The corner of my caravan underneath on the hardboard is always soaking wet. It's on the same corner of the shower/ toilet side, has anyone got any advise? Am thinking it coming in from the roof maybe the sealant on the joining of the outer shell needs redoing . I have checked the taps and shower and loopholes and drains, don't think it's the flush on the toilet but I could be wrong.the hardboard won't last long if it carries on help!!!
Water ingress
- Thread starter kelsboy
- Start date
Damian
Moderator
You need to check if the damp is just at floor level or higher up the wall somewhere.
There could be several reasons but only a close inspection will find the source.
Possibilities are toilet cassette door allowing water in, leak from toilet, leak from shower area or any number of other reasons.
There could be several reasons but only a close inspection will find the source.
Possibilities are toilet cassette door allowing water in, leak from toilet, leak from shower area or any number of other reasons.
Hi Damian. The toilet cassette unit is bone dry. The water pipes are flexible ones there is no leak inside caravan so now have looked up think it might be we're the top back of caravan goes over roof and there is a seam and maybe it's coming g down inside and soaking the underneath. Think I will get up and reseal the joining seam
Damian
Moderator
If your van has a roof strap across the whole width of the van at the join you need to remove the strip, clean all the old mastic of it and the van and reseal with either soudall fixall or sikaflex 512.
Use a very good bead that will squash out as you screw the strap down, using new stainless steel screws, and put a covering of mastic over the screw heads.
Make sure you seal the very edges where the strap ends on each side.
Use a very good bead that will squash out as you screw the strap down, using new stainless steel screws, and put a covering of mastic over the screw heads.
Make sure you seal the very edges where the strap ends on each side.
Think that is good advise will do that then or I may just pull the old sealant off and reseal it. Thank you Damien
Damian
Moderator
If you do that you will just be wasting your time and money.
You must remove ALL the old sealant, the new sealant will not adhere to the old.
You must remove ALL the old sealant, the new sealant will not adhere to the old.
Oh right, will prob remove it and clean it all then. It looks as though it will be awkward getting it off as can only reach with ladders, didn't think it had screws though, just looks like a plastic strip that's been glued on , when its done I will get back to you thanks x
After you have cleaned it use Sikaflex 512 that will hold the strip on, if there are no screws, DON'T use any, the 512 will hold it in place without screws, just ensure that the you have plenty on, at least 1mm thick under the strip. After all they fix solar panels, that way, without using screws.
Hi Dave so do I seal the place we're the strip was after I take it off? Or do I seal around the strip after I have stuck it on with the 512?
Clean all old mastic off firstly with a plastic scraper carefully, clean the area with white spirit, THEN clean it again with Meths this will get rid of the residue left by the white spirit.
I havent replaced a rear strip bit if it's the same as the awning rail, put plenty of 512 on the strip and push onto van and screw in (if you have them) when you push or screw the strip onto the van the 512 will oozze out, this can be then be smoothed in to form a bead against the strap. Good luck
I havent replaced a rear strip bit if it's the same as the awning rail, put plenty of 512 on the strip and push onto van and screw in (if you have them) when you push or screw the strip onto the van the 512 will oozze out, this can be then be smoothed in to form a bead against the strap. Good luck
kelsboy said:
Hi Do as Sir Gag said, clean everything, then replace the strip in exactly in the same position it was taken from with the 512 between the van and the strip, so the strip sits on the sealant and it's oozing out all long it's length, 512 is a sealant / addesive, will hold without screws.
It's on the roof so I wouldn't worry too much about the finish
On one of my old vans, one of the top rear marker light didn't work, the whole fitting was broken, and a previous owner had stuck is on using Sikaflex 512 .(quick fix) Trying to get it off to fit a new one was a nightmare, so I can vouch for it's strength.
Hi everyone. Just to let you know how I got on with the water underneath my caravan.. I went over the old seam with sealant also sealed the awning rail and round the toilet door. Then it came to me someone said about the toilet think it was dave, I has checked the toilet itself but was fine then thought I never lock the toilet door as easier to just shutso it came to me that it might be because I never locked the door then read on inside of toilet door that it must be locked to be water tight so locked it and yes no more water at all so thanks to everyone who wrote to me. And remember everyone always lock your toilet door especially if it's raining xx
Hi Damien you were right it was the toilet seal round the door which is fine but I never locked it just closed it so now I lock it and the seal then works so thanks very much for your advice x
kelsboy said:
Did you remove ALL traces of old sealant? If not, just adding extra sealant on top of the old will not seal leaks.
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