so we bought a used van in May, it is about 20 years old so didn't expect it to be in great condition but in general, it really was. Except we forgot to check the bathroom for damp.
Fast-forward a couple of months when I felt the wall and it was spongy. I went to put the cover on the van for winter and found a small puddle of water on the shower floor so hubby decided we need to see the extent of the damage.
The damp meter showed that the whole side wall and roof in the bathroom was soaking wet. the other walls are fine and it doesn't seem to have creeped out into the dressing area.
When my hubby was pulling to fibreglass insulation out of the ceiling area it was absolutely saturated, timber frame is rotten and wallboard was like soil.
Water was literally running down his arm. As it seems to be confined to this back right corner area, we started to investigate.
The van is the ABI ACE Harmony, all the rails had been resealed and believe me they look very well sealed so that left the possibility of the bathroom skylight and there also seems to be a rail up on the roof. Skylight looks really well sealed so that left this roof rail. It had been raining and around about the area that was really wet there seem to be a bevel in this rail where a puddle had gathered. We believe this to be the culprit. The rail has been resealed so we are now at the dry and repair stage.
So essentially I've read through the forums, fixed it club etc but just wanted to be sure we tackle this correctly.
1. Chip of all rotten wood to polystyrene skin and remove rotten struts.
2.Dry out with either heater (windows open) or dehumidifier (skylights sealed)
3. Remove bathroom units and toilet during the drying process.
4. once dry check to ensure leaks have been filled
As far as possible, given the current state, photograph everything that might be difficult to figure out later, especially how things are orientated to one another.
Also measure positions and sizes of parts, where screw holes, wiring location etc and don't throw anything away until you are certain it is no longer needed for reference
OK so update. We've took out moat of the rotten wood and dried the van. Have treated remaining timbers with wood rot hardener and preserved the new timber/ply.
It rained heavily yesterday and it's leaking again. I can't figure out where its coming from. Here is the the leak.
Any ideas? There is a rail thar runs below the awning rail about this height but its looks ok. Thanks in advance
have you checked or re sealed the end panel on the van friend of mine had a similar issue we took the whole back panel off and awning rails re sealed both and its been fine since bit of a big job removing the whole back of the van but not impossible if you handy and take your time doing it
Oh sorry to hear this. If it's any consolation, I have had a leak or ten on my old caravan. And fixing another one right now!
Where the water gains entry on the outside is not necessarily where it's coming in on the inside, it can travel and meander a long way from where it's getting in on the outside, to where it eventually ends up on the inside.
Try examining in minute detail a bit at a time, the seals/sealant along the top and sides of the caravan. A leak on mine was coming right from the back of the caravan, travelling down the inside of the roof, and exiting on the inside below the front window. I found out where the water was getting in by getting a neighbour to stand outside with a hosepipe and wetting a little bit at a time, further and further back, while I waited to see the water coming in. The moment I got the ingress, I asked him to stop running the hosepipe on it and mark the spot. Sure enough, you could see at last where the water was going in, and it was 6ft away from where it was coming out on the inside!
As you have already started the repairs to the inside, just do the above as it's already wet again. Then seal the outside, and dry out the inside and carry on. If you need to dry it out before you can see where the water is coming in, put a tarp over the top.
Just remembered another trick to see where the water is coming in. Get a roll of duct tape. Tape up the seams, rails, trims,etc., where you suspect the water might be coming in. If no water comes in, then you have the likely suspect(s). Peel the tape off a bit at a time and examine the seams/rails/ etc closely for defective sealant, loose screws, etc.
Thanks guys! I have some of that cling film protector stuff on a roll thats used to protect kitchen units and laminate flooring. I put some on two area last night where we think it might be coming in and it was dry again today. We think it could be the rail below the awning rail so have sealed that and done the hose pipe test on that side of the van. So farso good.
To be on the safe side I'll do the hosepipe on other areas tomorrow before I add the new ply.
Glad you found out where the water was getting in.
Don't fit the new ply until you've made sure that the interior of the wall is completely dry. Or you will be sealing up damp which will start of rotting again. Spend plenty of time waiting for the area to dry out. I used a small damp meter from Amazon to keep checking, until it read 0%... and that was dried out from 40% damp!
This chap on You Tube had a good idea for preventing water coming in over the windows in his caravan, it maybe could be adapted for your awning rail. Thinking of doing a similar thing above the rail the window hangs from on the front of my caravan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86AepFywkLg
Quote: Originally posted by wumps on 28/5/2019
i fitted those to all the windows on my old 1995 swift last year and its a good thing to do amazing how much water it takes away
Great to have some input from someone who has actually done this! I think I will do the same at some point, it can only help, and shouldn't cost too much.
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Topic: water running down walls- damp
via mobile 26/5/2019 at 11:50am
