Help!!?? Rotten Motorhome

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Taffymat

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First post, in desperation... Please can somebody give me some positive advice?

I've just basically sunk my life-savings into a private sale motorhome Swift 600s. I find out after all this rain, the roof leaks badly, and has completely rotted out the roof ( sandwich ply-polystyrene-paper face ply). With a non-bonded aluminium skin for the roof. I am capable of repairing the leaky roof, but have no experience repairing the sandwich panels.

The tops of some of the sidewalls have also rotted out, the facing ply and the timbers behind. These walls are also sandwich (FRP-polystyrene-face ply). How, if at all, do I go about repairing these panels?

Is it feasible to remove the sidewall interior facing, remove the rotten timbers bond new timbers back in with some type of adhesive?

Similarly with the roof?

Hoping desperately that somebody can offer some positive advice.

Many Thanks

Matt
 
Hi Matt

Yes it can be done for sure but will be a lot of work, there are a few threads on here about people doing similar repairs.

Martin
 
Sorry to hear of your woes. There’ll be people along to help, I’m sure, but I think it’s worth you paying subs to join the site (£15) That way you can go on asking questions, post photos and you’ll get constant advice through the repair.
Good luck with the repair work.
 
Thank you Martin, your comment is just what I needed!! I thought I was driving my investment to the scrapyard after just 2 weeks! A lot of work is fine.

No worries Hollyberry, I'll get right onto that. Thanks.
 
It's not good news Matt it's going to be a lot of work. Get it inside, remove all the furniture, and the delaminated board. Then you'll see the extent of the rot, remove and replace all the rotted timber, make sure all leaks are fixed, get an industrial dryer in it and completely dry it out before replacing wallboards and furniture.

Keep posting your progress here along with plenty of pictures and members who have done such things before will virtually hold your hand throughout. Best of luck (y)

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Hi Matt

A bit of light reading here,

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

My DIY damp repair project

Hi, This thread is intended to be a documented progress report on tackling some damp repairs in my motorhome. I hope it helps others and would like to invite anyone to chip in with help, suggestions, technical info and support.....because I am completely new to this. Firstly, some background...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Martin
 
Nothing worse than spending your life savings into a motorhome to find out it's a dud. Did the previous owner provide any assurances on the motorhome that you can claim against !!! Anyway, you seem to be between a rock and a hard place and as others have said you will get loads of good advice on here from people who have considerable experience in doing the work you are about to undertake. Don't forget to use U-tube. Loads of really helpful videos on there that will will make your task a little easier.
 
Oh Dear!
Motorhome fun the best £15 you can invest at the moment
I have done a bit of that sort of work as you may see from postings but not quite on the scale that you describe. Am working on the assumption that
a you have no recourse and
b you want to get on with it
It will be best if you can find somewhere dry to work inside, you can possibly find a barn or similar, then carefully take the whole lot out and store it safely. Then you might be able to see the scale of the job. It will look a lot worse yet. Just take your time and think of how well you will know your van when it is finished!
It wil take time and patience, you will gain skill as it goes along- thats why this sort of work is expensive and dont try to do anything unless you are in the mood for it- thats when it can go wrong and
accidents/ mistakes happen
Best of luck
Remember its only £15 to join us
Mike
 
Robert Clark said:
Might also be worth referring back to the original sellers avert
If it says ‘excellent condition’ or otherwise you may have a strong case to ask the seller for a refund
Click to expand...

Good advice.

This from Which.

Did you buy it from a private seller?​
When you buy from an individual (as opposed to a retailer), the Consumer Rights Act says that the goods you get must be as they were described to you by the seller.[/quote]​
​
There's no obligation on the seller to disclose any faults, but misrepresenting goods isn't allowed.​
​
For example, something second-hand should not be described as new. If it is, the seller will be in breach of contract.​
​
But putting things right can be tricky. If you can’t reach an agreement between yourselves you’ll have to try alternative dispute resolution or the small claims court.​

​
​

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Taking it up with the seller isn't an option...:(. I've already taken the ceiling down as it was wringing wet.
 
I dont know, surely it does??

