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02/11/2017 at 12:02pm
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Does it appear to be damp? Does everything work ok? PU sealant is your friend. Clean up any dodgy looking outside seams with meths & apply a bead of PU sealant into seams & get on with using it. It's 12yrs old it's not going to be perfect. My caravan is 10yrs older than yours & still going ok with only liberal applications of PU sealant. Brands are Sikaflex512, PU18, Tigerseal etc. Search Amazon for suppliers.
Post last edited on 02/11/2017 12:54:32
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02/11/2017 at 12:59pm
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I would also be suspicious of anybody who wanted £4k to fix a caravan that to yourself appears to be in good nick. I'm failing to understand 100% damp. That's a swimming pool not a caravan. You think you have already been conned when in fact the con may be just starting.
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02/11/2017 at 1:36pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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I would have thought that if the damp was that severe it would have been detected just by smell alone as a damp caravan usually smells musty and have viewed plenty of those in the past.
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02/11/2017 at 1:37pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011
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From your description it sounds as though this van was parked with a slight slope from side to side and end to end and damp has entered and travelled down one side.
The first thing to do is to try to find and fix the source of the leak to stop things getting any worse.
With wood so soft that the meter prongs go straight in, there is a risk that the structure is compromised, as this would suggest a long term leak.
There is indeed a risk that the potential repairer has spotted a novice and sees an opportunity for £££. I would get a couple more opinions from Approved workshops, to verify what you have been told so far, and go from there.
The difficulty with damp is what you have experienced - its hidden by plastic wall and floor finishes, so once your start stripping it down the job can quickly escalate and a repairer will know, and have to allow for this, when costing the job.
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02/11/2017 at 1:43pm
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Any of us that use older caravans will probably tell you that you need to regard the caravan as an ongoing project. A hobby if you like. I keep my caravan at home so I am often doing stuff to it just for a bit of fun. As pointed out. Seal the outside as described & get on with using it.
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02/11/2017 at 2:05pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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I agree with Opensauce. just get on and use it.
I tend to think that if it was really as bad as you have been told, it would be obvious. Any older van will have some damp in it somewhere, it just depends whether it affects use of it. Our last one was a 1988 Elddis, and we used it for 4 years and then sold it on. Any damp there was in it didn't affect the holidays we had with it. We now have a 1992 Elddis, and hope to have this one for a few years too.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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02/11/2017 at 4:24pm
Location: Byfleet Surrey
Outfit: Elddis Liberte 21 6
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Find the source of ingress and seal it. Normal places to look are window seals, roof/sky lights, doors or anywhere water can get in (eg handles, corners ets). Seal it, heres the stuff: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00HW7BYZO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Dont let it put you off, it may look a big job, but with a little diy skills you can sort it
Failing that, get a cover, put it on, run a convector heater for a couple of days and leave under cover after that. Go use, return and cover
DONT despair, if you need help or advice on fixing, there are loads of us here that are happy to help you
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02/11/2017 at 5:07pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
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Most of the expense in having repairs to damp is in the labour charge because of the time it takes to fix. If you can do it yourself it should be a fraction of the cost and you will have a van that will last you for many more years.
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02/11/2017 at 7:01pm
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Some years ago when searching to buy a caravan I became quite skilled at finding serious damp...and that was without a meter. I would have thought, as previously suggested, that if the meter was showing 100% that the panelling would be very soft when pressed with the fingers. I would have thought there would be some staining and a smell of damp.
As previously suggested, if it looks ok and feels ok, and no nasty smells there is no point in worrying about it and I would, as also suggested, seal everything on the outside that you can think of...roof vents, grab handles, seams, and anything that is screwed into the van like awning lights, door retaining hooks etc. They can all be sources of water penetration.
You mentioned that much of the damp is on the shower side...could it be caused by the shower leaking/condensation and not coming in from outside?
You could seek a second opinion and find that there is nothing seriously wrong or it could confirm the original findings...sometimes it's best not to know.
Post last edited on 02/11/2017 19:07:09
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02/11/2017 at 10:52pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo
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Is this on the door side of the caravan. If so it could be the awning rail. These tent to be more prone to leaks as they are under stress when the awning is attached.
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02/11/2017 at 10:56pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Bailey & Mondeo
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Once you have sealed it, make small pin holes in the panel and put a heater in the van and hopefully some of the moisture will dry out. Or cut away sections of the wall board and cover with a small vent cover.
You could also but a dehumidifier in the van to draw out the moisture . But make sure you cover up,all external vents.
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03/11/2017 at 9:28am
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WB there is a post edit button for use up to two hours after posting, saves multiple posts.
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XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Topic: Heartbroken
