Elddis autostratus full of damp!

[Luke pitt]

Hi guys and thanks for the add. I've recently bought a 1998 elddis autostratus (privately!) And a couple of days after buying it I noticed a wall was slightly soft to touch. Long story short it has major damp problems! Rotten ply and battens on both side walls, also the ceiling is rotten on the ends where they meet the wall. Its drenched in there, about 80% all round the tops of the walls!! Question is how much would it cost to get all new ceiling and wallboards? I've started ripping it apart myself to expose the damp and start the drying process but I really don't think I'll have time to do all the work myself as I work 6 days a week and have a 2 year old daughter!!

 

[Phill D]

Hi Luke welcome.

thats really bad luck and a fair bit of work. first thing i would suggest is locate where the damp is getting in and sort that or your hard work and cash will be in vain.

there are a lot of places to get board but here is an example of prices

Motorhome Caravan Wallboards Reference Page

Please ring or email for availability of wallboards They are available for collection preferably however we can send on carrier at customer s risk

www.olearymotorhomes.co.uk

 

[Luke pitt]

Yea it's a real shame. It's been something I've always wanted and this has kind of ruined it before I've even got to use it!! I think it's got in on the roof seems. Was going to reseal them today but it's been drizzling. The timber that the awning rails fix to is completely rotten too going down the corner, think it literally needs stripping and all new walls and ceilings!! Has anyone ever had a quote for this amount of work?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would go back to where you bought it and ask for your money back. They must have known it was damp. If no joy then advise you will start a small claims procedure to get your money back.

 

[Luke pitt]

I bought it privately and it turns out he was a gypsy. I didn't know this until I had done the deal and found the damp 2 days later. Tried to call and was basically told it's tough. Fuming about it. I've started ripping the van apart now so definitely cant return it even if it was an option!

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[Spriddler]

Great same.
There's an almost identical thread running just below yours which may give an idea as to how to go about sorting it and the cost.

Dampness project - Roof first

Hi Within this thread I will document what I find as our Bessacarr MH failed on a recent Hab check for dampness. The ceiling has started to go spongy after our first trip away. We purchased the MH around 6 weeks ago and the owner stated that the leak in the roof had been resolved as the ceiling...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Phill D]

i think the cost of getting it sorted by someone else would be much too great.

best option is to do it yourself and do it at your pace. maybe get a mate to help or call in a few favours..

not ideal but at least you could get out on the road for the kids summer holidays..

 

[Luke pitt]

I know what your saying it's just the time really. I reckon that I could probably do it myself for about £500 maybe a bit more. I just wondered if anybody else new a rough price for the work, if it was say £1500, I'd rather pay someone to do it for me!

 

[Phill D]

a retired local carpenter ?? maybe

 

[Luke pitt]

I am a carpenter myself. I take it a specialist would cost a fortune then!?

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[Lenny HB]

Looking at the photo I think you would have trouble finding someone to take that job on. Even if you do you will be looking at quite a few grand.
Also You are far more likely to do a better job yourself as a professional will be working against the clock to turn a profit.

 

[Spriddler]

I know what your saying it's just the time really. I reckon that I could probably do it myself for about £500.....

Since you are a carpenter and if you do it yourself be prepared for the final bill to significantly exceed your own estimate. It always has whenever I've had work done.

 

[Googlebot]

It is repairable, I have done it myself.

I went for the cheap option of ply and then emulsion paint. It didn’t look amazing but we had a lot of fun in the van and it never actually mattered.

Go for the long haul, cheap, cheerful and enjoy it.

 

[Campervan_man]

Time, materials and labour.
You need to sort out the water ingress issues first.
Roof can be painted with WHITE Cromapol
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=323366142544

Cromapol Paint has fibreglass strands that cover small cracks.

Remove, reseal skylights or renew if they are old and brittle.
De-seal and refit and reseal external joining strips- fit new stainless steel screws.
Inside 'Celotex' 25MM thick foil covered insulation panels can be fitted as a base for motorhome ply boards.
It's a lot of work and time. Ideally a dry barn for doing all the external stuff to keep out of the wind, rain, ice and bad weather. A barn is also handy to store removed furniture and fittings.
Check the floor isn't damp before you start.
Weigh up whether it's worth spending before you start.
There are lots of damp vans out there.

