DIY damp repair - groups, guides amd how to’s?

The_Kraken

The_Kraken

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Oct 8, 2016
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Herts
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45,490
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Auto Trail Cheyenne 696SE
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Hi all,

We’ve owned our 2004 Autotrail Ducato Cheyenne 696gSE for a little over 2 years now. We bought her from someone we knew. She’s a great MH and we have loved all of the trips away we have had in her. She isn’t perfect, she has not been looked after particularly well but, i’ve been making up for that ever since we bought her.

Shortly after we bought her (we were very green, very taken in by our friend who isn’t now our friend) we discovered some water ingress in the garage. I found that the door had been damaged and bodged and was letting water in. I replaced it and the frame. That was when I discovered rotten wood in the bottom rear corner. So, I intended to strip out the garage and repair it myself in the ‘off season’.

I’ve been searching the internet to try and find resources and how to guides. I’ve watched youtube videos and found that although very similar, most are about Caravans. Iguess I’m looking for something a bit more specific perhaps? I certainly don’t mind having a go myself but i’d feel a lot less daunted if there was something I could reference?

So, my question is: are there any grouos, forums, guides, books or whatever that about this subject? It seems a bit of a taboo topic here? What I mean is, people do mention damp but most send their MH’s off for repair or if they do attempt repair themselves, they don’t seem to document it? Unless I have missed it? - I did try a search on the forum here but never really found what I was looking for?

Any help or linkswould be most welcome and appreciated, thank you.
 
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There is a lot about damp and the ridding of it on the forum but to be honest I wouldn't know exactly where, people have tackled floors etc to good effect.
Hopefully someone with advice will be along to help you out but if nothing else I have given your topic a bump :xThumb:
 
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We have heard the phrase "taken in by a friend' or something similar a few times on the forum.

I do struggle to accept why someone would do this type of behaviour.

I realise money is important but is not their good name worth anything to them.

I alas, can't help but hopefully someone more knowledgeable comes on-line soon.
 
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TUCANO said:
@The_Kraken
Top right hand side of the screen, SEARCH, I have just typed in Damp Repairs and LOTS came up :xThumb:
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You’re right Tocano. I also used the search facility before I posted - I used the exact same search term you suggested. Lots of results did come up but most of them were to do with hab checks, delaminating floors, leaking roofs, dealership warranties, bad window seales and rejecting motorhomes etc.

There’s very little in the way of how to repair the issues. That’s what I’m looking for.

There is a section on the ukcampsites.co.uk site where some members have formed a ‘we repaired it’ club. They have documented damp repairs etc but nearly all of them ate for Caravans and a lot of the links are out of date sadly.

I will take photos of the repairs I will do sothat it willhopefully help and encourage others.
 
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MikeD said:
We have heard the phrase "taken in by a friend' or something similar a few times on the forum.

I do struggle to accept why someone would do this type of behaviour.

I realise money is important but is not their good name worth anything to them.

I alas, can't help but hopefully someone more knowledgeable comes on-line soon.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

I won’t go into some of the lies he told us here but it didn’t seem to bother him that he had.

I wouldn’t dream of doing that to anyone.
 
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TUCANO said:
There is a lot about damp and the ridding of it on the forum but to be honest I wouldn't know exactly where, people have tackled floors etc to good effect.
Hopefully someone with advice will be along to help you out but if nothing else I have given your topic a bump :xThumb:
Click to expand...

With damp being such an (un)popular subject, I wondered if somehow these more helpful topics could be collated?
 
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Possibly look at self build forums, try the sbmcc for advice, also a self build section on here

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It's a slow process. I had a fan running over a month to dry out one section.

1. Identify.
2. Remove soft wood.
3. Dry thoroughly.
4. Treat serviceable wood.
5. Bond/screw in replacement timber. Fibreglass is your friend difficult areas.
 
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hilldweller said:
It's a slow process. I had a fan running over a month to dry out one section.

1. Identify.
2. Remove soft wood.
3. Dry thoroughly.
4. Treat serviceable wood.
5. Bond/screw in replacement timber. Fibreglass is your friend difficult areas.
Click to expand...

Thanks Hilldweller.

I’m 100% sure she’s dry - we are lucky enough to be able to store her inside our workshop.

I’ve seen some crumbly, brown / black wood in the lower corner and a bit round the locker doors. The previously mentioned friend had covered the lot with carpet so lord knows what lurks beneath. We are out in the MH at the moment so I will get stuck in when we get back. I’ve got until Easter to get her ship shape! But, I’ll take all the advice I can get.

I think I will do a progress post so anyone can chip in with advice hopefully.
 
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I can't offer any advice (sorry) but from the number of new Autotrails that need their garage floors replacing within the first 2-years of ownership then I'm reckoning that it's a fairly straight forward job to do, within reason.

Autotrail is now repairing the wooden floors with plastic units to help avoid any further damage should the vans continue to leak after the repair work has been carried out.

A plastic floor may be the way forward here.

Good luck,

Andrew
 
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I have done many damp repairs over the years, and if done patiently they are easy enough to do successfully. It takes basic woodworking and diy skills. I really dont understand why people bodge repairs and try to screw people over. if caught soon enough repairs can be quick and cheap enough
 
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TheBig1 said:
I have done many damp repairs over the years, and if done patiently they are easy enough to do successfully. It takes basic woodworking and diy skills. I really dont understand why people bodge repairs and try to screw people over. if caught soon enough repairs can be quick and cheap enough
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Because some people bodge everything.

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The_Kraken said:
I’ve seen some crumbly, brown / black wood in the lower corner and a bit round the locker doors..
Click to expand...