The seller's advert:

swift 600, 4 berth motor home, very low mileage, nice condition, large end bathroom, 3way fridge, gas hob with grill, sink hot and cold pumped water, gas heater all in working order, reversing camera.

That was it. If somebody thinks it's worth taking legal advice? then I will.
 
Taffymat said:
Taking it up with the seller isn't an option...:(. I've already taken the ceiling down as it was wringing wet.
Click to expand...
No it isn’t too late
Could tact the seller and see what happens

How did the seller describe the state of the van ?

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Taffymat said:
I dont know, surely it does??

The seller's advert:

swift 600, 4 berth motor home, very low mileage, nice condition, large end bathroom, 3way fridge, gas hob with grill, sink hot and cold pumped water, gas heater all in working order, reversing camera.

That was it. If somebody thinks it's worth taking legal advice? then I will.
Click to expand...
Can you give us a link to the actual advert?
 
if you are keeping it have you considered taking the lot out, waterproofing the roof then start your walls from scratch with new materials, might end up with a better van than the original and not much more trouble or cost than trying to patch it up.
 
Although it is repairable will be a hell of a lot of work and if you got it done professionally it would cost thousands.
The fact it was described as "nice condition" and it's anything but, would be a good case to reject it for a refund. Or you could get an estimate for the repairs and ask the seller to pay for the repairs.
 
I'd rather not at the minute. If I do end up taking this down the legal route, then I don't think it fair to publish the seller's details.
 
Taffymat said:
I dont know, surely it does??

The seller's advert:

swift 600, 4 berth motor home, very low mileage, nice condition, large end bathroom, 3way fridge, gas hob with grill, sink hot and cold pumped water, gas heater all in working order, reversing camera.

That was it. If somebody thinks it's worth taking legal advice? then I will.
Click to expand...
Take legal advice
A proper solicitors letter threatening legal action may get you a full refund
 
Robert Clark said:
Take legal advice
A proper solicitors letter threatening legal action may get you a full refund
Click to expand...
with all due respect, before forking out for lawers why not just go and see the guy and ask him what hes willing to do about it or you are going to law,
 
Haha, thanks Lenny..

I'm going to get a quote tomorrow. Thanks to you guys, I've been on the phone to Citizens Advice, they've given me a template letter to send him.

Because I've cut the ceiling down, I cannot get a full refund. But I may be able to claim for a large proportion of the repairs.

I'll get typing tonight.

Cheers,
Matt
 
Taffymat said:
Haha, thanks Lenny..

I'm going to get a quote tomorrow. Thanks to you guys, I've been on the phone to Citizens Advice, they've given me a template letter to send him.

Because I've cut the ceiling down, I cannot get a full refund. But I may be able to claim for a large proportion of the repairs.

I'll get typing tonight.

Cheers,
Matt
Click to expand...
we cross posted there.
 
I would have thought the first action would be to have a word with the seller. If he really didn't know he may be totally shocked and come to an arrangement and will either take it back or pay for repairs.
Of course, he could be a total knob and you will have to go the legal route, often just the threat of legal action is enough.
 
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chaser said:
with all due respect, before forking out for lawers why not just go and see the guy and ask him what hes willing to do about it or you are going to law,
Click to expand...
Because I suspect he/she sold the van knowing there were problems
Plus the OP has already started ripping it apart

A few hundred quid on a well worded solicitors letter is money well spent me thinks
 
have we had a value or age on this van yet , cant see anything, might not be worth putting right.
 
What kind of work are you competent in your self? If you are good with joinery or have a mate who is then that will help shave a hell of a lot of the repair bill. I presume you have a workshop or garage where you can do the work?

Rip everything out. See what timber needs replacing, get that done then see about getting someone in to do the rest.

I'm currently in France with my damp ridden old van. Still trying to decide if it's worth repairing when I get home so I'll be following this thread with interest.
 
Taffymat said:
I dont know, surely it does??

The seller's advert:

nice condition,
Click to expand...

All you have done is identified it's faults. I suggest that it not "nice condition".

You've got to get back to him, an decent person would be appalled and offer you some compensation.

I don't know the legal position.

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