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detecting water damage
Yahoo Message Number: 50757
In the group's Files area, there's an article that describes how to detect water damage in a used LD. I copied this section and include it below.  Please let me know how we can improve this note.
 I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have experienced water damage in their LD (or in SOB).  Where was the leak? How extensive was the damage? How did you fix it?

--oryoki


excerpt from Files / Frequently Asked Questions / How do I shop for a used LD?

1. Water damage    Inspect closely for dry rot from leaking seams, roof penetrations, or  windows. Dry rot repairs are very expensive because they require  dismounting of windows and removal of inside (and sometimes outside)  paneling just to determine the extent of the problem.

Look very carefully wherever water could get in and collect. Check  around all windows, vents, and hatches. Look *everywhere* for  discoloration or dampness in the interior paneling. Look for rust  spots on drape hooks, which could indicate a high level of moisture by  the window. Look at the ceiling fabric for discoloration or stains.

Look closely at the paneling below each window, all the way to the  floor. Running a hand over the paneling may be the only way to find  the soft spots. The affected areas are soft and/or brittle.

While you're checking the interior, be alert for unpleasant smells.
 Mildew and mold are good signs of water penetration.
   Check the bathroom floor around the shower and toilet for soft spots.
 If possible, lift up the carpet to inspect the sub-floor.

Look for patched carpet, new floor coverings, or an uneven floor.
 These may indicate water damage. Listen for creaking that may indicate  the sub-floor is damaged.
   Look at the windows on the outside as well to see if they have been or  caulked or re-sealed by the previous owner. This may indicate that  they had leaks in the past, or it may be appropriate preventive  maintenance. The LD factory advises windows of older coaches should be  resealed about every 7 years. Check that the window weep hole covers  are in place. Missing covers let dirt accumulate and plug up the hole.
 Then moisture collects on the window frame and finds its way into the  coach wall.

7. Look underneath at the bottom of the rig at the exposed wood frame  areas for dry rot, particularly around the entrance step and behind  the rear wheels. Check the battery compartment for acid corrosion.

8. Climb up on the roof and inspect the seams and roof penetrations.
 (LDs manufactured prior to 1986 have roofs made of several panels.
1986 and later LDs have a one-piece aluminum roof.) The seams probably need re-sealing if they haven't already been re-done. Check to see if the previous owner tried to seal a leak using some different type of caulking. That will have to be removed, and the Lazy Daze-approved caulk reapplied.
 
Re: detecting water damage
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50776
Quote
In the group's Files area, there's an article that describes how to detect water damage in a used LD. I copied this section and include it below.  Please let me know how we can improve this note.
This is a very constructive and useful article.  I offer one addition, gained from experience with wooden boats:

Here's how to diagnose dry rot in wood.  Rot is a fungal infection that thrives where wood gets wet and there is no air flow (inside a leaky RV wall, for example).

Test the wood where it is accessible (under running boards, beneath the edges of frame, behind cabinets, etc) expecially near the ends of wood parts.  Prod the wood gently with an ice pick or sharp jackknife.
Healthy wood is firm - a blade will penetrate maybe a sixteenth of an inch at most.  Sick wood is softer than a wine-cork.  Blade will sink into rotten wood.
 Very small patches can be repaired with penetrating epoxy.  But since rot is an infection, small patches usually spread to become much worse.  And that leads to horror stories of repair.

John