Hairline cracks at front of caravan

[g1]

My van has developed some hairline cracks / crazing at the front.

Are these likely to let in moisture and, if so, is there any discreet way of sealing them so that the repair is not unsightly ?

Thanks,

Wes

 

[rob_jax]

Wes,

The answer depends on many factors; is the van still under warranty? how old is it if not? do you want to do the repair yourself? and do you know if the panel is made from GRP or Acrylic capped ABS?

Having said all that, and if it's GRP - you probably have a stress crack in the Gel coat that covers the GRP. These cracks can be scratched (or ground) out and then filled with GRP. The repair will be as strong as the original.

But if it's a through crack, which is a lesser possibility in GRP - then it's more complex to repair, but still possible for DIY.

If it's a crack in Acrylic capped ABS, then that requires a specialist repair kit, and is probably outside the realm of DIY

If it's under warranty, get it professionally checked and either repaired or the whole panel replaced.

Don't use silicone bathroom sealant (or similar) as a temporary patch because that will just make the real repair more difficult...

And are these likely to let water in? Yes - a surface crack in the Gel coat will eventually cause the surface to become loose, a through crack will let water through - but it's never going to be a torrent.

Robert

 

[nffcdave_374234697]

hi wes,

would it be an avondale by any chance?if so its a common problem and should be repaired under warranty.

mine was repaired and you could hardly tell.

dave

 

[g1]

Wes,

The answer depends on many factors; is the van still under warranty? how old is it if not? do you want to do the repair yourself? and do you know if the panel is made from GRP or Acrylic capped ABS?

Having said all that, and if it's GRP - you probably have a stress crack in the Gel coat that covers the GRP. These cracks can be scratched (or ground) out and then filled with GRP. The repair will be as strong as the original.

But if it's a through crack, which is a lesser possibility in GRP - then it's more complex to repair, but still possible for DIY.

If it's a crack in Acrylic capped ABS, then that requires a specialist repair kit, and is probably outside the realm of DIY

If it's under warranty, get it professionally checked and either repaired or the whole panel replaced.

Don't use silicone bathroom sealant (or similar) as a temporary patch because that will just make the real repair more difficult...

And are these likely to let water in? Yes - a surface crack in the Gel coat will eventually cause the surface to become loose, a through crack will let water through - but it's never going to be a torrent.

Robert

Thank you, Robert,

The van is about 9yrs old. Can I tell by looking if it's GRP or acrylic capped ABS?

Also, in your opinion, are they likely to spread? I don't want to get it repaired and then find they've come back. I had thought of making a mark at the end of each crack and leaving it for a month or so to see if they get worse.

Thanks for your help. Wes

 

[g1]

hi wes,

would it be an avondale by any chance?if so its a common problem and should be repaired under warranty.

mine was repaired and you could hardly tell.

dave

Thanks David

No, it's not an Avondale and about 9yrs old. Robert says it could be a DIY job, depending on the material. What I would be worried about is the paint job after the repair! Wes