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Topic: roof leak to buy or stay away?

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richiewake

05/11/2013 at 7:42pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: suncamp holiday 550 tt

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Hi really want a starter van , been to look at a 1992 swift 510 £ 400,
Has a very bad leak from skylight, I'm fine fixing the leak but looks like its been leaking for a month or so . Was all dripping wet from celling and puddles on the floor . Floor felt pretty soild still , was thinking buying fixingleak and rrunning dehumidifier inside for say a week ? Is this enough to save it or should I walk away ?

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asumption is mother of all f**kupps

Jack+Jon

05/11/2013 at 8:06pm
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Once you have sealed the leak then the inside will dry out ok. Obviously check the 'van for water ingress at other points over rest of body but if thats ok then you should be ok.

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Regards, Jack+Jon.

Al+Mel

06/11/2013 at 8:12am
Location: Hants
Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270

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Take a damp meter and check it all over to get the full picture. If you are good at DIY and have the time it could be worth while, but a dehumidifier won't dry the framework out as this is in between the waterproof ally outer skin and the waterproof vinyl wallboard covering inside the 'van.

If the 'van has been leaking for some time, there could well be rotten framework in the ceiling, awning rail and walls. Time consuming to fix, but not impossible.

jayc001

06/11/2013 at 12:00pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000

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It will take sometime to dry and will need the wallcoverings removed as has been said above the moisture is trapped between two waterproof layers. Leave it trapped and it will rot away.

If the rest of the van looks ok and it has accessories then £400 would be reasonable if you just had to do the leak and recover.

richiewake

06/11/2013 at 9:16pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: suncamp holiday 550 tt

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Thanks for the replies, are the roof coverings easy to remove?

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asumption is mother of all f**kupps

richiewake

06/11/2013 at 9:19pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: suncamp holiday 550 tt

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Was thinking of drilling holes in celling to allow dehumidifier and blower to draw the mouister out, then just fill in holes?

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asumption is mother of all f**kupps

redheads

06/11/2013 at 9:54pm
Location: kent
Outfit: 2004 Abbey freestyle discovery 2 td5

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hello I found water leaking in through the toilet door frame after removing toilet and carpet around that area I used a dehumidifier kept it running continually for 2 weeks in the affected area and yes it did dry it out there will be comments that it takes air from out side yes it may do but far out ways it drying out inside I did it and it worked I used my damp meter every couple of days to see any difference and over that period it went from red 40% to green 8% I advise getting a good quality damp meter and you can check it much better for damp and then decided what your letting your self in for fix or walk away what ever you do good luck.

jayc001

07/11/2013 at 1:32pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000

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Probably easier to remove the covering rather than drill and fill. It's just a vinyl wall paper.

Dehumidifiers do work well in a caravan. I taped up all my vents to prevent it drawing in excess air from outside. Desiccant dehumidifiers work far better than regular compressor types especially as the temps are dropping now.

cuz62

07/11/2013 at 3:21pm
Location: forest of dean
Outfit: swift kontiki 655 vogue

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why not remove the strip lights and let some air and heat circulate,easier than removing the ceiling which is not easy,see what is attached to it

richiewake

07/11/2013 at 8:39pm
Location: None Entered
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Thanks again for the advice , picked up tonight resealed the gaskets around all 3 roof vents and got the massive dehumidifier from work on the go with a blower heater on low, will see how it gets on over the weekend. Found lots of over bits to sort out to keep me busy.

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asumption is mother of all f**kupps

jayc001

08/11/2013 at 1:04pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000

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Enjoy. It's a good time of year for repairs. I'd hate to be having to do them in the summer when I'd rather be away in the van than working on it.

Gabriel Oaks

11/11/2013 at 10:09pm
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I'm doing up a 1979 Cadet, and it's had damp in three places, so I'm renewing the joists, fitting new boards on the inside, it's no major thing, you don't have to be too much of a carpenter. I'll be snug as a bug.

garethhowell

12/11/2013 at 10:23am
Location: St Neots UK
Outfit: CI Eccles Elite

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As others have said, repairs can be pretty easy. The one thing to watch out for is the situation I'm currently in.

My ABI Jubilee Rallyman is very damp and I am having a bugger of a job removing the internal upper lockers as they seem to have been fitted before the outer skin was attached. Frankly, it's a nightmare.

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