I've just returned from our second blissful stay in our 1992 ABI Nightstar - it seems the perfect 'van for us, ideal layout, cosy, roomy, you name it, feels made for us BUT we have the dreaded damp... When I bought it from the dealership (which friends of ours have used and trusted for some years now), they said it had some damp, along the front and back rails, & that they both needed cleaning/resealing etc and possibly some repair to the back. My friends said they'd help me do this, with the option for me to have the board replaced at the end of the season if necessary. We did the work, which went well and the front is now totally dried out, great repair... did the back, found there seemed to be ingress around the pullhandle and that the wood was rotting, so fixed it as best as possible, planning to take it back for the repair at the end of the season.
Unfortunately, the damp must be coming in from somewhere higher up, as it hasn't dried out in the way the front has, and feels soggy. To top it all, the day before we went away last week, there was a little puddle of brownish water just below the low vent in the bathroom (on the side). I'm now worried the damp is on the side too.
My question is (and sorry to be so long-winded) - what are my options? Should I just take it back for the repairs (which if they are major might be beyond my budget). Is there such a thing as free-lance servicing which would cost less? Or should I forget it, and invest in another 'van? I'm guessing they'll only give me scrap value on my old one :-( Unfortunately my diy skills aren't up to the admirable level of work that I've noticed that many of you have carried out on your 'vans, so doing the work myself, even with friends' help, isn't an option.
If you're wondering why I was crazy enough to knowingly buy a 'van with damp in the first place, it's because it gave me what we needed for our budget - lone parent and all that - and the work seemed do-able... just my luck that we've had the wettest summer ever :-( If I can use the 'van for one more summer I'll have got my money's worth!!! And we do love it, and would prefer to keep it...
I'd be so grateful for any feedback, especially if it's gentle :-)
Heather
------------- the tenter who became a caravanner who became a tenter :)
Hi Heather , it's a difficult one to answer , i would for now clean where the awning rail joins the roof , use white spirit on a rag ( just a damp rag not soaking ) , clean the whole length of the rail . Next do the same again with meths ( sealant doesn't like sticking very well to white spirit , but white spirit is a good cleaner ) . Now run some Sikaflex 512 Caravan tube mastic along the join , this hopefully should stop more water coming in through the awning rail .
If you have questions ask away , The Fixed it Club are here to help.
Thanks so much, Wizard, I have some of the silkaflex already so I'll get cracking on that asap... I'll do the side as well as the end and hope for the best for the time being - at least it'll buy me a bit of time, and maybe another trip or two before the winter :-)
Heather
------------- the tenter who became a caravanner who became a tenter :)
Quote: Originally posted by alsparker on 30/8/2007
now why didnt I think of doing that instead of lifting all the rails Wiz?
dohh that idea may just help me as I am about to lift the centre roof seals for resealing and I am going to use sikaflex too.
Hi Als , surely your caravan doesn't need more work ( or are you jest doing it for fun ), do take plenty of pictures when you lift your centre rail , like to see how you get on with this one as it's going to be a bit of a stretch to reach the rail . Good luck
Hi Heather, Once you've stopped any more water coming in the van should dry eventually. I've every faith in Wizards over the top resealing methods. I've done it on a few suspect areas round the awning rail where I didn't want to strip, it's worked ok for me. I'd do the same at the vent if you think that could be leaking too.
My DIY skills aren't very good either, but I managed (with the Fix It Club help) to get my Adria dry & solid. She's not the prettiest caravan in the world and bears some scars of both the water damage and my lack of experience fixing things but the damp meter doesn't even click now.
Perhaps between yourself, your friend and the dealers your Nightstar can be saved?
My Dad is a retired joiner and gave me lots of advice and encouragement "it's only wood so it can all be replaced, repaired and glued or screwed into place, stop fretting!" was his most famous quote when I was struggling.
Maybe a local/friendly joiner or carpenter would be a cheaper option than a dealer repair.
Hi Anne, & Tim, thanks so much for your encouragement :-) I think I'll be sealing every possible place, and hope that it dries out... I think I may need to get the back panel replaced though as it is so sodden that the pull handle screws couldn't get a grip when I put them back in. In checking the inside to see how bad it was I also managed to tear a bit of the plastic lining/cover on the back wall so I ended up with one of those flexible plastic chopping mats over it, between the damp and the end of my bed, when we were away last week! Worked a treat though...
I do have one or two friends who are very practical and also experienced caravanners, so might be able to get a bit of help there if it looks a bit much for me, and before I go paying mega-bucks at the dealership's workshop. In the meantime I might end up back here with more questions, such as, is it worth me buying a caravan cover to keep out the rain over winter?
Heather
------------- the tenter who became a caravanner who became a tenter :)
als dont use the method uggested here and use a plank on 2 stepladders as it is too easy to fall off or slip. (done it feet were only 4 feet of the deck but head ws about 10, didnt break anything) my advice is to either hire or borrow a scaffold tower, far safer plus you have all the safety rails here you go mate http://www.hss.com/g/80200/Alloy-Span-Tower-Addit-1-0m.html
Quote: Originally posted by Emmo on 30/8/2007
Als - you need 2 stepladders and a couple of planks of wood, and prayers - so you don't collapse the roof when leaning on it!
As Wizard said, take lots of pics so we can see the escapade. Seriously though, good luck, not an easy one.
Is there any job the Fixed it Club can't do? I don't think there is.
We dont know yet as we will have a go at anything a caravan will throw at us lol.
wanted to get some very light child (grandkids) to scramble on the roof but nettie says child labour is illegallol,
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Topic: damp - what are my options?
), do take plenty of pictures when you lift your centre rail , like to see how you get on with this one as it's going to be a bit of a stretch to reach the rail . Good luck 
