Hi all, am looking at a couple of caravans today. I havent got a meter, so would like t know how tomcheck for damp without one please. I know the floor shouldnt feel soft.
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Get right into corners inside furniture wall/floor join, wall corner join, ceiling/wall join, all around. All around window frames & roof lights, look for discolouring, wetness, softness & so on. If they are old there will probably be some damp somewhere even if you can't spot it, as long as its basically sound its ok. An old caravan is an ongoing project obviously. I was up a ladder on mine yesterday sealing around rooflight.
After the winter, a lot of caravans do feel a bit damp, or even smell a bit damp... there is a lot of difference between that and proper damp... as Billy says, just check all the joints, look out for wrinkled wallpaper and dark spots, check underneath the seats in the lockers, look for patches of mould.
tap bits with your knuckles.. find a part you know is dry.. tap it and get a feel for what it feels like and then tap around.. badly damp areas will have a different feel (ring) to them.. softer and duller..
look in places that get the least ventilation.. real "damp" problems should be pretty obvious when you know what to look for..
Also look for any bubbling of paintwork on the outside. We got caught out and bought a damp van. The firm that gave it it's first service spotted it straight away.
Actually they said they do a call out for £50, where they will check out a van for you before you buy. Would defo use that service, if and when we upgrade. Certainly worth ringing around your local caravan workshops to see if they do similar.
Thankyou all, well we purchased a Swift Challenger 530 2002. The dealer we had it from have a man come and do a safety check on the gas and there were just a couple of minor bits for them to do. So excited, after having our little Freedom Sunseeker for 2 years, i shall feel like I'm in a castle Lol
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
Quote: Originally posted by ferretlady on 25/3/2015
Thankyou all, well we purchased a Swift Challenger 530 2002. The dealer we had it from have a man come and do a safety check on the gas and there were just a couple of minor bits for them to do. So excited, after having our little Freedom Sunseeker for 2 years, i shall feel like I'm in a castle Lol
After my experiences I'd still fork out £20 and get yourself a damp meter quick. Its the only real way to tell. By the time you see the interior wall board bubbling the damage is done, and the repair extensive.
damp just needs where the water is coming in sealing.. when the damp has turned to structural wood rot a little more needs doing.. )
for damp to turn to wood rot does takes a long time.. a van that shows signs of damp van isnt necessary a rotten van but permanent damp areas will turn to wood rot in the end..
damp and wood rot are too different words even though on here they get used to mean the same thing..
Thankyou Trog!
i know i should really get a damp meter! I really do love the van and want to keep it in good condition, but really dont like the thought of taking panel out and the such like! As i say, i don't think there is damp, we did reseal a join towards the back of the caravan on the roof, just to be sure. We are also going to reseal the shower cubicle. We haven't used the shower yet, would rather wait till we've resealed it, just incase there are any leaks!
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
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Topic: checking for damp without a meter?
