.

I have taken the polystyrene off and there was wet behind it. It's becoming more clear the area thats affected and where the waters coming in.
I must say though that i am shocked just how thin the GRP shell is:eek:

Got a few hours spare tomorrow so hopefully can make some progress(y)

PS. Also quite surprised at how little wood there is along the side!
 

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Brightonian

Brightonian

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Window is now out and apart from a small area it's solid(y)

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