Rotted section of floor

[Johnp003]

Hi folks.
My first post is seeking advice. I have just bought my first caravan, an Elddis Odyssey 505 2004. It was a private sale. My wife later thought there was a bit of a musty smell on the sitting area in the rear. Lifted the lino under the seat and discovered some damp. Checked underneath and found rotted wood in both rear corners. The actual areas are about 3" square. I've read some scary posts about big cost involved in repairing this, and other posts saying use epoxy resin and over over board the area. Can anyone give me some sensible advice please.

 

[Raywood]

Many people say they have repaired this problem with epoxy resin and if the problem is only 3" square it should be managable. Try these youtube sites. There are more if you search.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGw4Cw_Tzxg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-LIZN-Dtak

 

[Johnp003]

Thanks Raywood.

 

[Dodger524]

There is a big difference in repairing a damp, rotting floor and a spongy floor because they are not the same thing.

If it's damp then the cause of the water increases needs to be found and the van made watertight and the structure dried out before any remedial work is started otherwise it will be a waste of time.

Spongy floor is not damp and doesn't smell. It occurs when the insulation under the thin plywood floor compresses so allowing the floor to flex when walked on.

 

[Johnp003]

Hi, yes I agree, it's not a spongy floor that I have, it is two rotten wood areas at the corners of the rear floor below the seats. It's not right through to the inside but definitely needs sorted as if I drive it and it's raining, the stray from the road underneath with just make it worse.

 

[audiorob]

As another reply you need to make good where the water is getting in - try the lower part of the awning rails, any skirt rails in the vicinity, and also around the rear light clusters. Also check the lower side walls and the rear internal panel to ensure they are dry. I'm afraid rain spray when driving might make the underneath wet temporarily but that is unlikely to be the source of the problem.

 

[sgtangel]

Hi John,

I would advise that you take a deep breath and expose the damp areas to try and get a better feel for where the source could be. This might involve removing floor cupboards or storage bays, but you will benefit from this - it may seem daunting depending on your DIY skills. The fact you are on this forum suggests you are keen to tackle the problem.

As previous posts have suggested, once you identify the possible source, you need to seal and prevent further water ingress. I recommend this product here It is awkward to work with, and requires care during application, but will seal almost anything, and remains flexible enough for use on a caravan.

I have an old van, and use this to keep the seals watertight.
Best of luck

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello John.
The big problem with damp which has caused visible wood to rot, is that usually before the rot is obvious, it is highly likely to have affected a much greater invisible area. As StAngel has suggested you must expose the full extent of any rotten wood and it needs to be replaced. Sadly water damage in caravans is rather like an iceberg, where the visible bit is just a small part of the whole problem.

 

[Dustydog]

As already stated you must identify and correctly seal the source of the water ingress.
The hard part is replacing the rotten floor. The main problem is the caravan is built upon the floor panel. Removal of all the rot including under the walls is crucial and when you have finished your carpentry use plenty of caravan sealant, not just builders corking stuff. Some splicing can be done and splice joint overlapping new with the good existing. Using timber plywood plates double screwed to both new and old may work. There are many versions of this but the main objective is to make the joint rigid. Haver a go and send us some pictures. Good luck.

 

[camel]

John,

There's a site called 'Wizard caravan damp repairs' , have a look at that site and see some of the damp issues that are being tackled, you'll wonder what all the fuss is about,