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Hi Topbuzz , you should have my reply by now , here it is for others to add input if they'ed like to .
atb
Wizard
Hi Ian , the first thing to do is buy a damp meter for B&Q and see just how big the damp area is . From what you've said it sounds like the main places that the water is getting in are the window seal and door seal , but if the damp area extends right to the top of the wall then the awning rail will need resealing too . I wouldn't use a hose to see where the water is getting in as there's enough in the caravan already and adding extra could make the problem worse . The way i'd tackle the problem would be , access the size of the damp area with a damp meter , then remove the wallboard from that area , you will then get an idea of how long the area has been damp , ie the spars ( framework ) behind the wallboard is either rotted completely or they are sound but wet , and may possibility dry out . When removing the wallboard cut the damp area away using a stanley knife , the wallboard is only 3mm thick , use straight lines so that when you replace with new wallboard it is easier to just place a sheet up to the original wallboard . To lift the damp areas of wallboard use a wallpaper scraper and slide it between the wallboard and the polystyrene , try not to remove large pieces of polystyrene , it will dry out with the use of a fan heater , the polystyrene is normally bonded to the caravan skin so there shouldn't be any water between the outer skin and the polystyrene . Take pictures as you do the work , these will help you when you come to rebuild , ie see how the spars were placed , how fittings go back into place etc. Once you have removed the damp wood ( wallboard / spars ) dry the area using a fan heater ( don't leave unattended or place too close , risk of fire ) , have some way of letting the moisture out either a window open or a roof light ( remember to shut them when you've finished drying out that day ) . Try to protect the area from rain , ie a plastic sheet taped on the outside of the caravan from the roof down , gaffer tape could be used . So now you have the area dried out and protected the next step is to reseal , this is done in different ways depending where you are resealing . If you are doing a window seal the wallboard will need to be back in place before refitting a new seal ( or resealing a old one ) . If you are resealing a awning rail it will depend on if you have had to remove any of the spars that the rail screws into , if the spars were ok then you just unscrew the awning rail , remove it , reseal and refit ( see my website instructions ) . If you have removed some of the spars then , remove the awning rail , refit the new spars in place then refit the awning rail . I haven't resealed a door frame myself , so can only assume that it's along the same lines as a awning rail reseal , i would myself try to avoid taking the door frame out if at all possible . You should be able to replace the seal it's self with out removing the frame . With all aluminium rails / frames you should try to avoid bending them out of shape , it's difficult but not impossible , if you do bend them you can reshape them by very gentle bending .
This info should be enough to get you started , feel free to ask as many questions as you like , be glad to help . Where abouts do you live , if it's not to far from me i could possibly pop over and have a look . Although when you see how bad the damp is it can be soul destroying , the thing to remember is it IS fixable . If you do the work yourself it's can be done cheaply . My first caravan ( the Sprite ) is still going strong and still bone dry 3years later , it didn't look like the original wallboard because i couldn't afford the manufactures stuff at the time ( still can't LOL ) but the repair blended in well with the rest of the caravan . I'm no expert on caravan damp , i just try to help/advise where i can .
atb Wizard
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