Leak- Worst than first thought

[Gagakev]

Reported a couple of weeks ago I had a leak behind my wheel arch on the offside, on further investigation today my heart sank!!
Behind the wheel the floor has started to rot, so it has been getting wet for some time, so your help is needed yet again.
As I see it there could be two remedies, first to cut it out and replace the wet area but dont really want to go down this route as a lot of funiture from the inside will have to be removed and also there are only two sides to fix the new peace back to, currently the area is about 4" X 4". This option is as you can appreciate is a major one.
Secondly and this is wishful thinking, is there a Hardener/Chemical which I can apply to stop it progressing then put a cover peice on the underside over the affected area and waterproof the new peice.
Any other ideas or options greatfully received.

 

[Sproket]

Oh dear !
Kev have you got some photos then it will help the grey matter get into gear .........

 

[Gagakev]

Will take some tomorrow Sprocket after I have stopped crying

Hope fully they will come out as it could be fairly dark under there.
Cheers

 

[Sproket]

Has the wheel arch got a plastic liner fitted ?

 

[Gagakev]

Quick anserw Yes

 

[Gagakev]

Thinking along the lines of this Tetrion
This is the first one I came to and other products do seem to be availible albeit a lot more expensive but in this situation would prefer to pay more for a decent product if it works.

 

[Sproket]

Not a easy job .............
What about the insulation between the wood ?
Is the problem inside or outside ?

 

[Gagakev]

Think this is where the water ingress is coming in

The lighter patch is where the wood has deteriorated

The top lip in photo is the liner to the wheel arch

Broader veiw from underside

If I were to cut it out I could cut back to the chassis and bolt it through??
The lip of the liner of the wheel arch would to some extent support one side.
The 3rd side could be dowelled and glued back into existing firm part of floor.
These are only assumptions and your veiws would be appreciated.
As previously said would prefer a hardener treatment if possible
Many thanks once again.

 

[Gagakev]

Not a easy job .............
What about the insulation between the wood ?
Is the problem inside or outside ?

The floor inside is spongy to the touch but have not yet removed the floor covering to have visual, so am assuming at this stage it is going to be both.

 

[Sproket]

For what it's worth........
I Would buy a dremel & cut through the outer wood to remove the bad piece if the insulation is ok remove half of the thickness, cut a new piece of wood to suit , attach some fixing blocks so that it can be screwed into from the top of the floor & then fill the void back up with some delamination glue ......when it has set you could do the same from above if needed.......

 

[Jaydug]

Be careful using wood hardeners anywhere near polystyrene insulating sheets. The hardener melts the insulation.

 

[ValA.]

Just a thought, and you might slap me down, but Why is it pink? Are you sure it's not pink toilet flush, spilling from somewhere in your casette flush tank, and dripping down and through the floor? There's pink staining on the sealant around the wheel arch too, or are you just using a pink flash on your camera. The reason I ask is that we did develop a leak from the flush tank of our casette toilet, which was easily repaired, but did cause some similar pink staining but in our case on the inside sealant in the bathroom.
Our dealer told us that it happened sometimes when people towed with their caravan toilet flush tank full - that flush fluid could spill out.
Now if all that sounds like baloney, sorry, and I do hope it's repairable whatever the cause.
We had a similar problem with the wooden floor of our Swift, due to water not 'shedding' from the rear panel, but when the problem was rectified and and wood had dried we didn't need to do any more as it dried out well and hadn't lost strength at all. I have some photos of the 'before' stage, but not the after stage which would have been reassuring.

 

[Sproket]

For what it's worth........
I Would buy a dremel & cut through the outer wood to remove the bad piece if the insulation is ok remove half of the thickness, cut a new piece of wood to suit , attach some fixing blocks so that it can be screwed into from the top of the floor & then fill the void back up with some delamination glue ......when it has set you could do the same from above if needed.......

This is the type of Dremel I was thinking about, you would be able to use it & then re-sell it after you have fixed the van .......

 

[Gagakev]

Just a thought, and you might slap me down, but Why is it pink? Are you sure it's not pink toilet flush, spilling from somewhere in your casette flush tank, and dripping down and through the floor? There's pink staining on the sealant around the wheel arch too, or are you just using a pink flash on your camera.

Hi Val, thanks for the input and you are very observant, yes I am using something differant on my camera

I pushed a button a couple of weeks ago and I'm darned if I can re-set it back to normal

Mind you wish it was the pink flush, but also as the loo is right at the rear of the van I always empty it so as it doesnt slosh around when travelling. Thanks again

 

[Gagakev]

This is the type of Dremel I was thinking about, you would be able to use it & then re-sell it after you have fixed the van .......

Nice bit of kit well worth thinking about and thanks for your idea Sprocket think I will have to bite the bullet get the wheel arch and trims off and see what I'm up against but it will have to wait untill after the PC rally at Stowfolot

 

[Dustydog]

Kev
I have a router and Multi tool you can borrow if you want to do the job at Stowfolot.
A while back Swift had a problem with poor holes drilled their floors at the factory. They splintered all the floors where screws went through. Their fix was extra flooring material screwed and glued onto the underside and sealed.
What's this ; you've been showing your pinkey pictures to Val

. Best not take too many at Stowfolot or we'll look like pink rinsers

 

[ValA.]

I think you should all get together at Stowfolot and sort out Gagakev's 'Pink Problems' - he's obviously got two, his camera and his caravan. A few days of a PC work party should sort both out!

 

[Dustydog]

I think you should all get together at Stowfolot and sort out Gagakev's 'Pink Problems' - he's obviously got two, his camera and his caravan. A few days of a PC work party should sort both out!

Val
I have to confess I am a great Pink Floyd fan.

 

[Gagakev]

Kev
I have a router and Multi tool you can borrow if you want to do the job at Stowfolot.
A while back Swift had a problem with poor holes drilled their floors at the factory. They splintered all the floors where screws went through. Their fix was extra flooring material screwed and glued onto the underside and sealed.
What's this ; you've been showing your pinkey pictures to Val

. Best not take too many at Stowfolot or we'll look like pink rinsers

King DD thank you so kindly regards lending me the tools,
I have a router but wanted an excuse to have another tool in my tool box

But on that note the extra flooring added seems to be the simplist remedy so far, but will still have to take off the arch and trims to find the original source of the leak. This I think will be better done on the drive at home
Does any one know the name of the waterproof prouduct they use under the van to seal the floor?