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 Topic: Damp found in caravan today.
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Message posted by Martin1976 via mobile 17/1/2022 at 7:31pm
Outfit: Lunar Zenith and Vauxhall Insignia Location: Stamford
Joined: 30/7/2020
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Martin1976
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Hi all. Not sure if this is an issue or not, or exactly what I need to do!
Bought my caravan last year, it's a 2005 lunar zenith sport 4. I have a cheap damp meter (tenner off eBay) and have checked it over the year every few weeks to make sure nothing looks odd. Today I noticed a high reading (45%) on one of the inside corners.
I have checked this area before as it looks like it's been repaired previously, there was a bit of silicon repair where the vinyl paper looked like it had been taken back, but today I noticed a lot of bumping which was never there before.
See bumps
The damp reading is on the wooden bar bit with all the bumps at the bottom where it meets the wooden effect board.
I've taken the screws out and snapped this off, and it's black and mouldy under the paper.
The panel to the left of the image is actually the front of the van, over the locker storage. If I put my fingers behind the panels, the side feels dry but the front is wet. The wooden coloured board meets the plastic front of the van, and is soft. The bottom of the panel where it meets the wood colored board of also reading high, but only the very bottom.
I've checked the window seal and that seems dry. Is it possible this is condensation on the inside of the plastic panel running down and sitting on the board? It looks like it's wick'd up the wooden bit that I snapped off.
I've had a look around the outside and it doesn't look like there is any visible cracks etc that it could be coming in. There is a rail screwed on, but this is above the window and the readings everywhere else seen ok.
Any help or advice greatly appreciated.
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Message posted by Pickled Onion19/1/2022 at 11:47am
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 Honda CR-V IV Location: Near Alton Towers N. Staffs.
Joined: 23/2/2006
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Pickled Onion
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No, the gap isn't supposed to be there, it looks like the two pieces have moved apart due to the lack of strength and rigidity in the materials because of the dampness.
The wood that is soft is now rotten as it's been continually wet for some considderable time, my guess is that the previous owner was aware and tried to tidy it up instead of fixing it properly. It will have to be removed to see the full extent of the damage and back to sound wood, that is likely to point you in the direction of just where it came from. As already mentioned, there is no point doing a spot repair until the cause is found and rectified, it will only come back and probably worse.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if there isn't too much damage, most repairs, although daunting at first, can be done properly by the average DIYer. It's the time taken that means getting the professionals to do it so it will be expensive. I had occasion to replace a small area of rot and fix the problem with the awning rail a couple of years ago. There is plenty of advice to be had, see the 'Fixed It Club' on this forum plus videos on YouTube.
Dave.
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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.
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