You might need nothing more than Ronseal hardener and two part wood filler from B&Q. It's been well tested by me on house window frames. Provided it's not "structural".
 
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hilldweller said:
You might need nothing more than Ronseal hardener and two part wood filler from B&Q. It's been well tested by me on house window frames. Provided it's not "structural".
Click to expand...

You’re quite possibly right but, something in me is telling me to do it as well as I possibly can. The other part of me is wanting see know for sure that she is rock solid.
 
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TheBig1 said:
I have done many damp repairs over the years, and if done patiently they are easy enough to do successfully. It takes basic woodworking and diy skills. I really dont understand why people bodge repairs and try to screw people over. if caught soon enough repairs can be quick and cheap enough
Click to expand...

It beats me? Maybe they are either genuinely wicked and wouldn’t think twice about passing on their bodges to others or they didn’t posess the patience and knowhow to do the job properly?

I fully intend to sell her on one day and I want to do so knowing she is solid.

It’s the not knowing how bad it is bit that worries me.
 
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The_Kraken said:
You’re quite possibly right but, something in me is telling me to do it as well as I possibly can.
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I would not suggest otherwise. If it is trivial damage that two part filler is far stronger than the wood you are replacing. But if the leak/damp continues then you'll be left with some indestructible filler next to rotten wood.

Really the bottom line is - first find out how it happened. The damage I found was due to a poor design of "damp proof course".
 
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hilldweller said:
I would not suggest otherwise. If it is trivial damage that two part filler is far stronger than the wood you are replacing. But if the leak/damp continues then you'll be left with some indestructible filler next to rotten wood.

Really the bottom line is - first find out how it happened. The damage I found was due to a poor design of "damp proof course".
Click to expand...

I’ve definitely found and cured the leak. The main garage door was the culprit. I ended up ordering a new one from Autotrail. The old one was letting in water through the edge. When I took the old door apart, the insides were soaking. So rain water was getting in to the door itself via the edge and thus bypassing the rubber seals.....which were not doing a great job. The new door came with a new door frame and rubber seal.

I know that cured the problem because previously after rain, the garage floor would be wet. Now she’s bone dry.

I’m definitely expecting to replace the bottom rear corners of the garage. The other side locker door has also got some issues but it seems to be keeping water out but perhaps didn’t a while back. What I am hoping is the the rear wall isn’ttoo serious. I could do without taking the over bed cabinets out if possible but, there is some damp marks up towards the bed area. So, I plan on redoing the whole garage area. It’s going to get a bit scary!
 
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Multi tool saw would be a good tool for cutting the rotten flooring out they are very adaptable tools - blades for different materials as well
 
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mfw said:
Multi tool saw would be a good tool for cutting the rotten flooring out they are very adaptable tools - blades for different materials as well
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If you mean.....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wolf-260w-Oscillating-Combat-Multi-Tool-Accessories-Cutting-Sanding-Scraping/282887431734?_trkparms=aid=555017&algo=PL.CASSINI&ao=1&asc=55148&meid=ddc59fe35bdc459d8e12cc729d5ffa29&pid=100505&rk=1&rkt=1&&itm=282887431734&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

I'll second that. Brilliant surgical tool.

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mfw said:
Multi tool saw would be a good tool for cutting the rotten flooring out they are very adaptable tools - blades for different materials as well
Click to expand...

Thank you MFW, I’ve been wanting an excuse to buy a multitool! - great shout.
 
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Multitools are great for easy delicate cutting and for sanding, the diamond horsehoe thingy. I bought a rechargeable one from L**L to do our house bathroom and later found that the blades are pretty well industry standard, have a look at Screw**x. Cuts wood easily but not so good on steel.
Anyway back to your problem with the floor. Firstly as you have done, find the source and clear out and dry out everything, a dehumidifier will work much better than just ventilating it and then you just have to take your time and do it properly. Probably find the walls are built onto the floor . I had a leak on the back locker and it was the horrible mdf trim ( used like skirting board) and just stapled in, that was holding the water. Fortunately the factory had vinolayed the whole floor before building so the water didn't soak down into the ply floor.
In the past we had a roof leak due to poor assembly and I had to take out a whole row of overhead cupboards and rebuild a wall area.
This I did at the side of a road in Portugal!
Good luck and take your time- thats why these repairs are expensive its the time and a bit of skill that costs the money, not the materials.
Mike & Ann
 
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hilldweller said:
If you mean.....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wolf-260w-Oscillating-Combat-Multi-Tool-Accessories-Cutting-Sanding-Scraping/282887431734?_trkparms=aid=555017&algo=PL.CASSINI&ao=1&asc=55148&meid=ddc59fe35bdc459d8e12cc729d5ffa29&pid=100505&rk=1&rkt=1&&itm=282887431734&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

I'll second that. Brilliant surgical tool.
Click to expand...
Yes that is the tool i mean fix a guide to give a straight cut and nothing could be easier cut rotten timber out ( use tape to mark line on saw blade and dont cut deeper floor thickness or ply thickness slowly but surely ) use a cardboard template to mark out replacement timber and glue you will be home and dry and cut larger bit of timber to put under repair to put strength back that is probably the easiest way without ripping it all to pieces and going for a major repair job
 
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Mike800966 said:
Multitools are great for easy delicate cutting and for sanding.........
Good luck and take your time- thats why these repairs are expensive its the time and a bit of skill that costs the money, not the materials.
Mike & Ann
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice and encouragement!

Fair play to you for taking on such a repair at the side of a road in Portugal!
 
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