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Help...lots of damp!!! :-(

we have just bought our first caravan- an avondale perle 1990 (i think!)

Knew it had damp as took a meter but didn't think it would be too bad...may be just replacing board...drying out :-)

I know some will now be laughing!! :-)

loved it... so bought it-but now we have started to dismantle front & am becoming concerned as the timber which is the join to the front of the left hand side of the front of the caravan seems to be also rotten (not too concerned with front rotten timbers as flat etc under window etc. & seem easier to replace)

I have been researching the wizards site (which has been a god send of information!!!) Although it may seem scary..... all the damp & work at the front- I think most will be ok as can find links etc.

But on strippping back the wall board at the front corner & seeing the timber which is shaped & also the edge(which I presume is support)  I am a liitle concerned on how to tackle removing & replacing.

Does any one have advice on this? will be working on it again tomorrow afternoon & should be taking some pics...but would like some tips before we maybe dismantle too much & cause any problems as the aluminium body seems so thin...i'm abit scared!! :-)     

thanks to anyone who may help (once they have stopped chuckling of cause !)

thanks from diy newbys

Hi Dora-helen , first don't panic , damp is repairable and can be done cheaply , but it does take lots of grafting ( hard work ) .
If you can either post on here or email to me ( address below ) pictures of the area both inside and out , it would help us alot to advise you before you pull it all to bits .
If possible do repairs in small steps , don't pull out all the supporting frame work if you can replace a couple of bits of frame work and then do a few more bits ( hope you get what i mean ) .
The Fixed it Club members will be here when you need us . Do have a good look thro their websites to see just what repairs have been done and how they went about it . http://www.1carpc.co.uk/wcdr/favorites.htm 

atb

Wizard

Hia all!!

have had a busy day stripping the front of my loveley caravan- which now doesn't look so homely

I have uploaded some images onto my profile (thanks wizard for the offer of advice!!!!!) But i am unable to link to my post- being a novice & pretty poor ict skills by the looks of it also!!

I think we will beable to cope once we can understand how to get the side support joints- on edges of front of caravan -off to replace them -as there are two (the front & side edges are butted up together & screwed)

should we peel the front aluminium skin up off the caravan to get to them? (Also would it be better to take the window out first?)

Will do it in sections so it doesn't all collape-we hope

Has any one also worked out how to cut through the sections to leave the none rotten good wood in place? we can't get a saw to it as in the corneres of the caravan (again should we peel back skin of caravan to do this??)

thanks for all your help-we will be having a full day of trying to dismantle rottten joists & replacing them tomorrow.  

Thanks all!! dora & dave

Hi Dora & Dave , when i get the pictures i'll post them on here so others can advise too .
The battens that are on the side wall in the front corner are normally held in place by the awning rail screws as well as being glued to the side wall ( by side wall i mean the aluminum skin ) . I would really avoid peeling the aluminum skin back to do the repair .
Rather than cutting thro sections to remove just the damp wood , i would replace the section of wood with a new piece , or if the damp wood isn't rotted ( wood falling apart ) dry it out , then use Ronseal wood hardener . Where you want to remove battens that are stuck to the skin but have rotted , carefull use of a chisel will help remove the wood from the skin ( you must ensure there are no screws holding the wood in place ) .

Hope this helps a bit .

atb

Wizard

thanks soooo much wizard!!! Super advice!!

looks like we are 1 of many who have fallen to the e-bay damp caravan trap!

it so helpful that you have taken the time to advise us!!!

plus we have been avidly using your fix it site for step plans!1 

extremely glad i held off my better half from peeling off the front skin of the caravan now until we'd requested advice!!

a chisel seems obvious..but in the mist of battons n damp..logic seems to at times disappear   

will defo upload some beta pics tomorrow & e-mail them you...when we are rebuilding i'l try & post on the fix it site too for other newbys like us!!

also thanks to rune for super advice & tool list (unfortunatley our funds are rather depleated but looks like a tool to invest in!!)

will keep you all posted on our rebuild mission xx

love & many thanks, dora & dave x 

i carried out the same repairs on my coachman. all front and both side timbers replacedand all new wall panels. and am about to start on my avondale front window timbers and full reseal.all the power tools shown can be bought at B&Q around a tenner each i know cos i bought em.the dremmel type is really handy for cutting out timbers.when i spliced in new timbers i drilled a 10 mm hole thro both and glued in a wooden dowel to join.once you get going its a doddle honest.

atb.neil

Hia guys!

thanks for all the advice!! seem to be getting there now!

Didn't have to chisel out rotten wood...my dad remembered he'd got 1 of those handy cutting tools (like link above!!) 2days after we started but better late than never 

are able to get the new joists in now...following the fix it site!! thanks again to the wizard!! 

will try & load pics of our experdition when we have finished

lots f treating,,cutting..gluesing & sawing today but at last feel we are getting some where!!

thanks again, dora & dave