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Thanks Wizard, next time I go down the van I'll take some pictures, but to be honest the only wet bit is behind the front seat cushions offside.What else would you like a picture of?  Everything else looks fine but the repair man said it's damp back to the toilet on one side and the door on the other.  He thinks that the damp has got in the sides and the front.  I know nothing about repairing caravans but my Dad is very handy and retired (plenty of time on his hands!), my friend is also very handy and lives in a mobile home, so he knows something about caravans and his mate is a carpenter.  Is it possible to replace the timbers without removing the front?  Are there any pictures I can see to give my Dad some idea of what we need to do? Where to start etc?  I can email you a copy of the quote if you like to give you an idea of what the professionals say?

Have sent a reply via hotmail .

Re caravan length post .
Do you have a home email address , as i have a Avondale sales 2003 brochure i can send you , it's 14meg .
I can send it to the email address you contacted me on if you want .

atb

Wizard

Hello,

Thanks for your message and your support. You are so encouraging and lovely, you actually brought tears to my eyes,(well I have had a stressful week!) and you've also given me the confidence to attempt this huge undertaking! I must say it was a bit of a shock finding out that the expensive £2000 repairs had turned into £5000 in just over a week but at least I was sitting down when i opened the mail! Thought inflation was low at the moment?  It has also forced my hand to do it myself because I couldn't afford or justify spending £5000 on my caravan.

I've already had my parents down to show them what kind of thing we'll be doing and they didn't run for the door, well they made some excuse before they left! Of course, it doesn't help that the caravan has now been sited for the next 6 months in Dorset (2 hours away) after spending the previous 2.5 years being 5 mins away.  Isn't hindsight wonderful? Why couldn't I have spotted the damp sooner!  When I booked it I was picturing nice leisurely weekends in Dorset rather than the kids spending all their time in the play area (hope it doesn't rain!) while I get the sealant and the fan heaters out! 

Everyone on here has been so nice and helpful so please keep the advice and support coming because I'm going to need it. All pictures and website addresses much appreciated!

Hi Louise, we're really sorry to hear about the quote.  We've just sent wallboard samples to two suppliers (listed on Wizard's website) to see if they can match it.  I'm presuming yours will be identical to ours (cream with peachy-orange speckles) so I will let you know what they come up with and how much they cost.  If you need a recommendation for a damp meter to check the damp yourself I would definitely recommend this one:

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-1-5282-13623-rapitest-dtm-118-damp-test-meter.asp

We're planning to strip the front and back rails and both awning rails, reseal and refit this week (hopefully!) and then we will start on the inside as soon as poss after this.  It could be handy to keep in touch with each other to share advice on removal of the interior fittings etc!  We're still not sure of the job ahead (not sure what condition the timbers are in until we get it opened up) but we're confident we can tackle it with the help of the Fix It Club.  Don't be put off!  We're going to take the Wizard's advice and just tackle one bit at a time starting with the rear bedroom.  Good luck and keep us posted.  Natalie

Hi Natalie,

Thanks for your post, yes I'm more than happy to stay in touch, we've both got the same van and same problem, if on a different scale and I'm going to need all the help I can get, not sure how much use I'll be to you though as wont be able to do much until we get it home in August.  Maybe some external sealing?  I'm going to go down the weekend before Easter and put the caravan cover on it, at least that way I know that not an awful lot more water can get in! I'm going to take lots of pictures when I'm down there, so I can show you my damp spot if you like? Yes my walls are that colour as well, we have the orange and cream upholstery.

I'm going to order that damp tester before I go down as well, I forwarded Wizard my quote and he said it was very heavy on labour and materials, and that there was no reason why we couldn't do it, which is encouraging.  Please keep in touch, I'll give you my email address if you'd like?

HI louise, sorry to hear about your van but thought i would add my experience, i too brought a 2003 avondale feb last year but the rialto 550/4 & thought i would be safe after having to get previous avondale ibiza repaired,

  how wrong i was as in november last year while away for the weekend i spotted what i thought might be damp & looked over the entire van, finding damp on the offside at the front under the large window & also at the rear next to the toilet but i was lucky i had mine repaired under warranty.

 but also had a damp check done so i know where to keep a eye on in the future hope you get yours sorted & enjoy many happy holidays in it.....

 cheers eddy & co

March - primrose valley (haven)
 may  -   Rockley Park  (haven)
 july  -    Marton Mere (haven)

louise my hubby and i are doing a reseal ourselves and then will take out front window and woodwork to off side with dads help, we are lucky he is a caravan boffin but wizard will guide you through , my van cost £250 no way could  i pay that but it will take some time off work or light evenings

remove rails and clean 1 day

reseal ? and replace rails  ???

Hi tezmos, thanks for your advice, to be honest when the quote said nearly £5000 there was nothing else for it but to give it a go myself. Everyone has been really encouraging and supportive and once I got over the initial shock I was fine, and now I just want to get started!  I was down there last weekend and did a temporary re-seal on the front, hoping to go down there again next weekend (didn't book up soon enough for Easter) and do the rest.  It's now got a cover on so that should protect it a bit more as well.  I had a look under the rubber on one of the side windows and it was as dry as a bone, whereas 8inches down, the wall was squelchy and pimpled.

I'll post my damp pictures on here so you can have a look (if I can upload them!).  I'm more or less convinced that there's damp coming in from the side seam on the outside wall.  Though wizard did say it could just be squelchy there because that's where the timber is and the water's congregated there

One damp wall

the other damp wall...