Newbie with catastrophic damp in Autoroller 500 (1 Viewer)

[GagaJ]

Thank you, I'm taking it as an opportunity to buy a new power tool and use something new, I've never done anything this big, or expensive, I'm terrified I mess it up but every penny of our savings went into that mess so failure really isn't an option. Hubby's useless at this stuff but I'm happy to work away at it. Dreaming of the day we run into that little crook again, Perth is a bonnie place to drive around and with everybody wearing masks he'll never recognise us hahaha

 

[GagaJ]

Has anyone tried those wood hardeners? I was thinking about how to deal that baton, after its replaced if it rotten too, and I remembered something I saw on a DIY program. Some of them can be used on pretty damaged wood and it leaves it sealed tight. I don't know enough about it all but it's an epoxy resin product.

 

[AndyPK]

I would guess the problem would be to ensure that all of the affected wood is treated.....and with something as critical to structural integrity as the baton, I’d be very cautious about not replacing it with ‘sound’ material.....

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[GagaJ]

I would be replacing that baton, I don't think saving it would be worthwhile and would definitely be detrimental to the structural integrity. I was thinking about the new one going in. I'll have to check everything not just the obvious side. Here's hoping the wood shortage doesn't affect the rebuild

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[newmoontime1313]

Been there twice rotten vans damp all over only when you look in every corner and cubby hole and then you cant be sure do you take the sellers word its a mine field but the twice i have bought badly i made the repairs and made a profit when selling after a couple of years use give it a go

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[GagaJ]

Hi again.

After a few days of doing nothing but resting after overdoing it and a flare probably caused by the stress and maybe the mould haha, I've almost finished taking apart the cupboards. The habitation guy is coming to disconnect the fridge and water heater some time this week.

I've got some exciting new photos for you from where I've peeled back the vinyl where I could.

 

[Badknee]

I would cut all that out to check the timber but where the hell is it coming in? From above or below?

 

[GagaJ]

I would cut all that out to check the timber but where the hell is it coming in? From above or below?

According to the repairman it's coming up from an untreated baton but I think it's more complicated than that

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[Swifter]

Well done for getting the pictures up . I would be interested to see the underside of the motorhome directly below where the damp on the walls is . Is the floor damp on the underside?
Also is there any gap between the external trim and the wall that could be allowing water to get behind the trim and soak into the wall and floor?

 

[GagaJ]

Ask and ye shall receive! These are the underside along that wall. The second last two are the underside right beside the fridge and the bent fridge vent. The dirty damp patch on the inside, at right angles to the wall goes right back and down (into the floor?) I need to lift the flooring so I can see what's happening there.

The very last one shows the wooden baton and it's wet to touch. I can't see any gaps in that skirt but I'll know more when I'm ready to take it off.

 

[Riverbankannie]

You are a better woman than I am taking that repair on, but as you say, when backed into a corner with one option then you just have to get on with it.
Hopefully you can work on small bits at a time so that you can at least use the MH whilst completing the job.
Wishing you all the best.

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[GagaJ]

Thank you for that compliment but like you say, I have no choice but to do it the van was bought with all our savings and a wee pension that we cashed in. Given the state of the damaged side the man from the place we tried to pc it was absolutely right. There's no structure on that side. I'll add some more photos, including another 3 areas where water was coming in.

I'm just hoping I can finish it off to a good standard, we still want to trade it in because it's still too big for us lol.

 

[GagaJ]

That's the last of the furniture out on that side, I'm thinking I might need to prop the roof up before I take out that rotten baton and the rotten boards and everything behind them. As you can see there's not much of anything holding it together now.
The vents behind the fridge need to be replaced because the top one is buckled and the inner frame for the bottom one is cracked. All the mess on that wall near the hab door came from those vents. The mess on the floor level is partly because of the baton and because some strip for covering the screws on the outside is missing an end clip and it's just right for the rain to be driven in there when the mh is moving.

The steps have so much movement on them that I've put the bike lift under them and raised it enough to support the bottom step and stop all movement when I step on it. It's just not practical to drag everything through the cab doors lol

 

[Swifter]

You are doing a fantastic job . Credit to you

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