or should it be called butchery? We picked up a new [to us] van in Manchester on Saturday and when we had an in-depth inspection of her, I couldn't believe some of the DIY the previous and previous owners had done.
Example: They removed the travelling brackets for the table from the bathroom wall and installed some horrific shelves made out of chipboard and hung with these B & Q blocks. Where was the table supposed to go? Replaced the curtains with their own preference but added tie backs that are 2 sizes to small and have crushed the curtains! I count about 40 DIY jobs that should never have been done, like cupboard dividers and shelves made of heavy timber. None of these jobs enhance the van at all. I've just started removing about 25kgs of timber from the interior!!!
Never mind, she'll be ready for the off at the start of the new season, with less weight to bear and a fresh look, all DIY undone and any repairs made, to bring her up to parade standard.
Some people just don't have a clue. I must admit, I rarely store the table in the bathroom. The clips hardly look strong enough to hold a table when it is moving. Mine always travels with the table up or wedhed against one of the seats.
I would certainly never use chipboard in a caravan. Aside from the weight of it, the walls are not strong enough to be anchoring anything to. As for using it in the bathroom. Have they never seen what happens to chipboard when it gets wet?
I once had a boat which someone had put a chipboard door on... The water removed it quicker than a theif could.
hope you get the diy jobs undone!!!and the van to your own taste soon,it will give you a wee project i suppose, at least its not rotten with damp hope it all works out for you
read one time,with a caravan you do not do DIY for yourself if you intend to sell it to someone else in the future.i have seen caravans for sale at the local dealers with some terrible repairs and fittings making it almost unsaleable.is there a thin line between repair/improvement and DIY.on here we tend to encourage folk to do there own repairs.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Hi R.S.M. , I used to think that with a little care and know how that anyone could attempt DIY, But after haveing seen some work that some of these so called DIYers have done, (on two of the previous vans I bought) is beyond belief, I know think that when these DIYers where introduced to a hammer, it should have been over the head, to knock some common sence into them,and make them think and plan the kind of materials that need to be used regarding weight,very light and strong in construction, and take time and care in the work to be done.But above all ask questions on a forum like this where there is lots of advice and know how, Hope your DIYer was not as bad as the ones i came across, Good luck
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
PS, before I get shot down, I am not saying that no one should attempt DIY,on the contrary every one should have a go at it,my last post was for the one who thinks its a case of hitting a six inch nail into this and that, job done, i can do that. The DIYers that i came across did obviously did not have the skills to hit a nail into a wall never mind to take on a caravan, and they obviously never heard of this forum.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
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Topic: DIY in caravans
