Bunk rot repair May 11, 2024, 04:28:22 pm I was hesitant to post this. Admitting we had a water damage problem to a forum of owners is unsettling. Maybe this can help other LDers in a similar situation. We had water damage in the top passenger corner of the bunk. When I opened up the wall, it was a hollow space with the outside screws no longer screwed into wood. Suffice it to say it was bad. My handyman and I cleaned out all the rot. We rebuilt the inside with redwood to be nice and sturdy. We cut a panel of Masonite to fit area, used drywall paste to cover the seams. Next we sanded, painted with primer, and put up new wallpaper. It’s a ‘91 so needs some tlc. I’ve checked everywhere in my LD and that is the only area of rot that I found. Updates and more pictures down further in comments. If you live in SoCal and need work done on your LD, I know a handyman who does it all. Email me for info. 6 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #1 – May 11, 2024, 06:18:33 pm Anything made of wood will eventually return to dust. I predict more of this as the fleet ages and no new rigs are being produced. Congrats on tackling the project and keeping your rig on the road.Rich 3 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #2 – May 11, 2024, 06:33:51 pm Thanks for posting those great photos. Really admire your attitude. jor 2 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #3 – May 12, 2024, 04:26:39 am Thanks Tracy for posting those pictures. In reality many of us owners of older rigs already have situations like that, but don't know it yet! My first motorhome (not an LD) also came with termites! RonB 1 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #4 – May 12, 2024, 10:39:43 am My least favorite RV repairs. You are a trooper to plunge into a nasty job.Good blocking repair, I’m happy you found the rot before more serious damage was to the structural supports.It looks as if the roof seam leaked in the front corner of the roof, When resealing roof seams, I use a vibratory tool to cut the Factory sealant away in the front corners of the roof, many times finding bubbles and sometimes wetness, it is the location where most front caps problems begin.For those who have not done a project like this, mask up when removing the rotted wood, it is usually covered in mold.After removal, I load a spray bottle full of bleach and saturate the damaged area to kill the mold spores.Larry 4 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #5 – May 12, 2024, 04:03:02 pm Larry,It was a roof leak. I resealed the roof in 2021. It fixed the leak but the water damage was already there, I just didn’t know how bad it was until the overhead light fell out of the ceiling. Good advice about spritzing with bleach. I painted the inside with Kilz before we rebuilt the cavity with new wood. Thanks for the kind remarks. Tracy
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #6 – May 12, 2024, 04:31:57 pm Quote from: SoCal-Gal - May 12, 2024, 04:03:02 pmI just didn’t know how bad it was until the overhead light fell out of the ceiling. Things falling off the walls or ceiling may is usually a sign something is wrong. Glad it is fixed in time for the summer camping season.We are prepping for a full summer of fun things to do, starting soon…I hope nothing falls off the ceiling before then.Larry 1 Likes
Bunk rot repair part 2 Reply #7 – May 17, 2024, 11:15:56 pm After rebuilding the wall, we used drywall mud to cover the seams. The bondo just was not working out. We sanded and painted with primer. We wallpapered up to the curtain track divider. It took us 5 days start to finish. It was a big project and I’m so happy it’s behind me now. 8 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair part 2 Reply #8 – May 18, 2024, 01:18:55 am It's good to finish a big project like this, you and your husband have done a beautiful job. It looks better than most professional jobs because You took the time to do it right.I bet there are a few folks here who would be happy to pay you to fix their damaged LDs. Looking for a second career?What did you use to wallpaper the walls and ceiling?Larry 1 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair part 2 Reply #9 – May 18, 2024, 11:59:59 am Thanks Larry. I think I’d seriously consider selling and buying newer than doing this again. For the wallpaper, I chose a solid beige color that matched what was up there and no pattern to line up. It’s a vinyl wallpaper that has a foil backing, foam center and vinyl front. It is washable, moisture resistant, insulating and noise reducing but it was a real pain to cut. If I were to do it over, I would use a regular vinyl washable.
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #10 – May 18, 2024, 06:51:33 pm I was in the same denial before repairing the entire rear wall. Found mold under wallpaper I wasn't expecting. It feels good that it will last a little longer and the rot is gone. 1 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #11 – May 20, 2024, 06:28:37 pm SoCal-Gal, I merged your 2 topics together to keep all the great info on this repair together. It will help others searching the forum in the future. Michelle 1 Likes
Re: Bunk rot repair Reply #12 – May 22, 2024, 12:52:05 pm Quote from: Michelle C - May 20, 2024, 06:28:37 pmSoCal-Gal, I merged your 2 topics together to keep all the great info on this repair together. It will help others searching the forum in the future. MichelleThanks Michelle!
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