Just got my first motorhome needs alot of work it is suffering from damp I have removed interior wall and roof boards and have found alot of rotten wood which needs replacing. I am about to set about this, could anyone please advise me what timber I should use and if/what it should be secure to the aluminium skin with.
It's a difficult decision, because whichever way you go involves compromise - either longevity or cost.
The original maker will have gone for lowest cost, and used a softwood which has little resistance to rot. If the sealant system is good then this will be fine, but at the first sign of leakage it will be gone (as you know).
If you assume that your chosen sealant won't last forever (a good assumption) then a slightly higher cost solution would be pressure-treated softwood, as used in fencing. Should hold up well ~but~ AFAIK they don't sell it "planed all round" so you may have problems with accurate fit and wavy panels.
And then there are various hardwoods - many are very resistant to damp and stay dimensionally stable when wet, but that will jack up the cost significantly.
If the budget stretches to it I would use sitka spruce or douglas fir. I would then coat the wood with epoxy resin something like the West System) to protect it from further moisture ingress.
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Thanks for your input will see what I can get down the woodyard on saturday.I know they stock pressure treated timber but not sure about spruce or fir I am thinking coating the wood would be a good idea choose what I get.
I have already started a DIY repair taking all the damp and rotted wood out replacing as needed. Thinking of coating the roof with Protecta-Kote or similar rubber based coating as anyone else tried this.
Renovations to my motorhome are going well I have however fond a few pin holes in the aluminuim roof panel filled and patched. I am thinking of putting a elastomeric type paint coating on the roof, just wondering if anyone as done this and could advise which to go for.
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Topic: Newbie seeking advice
