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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: roof leak to buy or stay away? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personrichiewake
05/11/2013 at 7:42pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: suncamp holiday 550 tt View richiewake's Profile View Profile   Reply to richiewake Reply   Quote richiewake Quote  
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Hi really want a starter van , been to look at a 1992 swift 510 £ 400,
Has a very bad leak from skylight, I'm fine fixing the leak but looks like its been leaking for a month or so . Was all dripping wet from celling and puddles on the floor . Floor felt pretty soild still , was thinking buying fixingleak and rrunning dehumidifier inside for say a week ? Is this enough to save it or should I walk away ?

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asumption is mother of all f**kupps


PersonJack+Jon
05/11/2013 at 8:06pm
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Once you have sealed the leak then the inside will dry out ok. Obviously check the 'van for water ingress at other points over rest of body but if thats ok then you should be ok.

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Regards, Jack+Jon.


PersonAl+Mel
06/11/2013 at 8:12am
 Location: Hants
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270 View Al+Mel's Profile View Profile   Reply to Al+Mel Reply   Quote Al+Mel Quote  
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Take a damp meter and check it all over to get the full picture. If you are good at DIY and have the time it could be worth while, but a dehumidifier won't dry the framework out as this is in between the waterproof ally outer skin and the waterproof vinyl wallboard covering inside the 'van.

If the 'van has been leaking for some time, there could well be rotten framework in the ceiling, awning rail and walls. Time consuming to fix, but not impossible.


Personjayc001
06/11/2013 at 12:00pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000 View jayc001's Profile View Profile   Reply to jayc001 Reply   Quote jayc001 Quote  
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It will take sometime to dry and will need the wallcoverings removed as has been said above the moisture is trapped between two waterproof layers. Leave it trapped and it will rot away.

If the rest of the van looks ok and it has accessories then £400 would be reasonable if you just had to do the leak and recover.


Personrichiewake
06/11/2013 at 9:16pm
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 Outfit: suncamp holiday 550 tt View richiewake's Profile View Profile   Reply to richiewake Reply   Quote richiewake Quote  
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Thanks for the replies, are the roof coverings easy to remove?



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asumption is mother of all f**kupps


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Personrichiewake
06/11/2013 at 9:19pm
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 Outfit: suncamp holiday 550 tt View richiewake's Profile View Profile   Reply to richiewake Reply   Quote richiewake Quote  
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Was thinking of drilling holes in celling to allow dehumidifier and blower to draw the mouister out, then just fill in holes?





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asumption is mother of all f**kupps


Personredheads
06/11/2013 at 9:54pm
 Location: kent
 Outfit: 2004 Abbey freestyle discovery 2 td5 View redheads's Profile View Profile   Reply to redheads Reply   Quote redheads Quote  
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hello I found water leaking in through the toilet door frame after removing toilet and carpet around that area I used a dehumidifier kept it running continually for 2 weeks in the affected area and yes it did dry it out there will be comments that it takes air from out side yes it may do but far out ways it drying out inside I did it and it worked I used my damp meter every couple of days to see any difference and over that period it went from red 40% to green 8% I advise getting a good quality damp meter and you can check it much better for damp and then decided what your letting your self in for fix or walk away what ever you do good luck.


Personjayc001
07/11/2013 at 1:32pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000 View jayc001's Profile View Profile   Reply to jayc001 Reply   Quote jayc001 Quote  
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Probably easier to remove the covering rather than drill and fill. It's just a vinyl wall paper.

Dehumidifiers do work well in a caravan. I taped up all my vents to prevent it drawing in excess air from outside. Desiccant dehumidifiers work far better than regular compressor types especially as the temps are dropping now.


Personcuz62
07/11/2013 at 3:21pm
 Location: forest of dean
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why not remove the strip lights and let some air and heat circulate,easier than removing the ceiling which is not easy,see what is attached to it


Personrichiewake
07/11/2013 at 8:39pm
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Thanks again for the advice , picked up tonight resealed the gaskets around all 3 roof vents and got the massive dehumidifier from work on the go with a blower heater on low, will see how it gets on over the weekend. Found lots of over bits to sort out to keep me busy.

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asumption is mother of all f**kupps


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Personjayc001
08/11/2013 at 1:04pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000 View jayc001's Profile View Profile   Reply to jayc001 Reply   Quote jayc001 Quote  
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Enjoy. It's a good time of year for repairs. I'd hate to be having to do them in the summer when I'd rather be away in the van than working on it.


PersonGabriel Oaks
11/11/2013 at 10:09pm
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I'm doing up a 1979 Cadet, and it's had damp in three places, so I'm renewing the joists, fitting new boards on the inside, it's no major thing, you don't have to be too much of a carpenter. I'll be snug as a bug.



Persongarethhowell
12/11/2013 at 10:23am
 Location: St Neots UK
 Outfit: CI Eccles Elite View garethhowell's Profile View Profile   Reply to garethhowell Reply   Quote garethhowell Quote  
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As others have said, repairs can be pretty easy. The one thing to watch out for is the situation I'm currently in.

My ABI Jubilee Rallyman is very damp and I am having a bugger of a job removing the internal upper lockers as they seem to have been fitted before the outer skin was attached. Frankly, it's a nightmare.



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