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Subject Topic: checking for damp without a meter?
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Personferretlady
24/3/2015 at 7:19am
 Location: Mid Wales
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Hi all, am looking at a couple of caravans today. I havent got a meter, so would like t know how tomcheck for damp without one please. I know the floor shouldnt feel soft.

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Personbilly
24/3/2015 at 7:30am
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Get right into corners inside furniture wall/floor join, wall corner join, ceiling/wall join, all around. All around window frames & roof lights, look for discolouring, wetness, softness & so on. If they are old there will probably be some damp somewhere even if you can't spot it, as long as its basically sound its ok. An old caravan is an ongoing project obviously. I was up a ladder on mine yesterday sealing around rooflight.


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Personferretlady
24/3/2015 at 8:11am
 Location: Mid Wales
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Thankyou Billy, i think its going to be a day of poking and prodding! Lol

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PersonJax365
24/3/2015 at 8:16am
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After the winter, a lot of caravans do feel a bit damp, or even smell a bit damp... there is a lot of difference between that and proper damp... as Billy says, just check all the joints, look out for wrinkled wallpaper and dark spots, check underneath the seats in the lockers, look for patches of mould.

Good luck and let us know!

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Persontrog100
24/3/2015 at 10:16am
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tap bits with your knuckles.. find a part you know is dry.. tap it and get a feel for what it feels like and then tap around.. badly damp areas will have a different feel (ring) to them.. softer and duller..

look in places that get the least ventilation.. real "damp" problems should be pretty obvious when you know what to look for..

trog





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PersonFrannyvan
24/3/2015 at 10:52am
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Also look for any bubbling of paintwork on the outside. We got caught out and bought a damp van. The firm that gave it it's first service spotted it straight away.
Actually they said they do a call out for £50, where they will check out a van for you before you buy. Would defo use that service, if and when we upgrade. Certainly worth ringing around your local caravan workshops to see if they do similar.

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xxxx


Personsunshinetours
24/3/2015 at 3:08pm
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Depends on how much you are spending aswell. I wouldn't rely on touch or sight or smell if spending more than say a grand or two on a van.

For the sake of a few tens of pounds on a damp meter or a caravan mechanic on a van you really like ............


Personferretlady
25/3/2015 at 1:52pm
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Thankyou all, well we purchased a Swift Challenger 530 2002. The dealer we had it from have a man come and do a safety check on the gas and there were just a couple of minor bits for them to do. So excited, after having our little Freedom Sunseeker for 2 years, i shall feel like I'm in a castle Lol

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Personsunshinetours
25/3/2015 at 2:55pm
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Enjoy your new van!


Personfreeatlast
25/3/2015 at 3:04pm
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Quote: Originally posted by ferretlady on 25/3/2015
Thankyou all, well we purchased a Swift Challenger 530 2002. The dealer we had it from have a man come and do a safety check on the gas and there were just a couple of minor bits for them to do. So excited, after having our little Freedom Sunseeker for 2 years, i shall feel like I'm in a castle Lol

After my experiences I'd still fork out £20 and get yourself a damp meter quick. Its the only real way to tell. By the time you see the interior wall board bubbling the damage is done, and the repair extensive.


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Personferretlady
18/5/2015 at 12:07pm
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Hi all, still no signs of damp! Just a question, if there was, can this be repaired at a caravan repairers? Just wouldn't fancy doing myself!

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Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!


Persontrog100
18/5/2015 at 12:25pm
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damp just needs where the water is coming in sealing.. when the damp has turned to structural wood rot a little more needs doing.. )

for damp to turn to wood rot does takes a long time.. a van that shows signs of damp van isnt necessary a rotten van but permanent damp areas will turn to wood rot in the end..

damp and wood rot are too different words even though on here they get used to mean the same thing..

trog


Personferretlady
18/5/2015 at 12:43pm
 Location: Mid Wales
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Thankyou Trog!
i know i should really get a damp meter! I really do love the van and want to keep it in good condition, but really dont like the thought of taking panel out and the such like! As i say, i don't think there is damp, we did reseal a join towards the back of the caravan on the roof, just to be sure. We are also going to reseal the shower cubicle. We haven't used the shower yet, would rather wait till we've resealed it, just incase there are any leaks!

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PersonJohnnie Boy
18/5/2015 at 1:34pm
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Agree with Freeatlast ... buy a meter

I've had damp issues with my then 2 years from new van and the only way you could tell was with a meter. No soft spots or visable patches.

I had to have the rear wallboard replaced which involved removing the kitchen etc.


Personfleck2
18/5/2015 at 5:31pm
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They're only about 13 quid on Amazon, it's a no brainer.


Personandy monty
18/5/2015 at 11:14pm
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less than that fleck

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bositools%C2%AE-Moisture-Meter-Detector-Tester/dp/B00P3IODNY/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1431987218&sr=8-27&keywords=damp+meter



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