
Insurance Discount Campsite Offers All offers UK Sites French Sites European Sites Map Search Text Search Near your Location Popular Searches Leave a Review My Saved Sites Add a New Site All Sections Caravanning Camping Tent Talk Motorhomes Trailer Tents Backpacking Equipment Statics UK Campsites Camping Abroad General Chat News More Sections Latest Posts All Adverts Tents for Sale Caravans for Sale Motorhomes for Sale Equipment for Sale Post an Advert Campsite Jobs All Categories Caravanning Advice Caravan Equipment Tents and Camping Motorhomes Towing and Towcars Equipment Furniture and Cooking Electrical / Gas Shows and Events General More Categories Join for Free Log In

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Caravans and Caravanning - Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance

Topic: Best way to ignore/live with damp

Post Reply

roz84

via mobile 25/6/2023 at 7:25pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 15/4/2012

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 60

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2026:	0
Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0

Site Nights 2026:	0
Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0

We've just bought a VERY cheap caravan to use as a tack/tea room. It definitely won't be going anywhere else unless it's the scrapheap in the sky, it's a 1988 (?) swift corniche 12/2 if that makes any difference. There are 2 spots on the sides at the front (near the windows) that are soft, we've identified a likely hole and filled it and will reseal the whole van. Apart from that I'm not interested in ripping it out to repair or anything, the rest of the van seems solid enough although I'm not going to go overboard investigating, so my question is, if this was yours what would you do? Seal the outside and leave/ignore the soft spots, or is there some type of glue that could be painted on to bind the patches together a bit just to make sure they don't crumble then restick the wallpaper? They're not massive patches I just don't want them to get worse and it would be good if we could get a year or two out of it just sat where we've parked it!

Thanks for reading my very long ramble!

Dave and Cyn

via mobile 25/6/2023 at 8:25pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Sancerre S7

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 23/7/2018

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 308

Site Reviews Total:	2

Site Reviews 2026:	1
Site Reviews 2025:	1
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0

Site Nights 2026:	7
Site Nights 2025:	4
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0

I've a reputation as a bit of a bodge it numpty.
If it were mine under the conditions you describe I'd look at rubbing down the front panels and repainting them with a couple of thick coats of waterproof mastic style paint.
In this weather leaving it open to air will help it dry out a bit.

roz84

via mobile 25/6/2023 at 9:32pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 15/4/2012

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 60

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2026:	0
Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0

Site Nights 2026:	0
Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0

Ok, I will investigate that paint - I think the outside skin is ok though, it's more the rotten bit of wall I'm hoping to bodge!

Colin21

26/6/2023 at 5:03pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 6596

Site Reviews Total:	20

Site Reviews 2026:	1
Site Reviews 2025:	1
Site Reviews 2024:	1
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	2
Site Reviews 2021:	2
Site Reviews 2020:	0

Site Nights 2026:	8
Site Nights 2025:	8
Site Nights 2024:	7
Site Nights 2023:	8
Site Nights 2022:	12
Site Nights 2021:	18
Site Nights 2020:	0

A common problem and one I have recently encountered in our 1992 Elddis which we do hope to get a few more years out of.

The damage is almost certainly much worse than it appears as I only found a couple of soft patches to start with. It turned out the entire front end was rotten, but I had half expected that.

As you are not expecting to use yours in the same way that we are, I would just seal up the outside, let the interior dry out thoroughly, then stick some panels over it. You could use something like very thin ply, sticking it on with an adhesive such as grip-fil.

I have had to make up all new framework and cut out wooden ply panels as a replacement. It hasn't cost much, less than £200 including a step-platform costing around £60 to get at the outside, but it is very time consuming. It should buy us a few more years with it though, and we plan to go away with it again later this year when it is finished.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance - Top of Page

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

Upcoming Event

Motorhome and Campervan Show Exeter 20/11 to 22/11

A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets

5643 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Special Offers]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Tent Reviews]

[Contact Us]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2026