Hello everyone! I joined this site after buying 1999 Elddis Typhoon 4 birth just as lockdown hit. It's sitting comfortably in our garden, plugged into mains, and I may or may not have spent 3 cosy nights reminiscing about childhood adventures!! ;)
Bought it off a friend who just said bit of floor had delaminated. Yup, and have since found bubbling roof and rear wall vinyl showing rot too.
I'm a hands-on kinda gal so I've replaced rear wall, part of bathroom ceiling, and about a third of each side wall in bathroom, plus corresponding lat skeleton. I treated the new woods with preserver, and put new polystyrene sheets in. I need to remove/reseat awning/side rails now that they have actual wood to screw on to!
Decided to pull rotten living area ceiling down (too much time on my hands thanks to Covid19, and beats housework) and replace before doing the external rails.
My question is: once lats/polystyrene/ply have been replaced, has anybody had success over time using traditional wallpapering instead of 're-vinyling' panels - ie to allow a degree of evaporation through ply and paper rather than total sticky vinyl waterproof barrier keeping the damp in?
I'd much rather the wallpaper discolour or peel off in future alerting me to water ingress, than to find composted wood when my probing finger goes through the vinyl.
As much as I'm loving this, erm, challenge, I don't anticipate having a few months off again years down the line - let alone the energy or motivation - to rip it all out again.
Well done if you're still with me, apologies for the length of post!
Rainontheroof, if it was me I wouldn’t use ordinary paper, I am a retired decorator but also a fellow caravaner, some mornings when you wake up in the van there is condensation on the windows, so you can bet your life the air inside the van is damp and clings to surfaces which in turn could cause it too stick to the paper and cause mould over a period of time, also it will not be as hard wearing etc particularly if you knock or catch it with any objects, if I had done what you have I might have been inclined to paint with an eggshell paint, as an aside well done for doing the work you have done & not being daunted, it must give you a lot of satisfaction seeing the fruits of your labour
Hi RainOnTheRoof, what you have done is awe inspiring. I hope you took plenty of photos of your project. I have been putting off the repairs I know need doing but you have inspired me. I have been watching YouTube videos but am still hesitant. Best of luck with your new purchase and I hope you have many years of enjoyment in it. VanGo
------------- Kath
Seeing things that I may never see again,
I can't wait to get on the road again. WILLIE NELSON
Well done doing what you have done. I wouldn't know where to start and neither would a lot of people. HOpe soon this Covid will have gone and you can get away and enjoy your van.
Thank you everyone. I'm loving doing the work! Husband keeps out the way, just pops in occasionally to make sure I'm ok, or to lean on something while I screw it back together.
I didn't know where to start to be honest Sooty but massive thanks to the fixed it stories on this site, it gave me the confidence to start. The best bit of advice I can give is don't be disheartened when you get back to the bare skeleton thinking oh crap what HAVE I done!
Kpnuts that's a great shout about condensation. I'm a decorator too, but bliddy impetuous so had ordered washable wallpaper before I'd even started. Oops! The ceilings and behind/inside cupboards are all being eggshelled. There isn't much exposed surface wall area so hopefully torn paper will be minimal.
I Zinnser 123d the new ply in the bathroom, and BIN over the remaining vinyl, then lined the walls before papering above sink level, as patching in new ply showed the joints. I'm happy with it but will see how robust it is once repeated condensation hits.
I thought it would be easier and cheaper to replace wallpaper if a leak occurred than to be blissfully unaware till soft patches appeared behind vinyl. It takes longer to strip down the cupboards than it does to remove and replace the rotten panels. Rusty screws and staples are utter tw#ts to remove.
Vango I just looked at the fixed it photos, realised how simple the layers of a wall are and decided to start in the bathroom as it's a small space and I could shut the door to hide the mess!! The thoughts of being able to redecorate to my taste spurred me on, as a decorator I loathe and detest "safe" magnolia type colours :)
We're not overlooked so I'm quite happy to camp in the garden to practice using the van before we go away for real. Don't want to look an utter numpty newbie when we are allowed out again!
Hi rain on the roof, I’m soooo glad I’ve come across your post! We’ve just picked up our 2nd hand (new to us) caravan. I spent the day just sitting it in today with my two daughters. The joys of lockdown and having nothing to do. Anyway during this I’ve come across some peeling vinyl around the front window. We will need to get this looked at which we plan on doing with the service (when we can) but really I would like to scrape it off and replace it. I’m struggling to find anything! Do you have an Instagram for your restoration project? Would be amazing to see pictures!
Hi Lauren321, thank you! I'm almost finished, having replaced almost half the walls and ceiling plywood - turned into a bigger job than I first thought.
I've loved every minute of it, it's kept me sooooo busy during lockdown and now I have to move tools off one side of the seating area so hubby or boys can come in and chill while I'm working on the other side!!
I HATE the vinyl wall coverings but I appreciate how practical they are. Where the wood was sound underneath I struggled to peel it off, so I just smoothed filler over the edge and primed the lot before lining the walls. When I replaced the plywood around the front windows I just primed and eggshelled it all as most of it is covered by blinds anyway.
I'm not on Instagram, I'm not tech savvy, but I will ask No1 son how I can compile the photos and share.
I can't wait for it to rain - sad as I am - I want to snuggle up in the 'van with a good book and listen to the sound on the roof. Nothing better in my opinion... hence my "name"!! xx
Totally agree! My 11 year old was even begging for it to rain on Wednesday when we were in the caravan pottering about lol thanks for the reply. Eggshell it is!
Hi Rain on the roof, wow! What you have done sounds awesome. I picked up an old Elddis Hurricane yesterday. Spent the morning looking and cleaning down with sugar soap.. Do you have any photos of what you have done please? I am hoping that I haven’t too much damp, but I am sure there is a little..
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Topic: Damp repair - vinyl or wallpaper?
via mobile 27/4/2020 at 9:33pm
Kath 
