Wood rot in caravan front frame

Purplelou
Purplelou Forum Participant Posts: 10
edited February 2019 in Caravans #1

I have just discovered wood rot in my caravan, a 1997 Abi Dalesman 420/2, which has affected the front frame. I am contemplating repairing and rebuilding the frame and was hoping from some advice from fellow caravanners that may have experienced and undertaken similar projects. Any guidance would be gratefully received.

Comments

  • viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited February 2019 #2

    Invariably if damp and soft wood is found on the inside it usually very extensive when stripped back to the Frame. I remember repairing a lunar corner toilet for my parents. Damp was evident in the lower corner at floor level but when I stripped out the wall board, the corner frame was rotten right up to the roof joint. Shaped screwed and glued in new wood, re sealed the awning rail. The hardest part is sourcing and cutting in interior wall board to make the repair as invisible as possible. Good luck .

  • Purplelou
    Purplelou Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited February 2019 #3

    Thank you for your post. We have decided to take the front off to see the extent of the damage before making a decision on rebuilding. Where did you eventually source the interior wall board? Thanks again.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,062 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #4

    We bought and renovated an old van that had some damp. OH cut out the damaged frame, rebuilt it, and then used hardboard as wall boarding. This was then wallpapered. The big job was to take off the awning channels, both sides, then clean up and seal all the exterior joints, making sure that no water could get in. The awning channels were then put back on, with each screw hole carefully sealed. We managed to keep and reuse all the insulation that goes between outer walls and inner boarding. We had to take out a lot of the shelving and fittings, but they all unscrewed and we put them all back together quite easily. Our outer walls were aluminium. Not sure what yours will be. Seems the older the van, the easier they are to tackle. Good luck.

  • viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited February 2019 #5

    I was lucky enough to find a mstchmat wall covering an hour it to replacement board, there are caravan breakers around where it might be possible to get some. it may even be worth trying the manufacturers if you draw a blank elsewhere.ABI was taken over by Swift.

  • Purplelou
    Purplelou Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited February 2019 #6

    Thank you for your post and it sounds like your experience was quite a positive one which is reassuring. Our outer walls are aluminium. We've found a lot of rusty nails but so far coming apart ok. Where was the damp in your van? Ours is in the front of the caravan and we are debating about taking the windows out at the moment or whether we can take the front off with the windows still attached. It's all a road of discovery :-).

  • Purplelou
    Purplelou Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited February 2019 #7

    Thank you again for your reply. I didn't realise that Abi was taken over by Swift so that's really useful information to know and good idea about caravan breakers, I know a local one. Mstchmat - is that a trade name or a spelling wobble?

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