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Subject Topic: newbie needing help on damp Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonDART440
09/5/2015 at 9:59am
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Hi All

We are new to caravaning and a couple of weeks ago I bought a 1999 Avondale Dart 440/5 for my daughter from a couple in Wales who said there was no damp whatsover

Like a fool I trusted them as they seemed genuine

However, my daughter went away in it on the recent may bank hoiliday and ended up with a damp pillow and a damp sheet at the other end as the rain was quite heavy

She kept sobbing as she loves the caravan and also as she had to come home early as my grand daughter suffers from asthma and cant risk her being in a damp area

Initially I thought it was total doom and gloom, but after reading a few messages here it seems not all may be lost and to just get on with it and sort it out

My question is on glues mainly but first I will explain where I think the issues are

The main issue is damp on the nearside bottom corner and also similar on the otherside (havent investigated this area properly yet though)

I dismantled the bed/settee base and the bottom front area is full of rotten ply which I estimate is 2 inches up from the floor times 12 inches long from the front, and 12 inches up and 2 inches deep right at the front - so like a mirror L shape as you look at it if that makes sense

This appears to have been caused by the nearside awning rail outer rubber seal about 3ft in from the front where it joins badly and has also been bodged by what looks like bathroom sealant over it

The dehumidifier is now working overtime and has extracted around 2 litres in 4 days

I purchased some awning rail rubber (for a Bailey) from A & E caravan spares in Northwich who have been very helpful and will be attempting to replace this when the weather is better and also get some of the inner awning rail tape once I know the size

Not entirely sure how I am going to replace the ply but was thinking about carefully cutting the rotten ply out with a dremmel type saw - is this the right way

Then maybe paint on some ronseal wet rot wood hardener around a small area of the ply left on (keeping well away from the polystyrene) and then replace the polystyrene and ply

My questions at last then:

This may sound a bit dumb, but is it just normal polystyrene as I have some thick sheets that hopefully I can cut to the right thickness

Can I use exterior grade 3.6mm ply from b&q and paint with some kind of sealer

Do I glue the polystyrene to the outside aluminium ? as well as the ply to the polystyrene

On the subject of glue - can I use PVA glue as I know there seems to be some kind of questions to the type of glue to be used and caravans seem to fall into a more expensive category than normal house type repairs

Cant see whay I cant use it as Bostik say its ok on both ply and polystyrene but thought I would ask the forum just in case

It also seems quite good as a damp sealer

Final question sorry

There is a small void st the front bottom corner that leads into the front of the caravan

Could I use some of that expanding foam to fill this area

Sorry its been such a long post

Any ideas/thougts will be much appreciated

Also have a bit of floor delamination but will save that for another time

Thanks for your help


Personbilly
09/5/2015 at 10:25am
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Glue to use is good quality exterior grab glue. Evostik Serious Stuff works well. Sealant to use on awning rail & elsewhere is PU type. Silkaflex512 or cheaper brand. Search Amazon for PU sealant.

Otherwise no hard & fast rules, you sound like you are handy diy so do what you think is necessary for waterproof repair. This website will help you.


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PersonDART440
09/5/2015 at 11:38am
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Not heard of Evostik Serious stuff but just googled and looks perfect

I like DIY and not an expert,    but it needs to be done and cant afford to get a Caravan repair company to do it so will just soldier on

Sikaflex 512 looks like exactly the stuff to use also

Thank god for uk campsite forums otherwise I would have no idea

many thanks again Billy X


Personkazo2014
09/5/2015 at 12:18pm
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before yu ripping the caravan apart what official evidence have you got that its damp? did you check the caravan over with a damp meter?

what you could be describing is condensation, which is often mistaken for damp esp by new caravanner.

the weather hasn't been very good of late, and in an enclosed environment the coking and living in such a space can produce a lot of moisture and esp with heating on too, was the caravan closed up on a night with all vents shut? was the heating on gas? was the shower used and then not vented thr an open window, towels drying in the caravan? not to mention cooking, any of these could have been the cause of the problem


PersonDART440
09/5/2015 at 12:58pm
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Hi kazo2014

I didnt check with a damp meter to be honest, but I pulled some of the wallpaper back in the bottom corner (about 4" square) and the corner piece of ply (about 4" square) has disintegrated and completely wet

I have just taken the wallpaper back (about 15" square ish ) and I can now see more wet rot up to about 12" x 6"   and will need to remove some of the ply I guess where its crumbly up to where its damp but solid

I dont really want to take that much ply out and where its damp but solid I was hoping to use ronseal wet rot wood hardener and should do the trick there I hope

Any thoughts

Good point on the condensation though as she did have the electric heating on quite a bit and was using the cooker and I know she wouldnt have opened any windows but will make her aware for the future

Dont think she used the shower but not sure

Thanks again


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Personkazo2014
09/5/2015 at 3:55pm
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ok so my advice would be that you need to be looking above and around where the dampness you have found actually is, something isn't sealed at all! if there is a window above it then check the seals on that, otherwise its a case of checking the aluminium strip where the side and roof join, but avondales did have a problem with the floor rotting and water could possibly have got in that way


PersonTaylor56
09/5/2015 at 10:40pm
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The dehumidifier won't help much unless the van is sealed.
You may be drawing some moisture from the damp area but most of the water is out of the atmosphere due to the ventilation in the van.
If you keep the heating on leave a roof light open little to help stop condensation.


Personthe black fox
10/5/2015 at 9:34am
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as all the above ,the first place that needs looking at is where the rail has been sealed with silicon previously look on both outside and inside for signs of water ingress there ,as long as the wood is still good internally clean the rail properly and re-seal using sikaflex etc .
    its totally useless repairing the inside while its still coming in from outside ..the best method of drying out at this time of year is ventilation on a nice bright breezy day or two .also check every seam ,rail on the van you'll be surprised how many jobs you need to attend to .once thats done the inside can be fixed /bodged /made good any way that suits you and your budget .it can be fun at times .
   one final tip and worth remembering its a old van and in use will shift and creak about so before the winter invest in a caravan cover ,this will keep it dry during the six months or so of inactivity and prolong its total life



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