Water Damage & Repairs
Maynooth Motorhomes are experienced in the detection of water leaks and their repair. Also, the repair or replacement of furniture or panels, internal and external, which have been damaged as a result. Gerry Percival has many years experience in the areas of cabinet making and coach building. He is responsible for specifying the techniques and materials used to carry out all water and accident damage repair work that we undertake.
We can reproduce to original manufacturers specification any decayed or accident damaged wooden structural members and other components in our dedicated wood working shop.
We stock a wide range of sheeting materials and trims to help us reproduce factory finishes to internal repairs and can also arrange complete reupholstering or upholstery repair.
Water leaks in motor homes and caravans can cause major and costly damage if not diagnosed promptly and correctly repaired. On older vehicles especially, sealing mastics can become hardened, the movement and flex that occurs whilst travelling also deterioration caused by the elements, mainly winter freezing all conspire to cause failure of the sealing that is supposed to prevent water from entering the structure of our vehicles. Storing your vehicle under cover helps but it only slows down the inevitable, everything produced has a service life and sealing is no different. Eventually, some part, or parts, of the extensive sealing carried during manufacture of your vehicle will fail. It’s a fact, and that is why it should be checked from time to time.
Most leaks that occur through breeched sealing cannot be detected visually until the damage has advanced sufficiently to be apparent as softening, bulging or blistering of the inner wall or ceiling surfaces or where it has advanced further still, discolouration or blackening becomes visible. When discolouration or blackening appears on inner surfaces, you can be certain that the leak that caused it has gone unchecked for a considerable period of time, almost certainly more than a year and possibly much longer. Generally the visible damage to interior surface sheeting is only the tip of the iceberg because when examined underneath there is usually significant decay in the wooden framing structure. If the vehicle is skinned with aluminium sheeting the dampness will cause corrosion of the aluminium skin, from inside, in all areas where the dampness has penetrated. In as little as two years or less after the corrosion has started it will be noticeable as small bubbles in the outer panel surface which close inspection will reveal as tiny holes. Over time as the corrosion advances more bubbling and holes will appear. Once the process has started it can be difficult to halt. The dampness which is trapped in the structure acts as a driver to fuel the corrosion which continues to eat through from the inside. The problem is further exacerbated as holes appearing on the outside allow more moisture to enter the structure accelerating the process.
Where surface corrosion is detected on any external surface of aluminium skinned vehicles immediate action should be taken to deal with the problem.
Newer vehicles are not immune from water leaks as we have encountered leaks in motor homes and caravans less than two years old from various manufacturers.
Leaks can occur at any location where panels join or where windows, vents, roof lights, luggage hatches and doors are installed.
The vast majority of motor home and caravan under bodies are made of plywood. If this material is properly maintained and sealed from moisture it can last pretty much indefinitely however, if not, it can deteriorate rapidly.
We provide a very comprehensive solution where damage or deterioration to the underbody or chassis has occurred.
Where plywood sheeting or floor structural members have deteriorated or even if decay has commenced we can remove affected areas and insert new material, joining old to new, ensuring that sealing is restored. The entire area is then thoroughly cleaned in preparation to receive a tough rubberised coating which will provide protection for long service life and also restore the original appearance.
Where Steel chassis components show deterioration or damage we can make repairs and remove any rust. After thorough cleaning a primer coat is applied to the affected areas before coating with a tough rubberised material developed specifically for the purpose and which provides very long service life.
We use the latest capacitance type moisture detection/ measuring equipment so that no probe marks or other damage will mar surfaces.
Periodic” moisture ingress testing” ensures that if water has leaked into a panel structure the elevated moisture level that it creates can be detected by specialised moisture detection and measuring equipment. The source can then be traced and sealed. If it is detected early, no other action may be necessary.
If further action is required, earlier intervention will reduce the damage caused and therefore lower the cost of any repairs.
