New to me caravan with damp from dealer :(
Afternoon,
I have purchased a caravan from a very well known dealer and when buying the caravan I made a very big point that due to my prior one having big damp problems I needed it to be damp free.
I collected the caravan but due to it being earlier than planned they hadnt had chance to do the niggly work before I collected it so I sent it back in to have these bits done along with a request for the damp reports & service books etc as these werent
in the van.
When the van was collected they said that they had done another damp report (havent yet seen the previous one) this one shows up quite a few areas of 20-25% damp and the top rear seem as being 40%, apparently they have rectified this problem now. My question
to you guys is what would you do as I am unconvinced now by everything that they have told me regarding the van, I have voiced this to them and they have said that they will retest it in a couple of months and it should have decreased. My worry is that they
are saying that they tested it in the summer and there was no damp but will this have caused major issues & will it dissappear?
Should I cut my losses and ask them to swap it for a different van or let them do the remedial work & hope it fixes it? It has a 6 month warranty with it but dont want that warranty to pass by and then there be further problems. Also what would you do about
the 20-25% readings as they are saying that is normal in a van of its age (2005)?
Thanks in advance!
Comments
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With recorded damp levels of that magnitude, I'd return it back to them and have it exchnaged for a damp free van of similar value or your money back. Haaving told themtold them your purchase must be damp free you have a right for your purchase to be
just that. I have a 2005 Bessacar 625GL which is 100% damp free so age is no barrier to them being free from damp.0 -
Thank you frabro, it makes me sad as I really like this van!
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I've only just come back to caravans after a very long break so others will help you with your question, The reason I replied though is we have bought a 2002 Coachman Amara from a dealer (also with a 6 months guarantee) although I haven't seen a damp report they have checked it (and I do trust them) and I have gone over it myself and it's absolutely bone dry. so I would question what they are saying "thats normal for an older van"
Ian.
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I thought a bit of damp in an older van was to be expected especially as the wood holds moisture so you will never get a reading of zero? or is that an old wives tale?
Thanks
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I agree with Valda. Whilst personally I have never had a caravan that suffers from damp, I do know others that have. The general consensus is that a caravan with damp problems always will have, despite what is done to eradicate it! If it is possible for
you still to reject it, i suggest that you do so!TF
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KDA&M, wood does hold moisture true, it holds it at ambient naturally. For a dry Van it shouldn't be above 20% unless it is wet or if it's in a rain Forest. Me?, I'd reject it. Something ain't right, your own senses tell you that
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I'd do as Frabro suggests but I'd put my complaint in writing stating what you told them at the outset and recording the facts to date. I'd continue by giving them the option of making a full refund or swapping the van at full purchase cost for another as you reject it. Give them 14 days to decide and send your letter by recorded delivery. You shouldn't roll over and accept this.
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I picked this up from another forum but it more or less ties in with the precieved wisdom that I have read elsewhere.
Here are the industry reference points relating to moisture levels in caravans.
These measurements are ONLY for use with the Protimeter tester, not any of the cheap and cheerful, and very misleading, other makes.
Readings between 0-15% no cause for concern
Readings between 15-20% engineer to make note of readings and recheck at next service.
Readings between 20-24% possible early sign of water ingress, look for tangible evidence or ask for
Recheck.
Readings between 25-30% moisture evident, remedial work necessary, may not require stripdown unless surface damage (staining, pimpling and softness) is apparent. There is a risk of wallboard deterioration due to retained moisture in the structure if re sealed
only.
Reading of 31% and above structural damage is occurring, deterioration inevitable, full stripdown of affected area is required
Whilst it seems very simple to get a reading and think you have a problem, it is not and other considerations have to be borne in mind when taking readings, such as ambient temperature, humidity etc.
Read more at
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/19556-acceptable-moisture-levels#UzH2QVopIpfopsFm.990 -
Thank you all for your assistance, that confirms what I was already thinking.
Do I stand ok to reject it if they ha e already done some of the work as I didn't even know it had a damp problem when they did it?
thanks again
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I am not sure you can go back and demand a refund. You asked for a caravan with no damp and if they have successfully repaired it then it has none. If you asked if it had damp at any time then you would be able to recover the price but what they said looks
to have been true.I would get the caravan retested by an independent engineer and see if it is damp. Only if it is will you have a claim as I see it. Not what you want to hear but unless they lied to you then I can see no basis for a claim.
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'Dry' timber will show a natural reading of about 14%. Timber that has been at 40% can dry out but it will take some months to do even in the summer. I would not however accept that it is normal for a van to have up to 25% - see above. If you wish to keep
the van, get yourself a damp meter and test the affected areas in the same places to check that it is truly starting to dry, but this process will be slow at this time of the year0 -
I thought a bit of damp in an older van was to be expected especially as the wood holds moisture so you will never get a reading of zero? or is that an old wives tale?
Thanks
Definitely an old wives tale! We have a 2001 Bessacarr which is 100% dry. Because you specified a dry van I would think you have grounds to reject this purchase. If you particularly like this model could you find another the same - but dry!
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