Damp and sealing

[Debbi_5109580]

Just spent a week at Kielder and it rained and rained and rained. Discovered my 1992 Avondale Pearle Adonis has four damp spots. The water is not pouring in but the wood under the seat at the back and front of the caravan is wet, the other is the bottom of the panel next to the door, but not the door frame.

I know it will not be worth having panels replaced as the caravan only cost £2,000 ( a lot of money to me but not compared to newere vancs), I have been quoted £400 to re seal the van.

Is this a good price? Will have it done to prolong life of an otherwise immaculate caravan. We are in the North or England but can go down to North Yorkshire if I can get a better service.

Would it be better to leave it under cover (has always been outside before) for the winter to dry out and then have it done at the beginning of next season?

Any advise greatly appreciated

 

[sharpy]

debbi, this quote, is it from a dealer or a specialist workshop? as in my experience, most dealers don't remove any cover-strips wich cover the joins. all they do is to run a silicone bead on the top and bottom of said cover-strip, which looks messy and is far from being a good job. it may be worth enquiring how the job is to be done first.

the only proper way to ensure a watertight join is to remove the cover-strip, remove all old mastic, allow area to dry, de-grease thoroughly, fill old screw holes with suitable liquid type filler (sikaflex 221,225 or 291),re-apply plenty of new mastic either liquid or band and re-fit cover-strip with new stainless screws with the thread covered in liquid mastic which are then put into new holes. many people advocate the use of band and liquid mastics used together, personally, i don't and in many years in the marine trade we only ever use one type of mastic, be it band or liquid, never together. hope this helps.

 

[Debbi_5109580]

Thank you for that information. It looks like I may be in luck with the company I tried as the first thing they said was that they removed all the cover strips, cleaned the area, replaced the mastic and then put the strips back on.

The price is from the Caravan Clinic so they are specialists not dealers.