Be aware of Woodworm

[Debs_374316421]

We bought a new caravan 2 years ago and have recently found it to have woodworm. We insure it through the Caravan Club, who state that it is not covered. The 3 year warrenty excludes intrusion of foreign or harmful bodies. If its in our van it must be in others from the same manufacturer. Has anyone had the same problem. Are we covered in any way. A £14,000 van is a lot to lose.

Debbie

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Deborah,

I am very sorry to read of your discovery.

All is not lost though. Even though your insurance does not cover infestation, if you can provide expert opinion that strongly points to the fact that it was present at the time you purchased the caravan, you would have a claim against the seller under the sale of goods act.

The biggest difficulty would be to obtain a report from an expert in woodworm infestations that can show that in all probability the infestation was present at the point of sale.

This has nothing to do with the manufacture as your contract was with the seller.

 

[martin.]

Woodworm takes a long time to show through, could do with seeing a picture of it really.

If it is woodworm then it's been there since manufacture and you need to go to them about it.

All timber is kiln dried and pressure treated when it's sawn and planed, you shouldn't be getting woodworm at such an early stage in the woods life.

Can you give me a little more info on it, where it is, and how much there is.

 

[Debs_374316421]

Martin

It started in an eye level cupboard above the seating but has spread to all three cupboards along that side. There are now about a 100 holes. I understand it stays in the wood for about 3 years then comes out to mate.

We don't know how long the manufacturer has had the wood.

 

[martin.]

If there is that much then i suggest you take photos and get in touch with the manufacturer, the wood has obviously been infected before it was machined and hasn't been treated properly before installation.

If you have no joy with the manufacturer then there are solicitors out there who will do a free consultation with you and send a letter to them for you and if need be send one to the people you bought your van from.

Have a look on the internet about wood worm, print off the information you need and take it to the supplier.

http://www.woodwormtreatments.co.uk/house-longhorn-beetle.htm
http://www.woodwormtreatments.co.uk/powderpost-beetle.htm
http://www.woodwormtreatments.co.uk/powderpost-beetle.htm
http://www.woodwormtreatments.co.uk/common-furniture-beetle.htm
http://www.woodwormtreatments.co.uk/wood-boring-weevil.htm
These are 5 links to all woodworm types in the UK, makes interesting reading.

 

[Essexeddie]

It sounds like common furniture beetle or Anobium Punctatum.

I would suggest you get it treated ASAP before it gets into the main structure.

Clear out everything and spray to refusal [saturate] with a proprietary insect killer.

At this stage that is your best line of action.

I used to run my own Timber Treatment/Rising Damp Company.

Edd

 

[Essexeddie]

I will add that it all could be old flight holes.

A simple test is to place a sheet of paper below the holes then tap the wood. If dust comes out of the holes then its active, if not then its redundent. The holes could of been there unnoticed. Hopefully.

Edd

 

[Geist]

Martin wrote:

⇦All timber is kiln dried and pressure treated when it's sawn and planed, you shouldn't be getting woodworm at such an early stage in the woods life.⇦br/>

Sorry - I just had to smile when I read this - it brought

back some memories of the mid-1980's and Trophy Caravans of Preston

They were caravan manufacturers who was based (IIRC) at Lostock Hall in part of a crumbling former textile mill. I once had to call there - and I was absolutely amazed at the chaos and the mess.

The main door into the 'factory' was semi-rotten and was locked with a smallish padlock! while outside, in the debris-strewn yard, were piles (literally 'piles' - as in 'heaped up'!) of fixtures and fittings - wash basins, pre-formed cupboards, seat bases, wardrobe doors! - you name it, it was all strewn about, some of the piles were half covered with plastic tarpaulins, some were not,

Rather than a functioning factory, it looked as if there had been a fire or flood and people had rushed in to rescue whatever they could, tossing the salvage into heaps in their haste!

There was, of course, no fire and no flood - it was just how Trophy conducted business

Anyway, to the point - among the piles of furniture and fittings where racks of raw timber (used for the framing, etc, in their vans) which were completely uncovered and open to whatever rain decided to fall on it

When I saw that madhouse, I was no longer surprised that my 18 month old Trophy Medallion has leaked and rotted under the front bed lockers...

One hopes that Trophy were a bizarre exception to the caravan industry rule - but, having seen for myself production standards that would shame any handy pensioner making wooden ornaments on a part-time basis in his garden shed, I personally would no longer rule *anything* out

To the OP - sorry about your discovery, it must be a big worry. Your best bet (as advised) is to claim against the retailer of the van. Is it on finance? - if so, that might be handy - it becomes the finance companies problem, and they have a lot more clout than you against manufacturers and dealers.

I'm currently sending a whopping big Black Horse to give Geist Leisure Vehicles and Wandahome Caravans a thoroughly deserved kicking

Good luck with your own prob.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello again Deborah

I have no knowledge of the life cycle of wood worm, so I can only be guided by the comments provided by other correspondents.

If they are correct, and you caravan has been infested with woodworm from some point prior to you purchasing it, then you have a very strong case under the sale of goods act against the 'seller'.

The act requires the 'seller' to supply good fit for purpose and free of any material defect at the point of sale. Woodworm in a caravan clearly contravenes this aspect of the act.

The act uses the word 'seller' and for good reason. - when you purchase or agree to purchase any item (in this case a caravan) you make a contract with the seller - no one else. The seller is the organisation to which you pay your money.

This therefore means it is very unlikely that you purchased direct from the manufacture. You therefore have no contract with the manufacture. In some cases people use a finance house to provide credit, which makes the finance house the seller. For those of us who pay directly, then the dealer is the seller.

For the above reasons Martin is fundamentally wrong to suggest you involve the manufacture. Do not get involved directly with the manufacturer, they are not a party in your contract. I would also advise that if the manufactures is involved in discussions, you do not have to accept their position as final, Your case is against the seller.

I strongly advise that you seek an expert opinion and report regarding the infestation, and if it is probable that it existed at the time of purchase, then seek professional legal advice on how to proceed.