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Subject Topic: Damp! Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonAbbeycharles
via mobile 21/7/2024 at 9:24am
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Guys I have an 2004 Abbey spectrum 535 twin axel. I’m the 3rd owner and the neighbour I bought it off did advise on a damp issue but was told nothing serious and coming in through the awning rail obviously been like that some time and he jet washes it so not helped things; basicly my question is how easy it to repair / reseal the awning rail and the jointing strip? I’m a hands on person so can put up to the challenge if needed. Just want to sort it first before I sort the damp out inside . I know for the jointing strip o can get some tv caravan tape but not sure on rails . Thanks in advance guys


Personmarg6
21/7/2024 at 3:58pm
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making it water tight isnt that big of a deal, esp if you have the space and the tools, its just a case of removing the trim and then unscrewing, remove the aluminium channel and clean all old sealant of both surfaces and then replace it all back on. that is if the screws come out! or the wood hasnt rotted, its the interior damage that is the hard work esp if you need to remove the cupboards to get at it, it can be done, but you need to gt it water tight first


PersonPickled Onion
22/7/2024 at 11:13am
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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Hi and welcome to the forum. Jetwashing is not a greatr idea on caravans, especially older ones, it blows out the sealant and gets under window ribbers this accelerates damp ingress.

Wood that gets wet for a short time will dry, but wood that has been wet for a long time will rot. That's when the job becomes a big job as it needs replacing back to sound wood. There are plenty of information on this and other forums regarding damp, look at the work done by the 'Fixed-it' group for inspiration.

The good news is that if you have a few basic tools and woodworking skills it's not expensive to do and satisfying when completed. It is horrendously expensive to get professionals to do it due to the time it will take.

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.


Personbofs
via mobile 22/7/2024 at 4:50pm
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Apparently (according to the service engineer who did the same repair on our van) you need to get the right sealant as it needs to flex with the movement of the van.


PersonIanLunar
25/7/2024 at 9:37am
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Sikaflex 522


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Personmaggie51
via mobile 03/10/2024 at 7:17am
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Pickled onion what do you mean by a long time We have had a leak around our window seal I think for about 7 months it was aa bit of a higher reading last October on our service but he said keep an eye on it In March when we used van I noticed a little bit of water on the window seal Its took us a few months to get anyone to put new seal on as we are not handy ourselves My meter us showing 3 red dots in a couple of places guy who did it said about 23 per dent and it will dry out as it's its ony in 1 place but I'm worried Whats your take on this as obviously you have seal with damp by the sound of it

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maggie


PersonPickled Onion
05/10/2024 at 12:26pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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Hi Maggie, the internal wooden sttructure is just common pine so absorbs water fairly easily as does the wall boards. I can't give a specific time it would take to rot but it will start to degrade then become soft and spongy. By that time, even if the wood is dryed out it will never recover it's strength and purpose and needs replacing, even if it is a short piece, you don't want the spores to spread into surrounding good wood.

Damp normally happens at a fairly small spot but gradually wicks out over time to encompass an increasingly larger area. The rot will similarly happen at the original area as it has been wet the longest.

Temporary repairs can often be made to slow the water ingress down until permanent repairs can be carried out, clear Gorilla tape is what I used on mine.

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.


Personmaggie51
via mobile 05/10/2024 at 8:50pm
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Thanks the caravan uy did it with his peotimeterand it read 14 15 and 20 in 1 spot he does damp repairs at a caravan dealers He said if the van had been in thier workshop they would have put it down as watch The other guy said it read higher than that . All he said was watch and next service in August next year see what reading is them if its higher or a problem he can remove wall oars and sort it But he said there's no worry at the moment

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maggie


PersonPickled Onion
06/10/2024 at 2:28pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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Yes, ambient moisture on a damp day, (and we've had plenty of them this summer), will show mid-teen readings for a while. When a damp reading of 40 or 50+% is recorded them repairs need to be done. For now I'd try to see if there is an obvious reason for water getting in, (stress crack, missing screw, flaking/cracked mastic or rubber gasket seals around the windows lifting). You can then arrange to get the work done and avoid long trem damage.

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.


Personmaggie51
06/10/2024 at 5:23pm
 Location: manchester
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It was a window seal where it was coming in and he repaired it put us a new seal on the guy that did the service in august said it was 40 percent. Couldn’t get anyone to re do seal then we found this guy and he’s done it that’s his job damp repairs The week before he did the seal I prised the old seal off and had a heater on it Then he did new seal and now reading is 20 but only in one place He said if it was in thier workshop they would just put it down to watch it it the seal had been done he said it will take a while to dry. Out

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maggie


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PersonPickled Onion
06/10/2024 at 10:39pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
 Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H View Pickled Onion's Profile View Profile   Reply to Pickled Onion Reply   Quote Pickled Onion Quote  
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Looks like youn have it sorted in good time, well done. Water ingress in caravans is the insidious problem that needs to be tackled as soon as it is found so that any damage can be kept to a minimum. Damp testing each year as part of a good service routine is good practice and will pay dividends long term.

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.



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