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Topic: condensation or damp??

costellofamily

06/2/2017 at 11:49pm
Location: None Entered
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Hi all, I wonder if anyone out there can help a complete novice caravanner. We bought a 1999 Elddis Typhoon caravan a couple of weeks ago and parked her up on the storage site until we can go for our first trip. We went over to check on her today and found that the inside roof has condensation on it just to the right hand side of the skylight. It is wet to the touch but there are no water marks as such on the ceiling board. Everywhere else is dry, even the other sides of the skylight. Is this likely to be a leaking seal around the skylight or could it just be condensation?? There is also a light covering of mould on just one of the kitchen drawer fronts. Any advice would be really appreciated, I'm really worried we've bought a lemon due to our inexperience!! C.C.

chrisn7

07/2/2017 at 1:16am
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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Being the kitchen, the drawer front may simply not have been cleaned adequately, and residues have sprung to life! On the other hand, water ingress quickly promotes green mould too. The inside part of the skylight is usually screwed to a wooden frame in the roof, so unscrew the skylight inside part and check the framing for damp/wetness. If the wood is wet then the outer part of the skylight, which is screwed and sealed with mastic to the roof, is leaking through the seal. This would need attention pronto.

Oh and get yourself a damp meter, plenty available for under £20. Not as accurate as the professionals, but good enough.

Greg M

07/2/2017 at 6:41am
Location: South Wales
Outfit: Elddis Majestic 155

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Hi,
Agree with Chrisn7 about the skylight,worth checking.
I would certainly invest in a good damp meter (link below).
Make sure you get all the mould off the kitchen draw ,vinegar cleaner will do it.
Do you have all the lockers ,drawers,cupboards etc open so air can circulate ,also pays to lift all cushions etc.
Hope it is not too serious.
Regards,
Greg
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brennenstuhl-1298680-Moisture-Detector-MD/dp/B003CSNV2Q/r........

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Growing old is not for sissies

Opensauce

07/2/2017 at 8:38am
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Air warming up inside caravan during day hitting cold surface=condensation so it does sound as if damp is getting in around skylight.

Easy fix on morning of nice day. You will need a cartridge of PU sealant. Brand names such as PU18 or Sikaflex512. Use only PU sealant. Silicone sealant not strong enough.

Open skylight then scrape out sealant underneath rubber seal where skylight frame goes into roof. Use plastic scraper. Clean with meths. Then push sealant cartridge nozzle under rubber & squirt sealant all around rubber seal. Clean off excess. Job done. Try to leave skylight open for a few hours to avoid sticking skylight hatch to sealant.

the black fox

08/2/2017 at 2:10pm
Location: flint north wales
Outfit: swift challenger 480se 2002

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if possible get a step ladder and inspect the roof and seals ,i also have a 99 eldiss and the paint on the roof is very thin and could have pin pricks in it .also inspect the seals that you can see around the roof lights .but the main culprit will probably be the seal on your roof ariel .they are lethal i have removed mine and plated over and sealed the hole .
name of the game with a 18 year old van is keep up with maintenance but there a lovely van and worth the effort

costellofamily

08/2/2017 at 11:38pm
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Thank you all so much, your experience and advice is invaluable. I will have a 'bash' at the sunroof as soon as the weather allows.

chrisn7

09/2/2017 at 3:09pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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Please don't leave it too long. The longer you wait, the more water gets in and the further it travels, leading to more damage and a longer time to dry out.

Thin plywood panels start to de-laminate quite quickly, and matching wallboards and the like can be very difficult to source on older vans. Wall and ceiling boards have a plastic finish and this traps damp, making the dry out process long.

costellofamily

10/2/2017 at 2:19am
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Thanks for your advice chrisn7. Would you recommend covering the van with a breathable cover until we get some dry warmish weather?

chrisn7

10/2/2017 at 1:13pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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Plenty of people use caravan covers, but opinions are mixed. In your case, stopping any more water getting in is a priority. However a cover reduces ventilation somewhat as the skylights (which normally provide permanent ventilation) would be covered. The relatively static air then tends to promote mould. To me keeping the water out and regular inspection would be the way to go.

Just because its cold at the moment doesn't have to stop you working in the van - you get used to it! I do something on ours most weekends...

Rob Johns

13/2/2017 at 8:39pm
Location: Portsmouth
Outfit: 1991 Elddis Vogue SL

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As a temporary measure until the weather gets better, get some W4 Mastic (it comes in a tape like roll) and open your skylight, then stuff the mastic in the gap between the roof of the van and the roof light on the outside. You will have to reach through the open skylight and reach out and feel the edge. the mastic can be applied a bit like plasticine. Apply it around the whole of the roof light. This is only a temporary fix as you will need to remove the skylight to properly seal it later, but it will stop the water coming in. This is not condensation, but a leaking roof light. I had exactly the same on my 1991 Elddis Vogue. Alternatively, a roof cover will help.

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The Sun always shines on TV.(and not on my caravan!)

parkranger

14/2/2017 at 7:50pm
Location: glasgow
Outfit: conway olympia camper

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yes i agree the mastic tape is a great fix also great adhesion and flexable, i carried out this repair on 2 skylights/roof lights job done 3 hours. milton sterlising soloution in a ratio of 10 to 1. is a good way to deal with mould stops it coming back.

H.COSTELLO

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