Doubt if you could replace the whole front of your van. Now ripping out all the damp and repairing it, depending on your level of DIY experience, is possible.
------------- 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.
I have damp damage to the front of our old caravan too. I took it into the dealer where I bought it as a trade sale 4 years ago (the caravan is 31 years old) and they quoted me £2,000 plus to carry out the necessary repairs and added that if they found anything that wasn't immediately noticeable it would be extra. Faced with the choice of either scrapping it or having a go myself, I decided I had nothing to lose and made a start on it. So far I have spent around £250 on materials and that includes about £60 on a step platform to give me some height to do the outside. I have almost everything I need to complete it now. It's the labour that costs the money.
There was a time in the mid 2000's where front and rear ABS panels regularly failed with cracking around the screw holes and were replaced wholesale. They were quoting £2000 for either panel plus labour then. Unless it's a warranty claim, then it's likely to be a case of fixing the leak and rectifying the damage oneself. As said, it's the labour charge that is prohibative, the job itself requires no more than average DIY skills and tools, plus time.
Dave.
------------- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.
Surely if we took the damp area out and replace it with plywood would that b sufficient?
I think the seal has been leaking around the opening to the front that pulls up and that's why it's gone damp
In my last comment I said that I bought our caravan 4 years ago, but my wife has just reminded me that it was actually nearly 6 years ago. Time flies!
I'm fine with electrical work, plumbing, mechanical work, and a bit of woodwork. This repair however is a bit of a learning curve. The trickiest bit was working out exactly how it is constructed, but I think I've sussed that now and will be able to carry out the work to give us another few years with it. Biggest problem is me, I'm not as fit and flexible as I once was now that I'm well into my 70s.
I'd say give it a go Christine if you are up to the challenge.
Quote: Originally posted by christine23 on 20/3/2023
Surely if we took the damp area out and replace it with plywood would that b sufficient?
I think the seal has been leaking around the opening to the front that pulls up and that's why it's gone damp
Maybe some pictures would help. My caravan, an Elddis Wisp, has three windows in the front and it is above this that water has entered through some cracks. I will be using some very thin plywood to finish off, but I am replacing the rotted wooden battens around the windows with new wood, after repairing the cracks that caused the problem in the first place. One of the biggest problems I have found so far is getting the old rotten wood out.
Quote: Originally posted by christine23 on 20/3/2023
Surely if we took the damp area out and replace it with plywood would that b sufficient?
I think the seal has been leaking around the opening to the front that pulls up and that's why it's gone damp
Replacing with plywood may make it worse. Why nor contact Premier Towing Services at Unit 15 Whitehall Rd, Tipton DY4 7JY. 0121 520 6858. They have a very good reputation and costs are very reasonable.
We were quoted nearly £9000 for the front of our caravan to be replaced and the caravan was not even 5 years old.
I think you need to define what you mean by the front of the caravan as that could be around the windows, around the bunks, around the front chest of drawers, the front panel etc.
Quote: Originally posted by christine23 on 20/3/2023
Surely if we took the damp area out and replace it with plywood would that b sufficient?
I think the seal has been leaking around the opening to the front that pulls up and that's why it's gone damp
i take it from reading that your talking about the front box where you put the gas bottle etc?
There are common areas where water ingresses into most makes of caravan as the construction methods were similar.
Awning rails, window and door seal rubbers and the top hinge that the front windows hinge up from, grab handles or awning light openings, any join between panels, (roof strap for instance), in fact any opening or screw hole through the body can leak. As mastic ages it dries and hardens, also screws through plastic panels where the hole wasn't large enough will have stress cracks around them over time. Mild steel screws will rot, use good quality stainless ones.
The first job is to strip things to look at the extent of the damage, often the condition of the rotten wood will point the where it started. This is when you will find out if it is worth doing. Not until the leaks are repaired is it worth doing any remedial work.
Dave.
------------- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 21/3/2023
We were quoted nearly £9000 for the front of our caravan to be replaced and the caravan was not even 5 years old.
Wow! I thought our quote was high at £2,000. Then again I suppose everything is relative. We only paid £1,100 for our caravan nearly 6 years ago so I certainly wouldn't want to spend more than that again. It is the labour costs though, as my own repairs are likely to come in at well under £400, and some of that went on tools such as my step platform which I will still have for other jobs afterwards.
I would expect to have work like this to do on my caravan as it is 31 years old. I certainly wouldn't expect major work of this kind to be needed on a caravan less than 5 years old. Maybe it's right that "they don't build 'em like they used to!"
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 21/3/2023
We were quoted nearly £9000 for the front of our caravan to be replaced and the caravan was not even 5 years old.
Wow! I thought our quote was high at £2,000. Then again I suppose everything is relative. We only paid £1,100 for our caravan nearly 6 years ago so I certainly wouldn't want to spend more than that again. It is the labour costs though, as my own repairs are likely to come in at well under £400, and some of that went on tools such as my step platform which I will still have for other jobs afterwards.
I would expect to have work like this to do on my caravan as it is 31 years old. I certainly wouldn't expect major work of this kind to be needed on a caravan less than 5 years old. Maybe it's right that "they don't build 'em like they used to!"
We challenged them on this using CRA 2015 and eventually after 3- 4 months of arguing and using the finance company it was agreed that we would pay £600 of the costs. They totally replaced the front panel which was cracked and also the floor in the front locker which had become saturated.