Damp around front windows

[Peter_374350880]

I recently had my van serviced, only to be advised that I have some damp issues to address. Aside from the dreaded awning rails I have some problems around the front window. On inspection there is a soft area in the wood at the top of right hand window. I fully expect to have a sizeable area to re-build once I get it stripped out.

My question is to others that have rectified similar problems, is the woodwork actually attached / bonded to the outer panle of the van or is is just built up to the inner face and not attached to allow for flexing of the van? Trust that this makes sense!!. Van is a 95 Avondale Perle Orion if that makes any difference

Any help much appreciated

Peter

 

[Angus1]

Manufactureres used to use cheap and nasty mild steel staples under the rubber trim and fired through the aluminium into the wood. An Lunar I had to do some work on also had a sliver of what looked like it may have been adhesive as well (but it had long since failed) between the ally and the wood.

When refurbing, cut out all the suspect wood, and glue and (brass) screw the joints to the existing timber. I also used a waterproof `No More Nails` type of gap filling adhesive between the wood and aluminium, and then re-stapled the skin back. The finished job was then considerably stronger than when it left the factory, but its worth doing well, as if you keep the van a long time you may need to to joint up to your repair at some point.

 

[Peter_374350880]

Manufactureres used to use cheap and nasty mild steel staples under the rubber trim and fired through the aluminium into the wood. An Lunar I had to do some work on also had a sliver of what looked like it may have been adhesive as well (but it had long since failed) between the ally and the wood.

When refurbing, cut out all the suspect wood, and glue and (brass) screw the joints to the existing timber. I also used a waterproof `No More Nails` type of gap filling adhesive between the wood and aluminium, and then re-stapled the skin back. The finished job was then considerably stronger than when it left the factory, but its worth doing well, as if you keep the van a long time you may need to to joint up to your repair at some point.

Thanks for that - the front panel on my van seems to be glass fibre or some form of plastic. There dont seem to be any fixings through from the front into the timbers, so I guess you are suggesting that I should bond the new wood to the inner face of the glass fibre??