I was thinking it would make good compost? I'm not sure but it looks like these batons were stuck to the ali skin of the caravan and then stapled to the ones running down the front of the van? What type of wood should I use to replace them? And how should I join them to the bits that are ok? When the caravan was made would they have used one long bit running front to back or will i discover joins as I excavate down the van?
I would recommend using an approved caravan workshop for that repair, or at least to look at the problem in order to advise the parts that are needed, the damage done by the damp looks quite extensive.
Hi Louise , have a look at caradads website http://www.caravanrepairs.talktalk.net/rebuild.html you'll be able to see from the pictures how to go about joins . I would buy softwood batten from B and Q , bond it into place using Tigerseal or Sikaflex 512 tube mastic and join to other existing battens using staples , then i would fill the area around the join with Gripfill ( non solvent type ) ( this bonds and sets rock hard ) .
Thanks for your reply. What I've found now is that as the rotten bits have dried they are sticking extremely well to the skin, maybe i should have picked them out while damp? How should I get the final bits off, I dont really want to go using metal tools if i don't have to, for fear of denting the outside?
At the moment we're struggling to get the truma heater / water tank out, and that i think is what is stopping us from getting the front board in the caravan out? We've (my dad) has taken off the outside cage of the filter(?) and now there is another one where we've removed 4 screws but there seems to be a hidden one at the top, in the middle that we can't see. Any ideas how we might access that? I've taken the lid off of the truma thing, and exposed a big metal disc with screws and a tube across the top of it, if I dismantle this will I find the elusive screw?
Caradad's website is great, I'll point my Dad in that direction as well to get some inspiration! I didn't realise how simply caravans were built until I started taking mine to bits, strangely I'm quite enjoying it.
Still have to find out where the water's coming in, the damp tide mark starts about 5 inches above the front lights, so I'm not sure if these could be the problem coupled with the side seam? I've no damp at all in the top, though will have to remove and refit the front windows as there is sign of damp between them on one side. When I removed the screws from the awning rails, I found 3 that were snapped out of about 20, though it still seems to be well glued onto the van. I'm sure that that isnt a good sign.
I've started doing my avondale landranger rear end b/room, stripping and replacing all the rot, its more extensive than I first thought. Re the awning rail/outside rails, these will appear to be well stuck but if not done since new these are probably the source of your problem. I'de recommend resealing the lot if the van is a few years old, use W4 roll mastic for the job and replace all screws with stainless steel ones. google the W4, caravan dealers sometimes have it in stock.
all my info comes from the "FIXED IT CLUB" on wizards website, I'm a photographer and will post my fix when complete, plus my own tips, should be done in another 2/3 days, hope you sort it out, my last van was completely ruined due to damp so I'm going through this one with a fine toothcomb. I knew it had a problem at the rear when I bought it, just didn't realize the extent but it can be done diy for a few pounds, 200 for mine, hope this helps, Harry
What have you reboarded with? Caravan board or something else? I have noticed that it seems difficult to get 3mm ply and there are no Caravan Suppliers local to me.
Find your local timber merchants, I've used one in Sunderland and another in Harrogate, both had 3.4mm ply in stock, which has done the job, I'm only home for an hour or two to pick up other items as its cheaper here and the wife has hospital apps to keep. My repair has taken ten days as it was more extensive than I thought but I'm now on to sanding the filler to feather in the boarding, then its fablon and furniture rebuild, I'll post the full monty online at end of job, which should be the weekend. It has been horrendous due to the weather and little hiccups but I've sorted it out now. Hazzo
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Topic: Damp Avondale
