Advice on sealing awning after a long leak
It must of been covered lots before but this is my first caravan and the nightmare i feared came true, due to funds being tight decided to go private and bought a elldis odyssey 524 2002 caravan, and on our first trip out to try out everything the nightmare started in the night, it rained all night and woke up in morning after a great night sleep, all going good until I walked in bathroom to see water running down in top corner by mirrow, yes before i bought i did go around caravan with damp meter but all low readings but a little tip dont view caravan after a long period of dryness and sunny days but view after a night of rain, bit late now, due to funds doing repairs myself, stripped bathroom furniture, took off mirror and half the wall came with it, did pop into a caravan shop but they don't seem to like people doing there own repairs and never gave or sold me any sealent but instead try selling me a new awning rail and top roof bar for £250 there loss as i won't ever return to there shop for any other bits i need, now i've stripped back wall board and going to take out rotten batterns and replace, now my question's are....
1, what sealent should i use as i do plan to keep forever and no doubt in future say 10 years would require re-sealing again, will be taken of awning rail and roof rail..how long would the seal last for
2, can't seem to find a wallboard pattern to match whats in place so what type of wallpaper to use as would have to do whole bathroom.
3, was told by shop if I try and take awning rail or roof bar off they will twist and be no good, so you need to buy new one's.....i understand that they can easily get bent if handled wrong but do i really need new rails as there's no damage to these and will take every effort to ensure they dont get damaged will be using new screws after a clean up and replaced.
4, would like your views as was planning to remove shower and replace with more storage as planning only to use sites with shower blocks but would this de-value the caravan in case i do need to sell as you never know what happens in the future, but was thinking of just building storage that fits inside the shower.
yes i am aware of the cleaning process before new sealant is applied i have use the sealant gun before and am confident on ensuring a good job, but after I've completed bathroom will take out each window and skylights to ensure its completly water tight, would love to hear your views and thank you in advance i do love this caravan and not willing to just let it rot away, would love to hear your views and many thanks for any tips in advance....
Comments
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The sealant must be a non-setting type, any decent accessory shop should sell it, I would use brass screws that don't rust. To get a rail off without damage, try using a wide wall paper scrapper which dosen't bend too much which will slice through the old sealant. Get a winter cover to keep the wet out until the weather improves. If the windows are not leaking then leave well alone, just check from time to time with a damp meter. I have read that a normal reading could be up to about 10 percent. Good luck
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Sikaflex
hi thanks think there is a leak on rear window, will be removing top joining rail and side awning rail also top rear marker light but I've notice now I got up the awning rail on other side has had some Sealent put on the out side so that will have to come off and a proper job done, just bought cover to stop any more water getting in and already looks better but bit of work to do, but as for Sealent what was originally used or OK with sikaflex but there's different ones or use the mastic on a roll which gives an even size along the length, I have already started on awning rail and is coming off straight using a hard scraper......
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Regarding the sealants for the awning and top rails, I understand that you can buy sealant on a roll which is ready formed / shaped to go under the rails, rather than being in a tube. Not used it myself but perhaps another member reading this can add advice. I have however taken out a roof light and resealed that, not rocket science, just a bit messy so have plenty of old rags with a bottle of turps / white spirit. Because the awning rails are long and ungainly, get someone else to help hold it when removing it.
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DO NOT use brass screws. Awning rails are invariably aluminium and brass & alloy are a poor mix and you will get galvanic corrosion. Use stainless steel.
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ok found another shop who told me how they reseal, they tighten the screws first if it turns they mark to dowel that section for new screws, after taking awning rail they don't replace with new one unless damaged, after clean up they use sealant on roll pushing it inthe grove, then over that they use sealant in tube and put loads on, then awning rail back on and should squirt out at side to show that all c just just to find time to do this also told place matchsticks in a couple of places to line awning rail before pushing on....and yes won't be using brass screws, they supplied me with the correct stuff, roll and 3 tubes of sealant its the same they use thereselves, cost £30 money worth spending.
any views about taken out shower to replace with wardrobes would it devalue a caravan that was ment to have one, thanks again for replies....
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When using rolls of sealent, before putting screw in make screw sized hole in sealent. If you don't the sealent is inclined to wind itself round the screw and make quite a mess of the job, I speak from experience.Best of luck.
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When using rolls of sealent, before putting screw in make screw sized hole in sealent. If you don't the sealent is inclined to wind itself round the screw and make quite a mess of the job, I speak from experience.Best of luck.
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