 

[The Wino]

I would suggest that you stop until you have decided whether you are going to do it yourself or not. If you take out the strength in the walls then drive it you might not have much left to repair by the time you get it to a repairer

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[63720]

I would suggest that you stop until you have decided whether you are going to do it yourself or not. If you take out the strength in the walls then drive it you might not have much left to repair by the time you get it to a repairer

This is good advice. Also before you replace anything it would be good to identify where the damp is coming from and fix that or you'll do it again next year.

 

[Mike800966]

Just recently there was a long and detailed thread by DJL220 who had to rebuild most of the the ceiling of his bessacarr. He said he was quoted £10,000 . He did it himself and the cost was probably less than an eighth of that. The thread is on here but i dont know how to post a link to it
Be Brave and think of the savings, lots of advice on here. It will be the best £15 you have ever spent

Mike

 

[Malcolm X]

Hi Had issues with damp all around the front bulkhead so had all the timber out, replaced that and then vinyl ply and foam. Most of the ceiling down, turns out tv aerial and other ingress so still drying out but bad stuff is dealt with, as you say takes quite a but of time but you knowbiys done right. Copromol white paint on tip. Top tip don't glue anything until you are sure damp is dealt with, staple first then when you are sure use the glue people to source epoxy glue and RV61/Sikaflex etc. Still doing my 1997 Autostratus EB up, it's like trying to keep things a float! Dodgy speedo to fix now and mosquito nets, small gas leak etc etc the list keeps going just like a house!

 

[elddissuckered]

can anyone tell me the size off timber used in the roof of the elddis autostratus cheers

 

[Nanniemate]

can anyone tell me the size off timber used in the roof of the elddis autostratus cheers

this link is in the thread it may help

Dampness project - Roof first

Hi Within this thread I will document what I find as our Bessacarr MH failed on a recent Hab check for dampness. The ceiling has started to go spongy after our first trip away. We purchased the MH around 6 weeks ago and the owner stated that the leak in the roof had been resolved as the ceiling...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Mike800966]

Doubtful but not impossible that someone will know. Can you not measure what's in situ?. Guess it's only light stuff like 19x25mm because of the weight implications.
Regarding costings I don't think it would be economic unless you do it yourself, bit of a bu55er but if the rest of the van is right for you then it's the way forward.
Lots of advice and help, perhaps even inspiration on here!
Mike

 

[elddissuckered]

hi ye thanks for the reply
but i have just got this camper never done anything like this before and did not really know what i was buying but learning fast and the guy that started this project obviously did not know what he was doing he has ripped out everything even the ceiling and replaced it with 50mmx50mm wood frame work on the ceiling so im sort off starting the ceiling from scratch so looking to find out ply thickness and insulation thikness not to sure if im up to this but will give it my best shot

 

[elddissuckered]

i will take some pictures tomorrow and post them on hear let you see what im up against

 

[pappajohn]

Measure the distance between roof outer and roof inner through the skylight/vent
Deduct say 1/4 inch for distance between internal ply and outer skin.
That should give you a very approximate timber size.

If you remove the roof vent fully it will have a timber frame in the roof sandwich.....that too is the timber size

 

[elddissuckered]

thats good idea if there was anything left to measure but he has it all removed all that is left between the inside and the sky is the alloy/grp roof there is no roof sandwich

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[Mike800966]

Luke, glad to see you've joined us, it will be the £15 you've spent so far.
Just remember there are no silly questions- most us have been there before- just silly answers
Ask away and good luck
Mike

 

[elddissuckered]

 

[elddissuckered]

this is what im up against ???

 

[monzer]

Hell of a lot of work but there's been a few people on here who have took such a task on and the results have been fantastic. Can anyone remember the name of they guy who is on a big refurb job at the moment? Maybe he could guide you.

Is your Elddis on a Talbot? Loved my Talbot Autostratus.

 

[elddissuckered]

hi mines is on the peugeot very good going thing

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