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Not_a_Yurt_'s avatar
Not_a_Yurt_
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016

Repairing water damage to sidewall

I guess this qualifies as both a project and an upgrade. Our new to us 1998 Pace Arrow's interior sidewall had suffered obvious water damage. The exterior wall is still well laminated and looks fine. Apparently, water had penetrated inside, but didn't leak significantly between the exterior skin and the wall insulation. Obviously, this needed attention.
We have some down time between trip plans, so we've bit the bullet and have begun our "project and upgrade."
The culprit for the damage turned out to be two really long lag screws used to attach the awning's top bracket to the sidewall. Those screws ran right through and through the wall, hidden up under the plastic fascia over the passenger seat. And, of course, water shedding from the awning, even when rolled up for storage, was continually soaking those very two screws and migrating into the coach. We were able to seal up the holes and re-fasten the awning bracket to the metal awning rail without having to penetrate the sidewall.
We've got it on the run now. Doing the demolition revealed that the underlying styrofoam wall insulation is in good shape. The delaminated, old paneling actually has large areas where the remaining thin outermost layer of veneer is sound and stuck on the wall like nobody's business (although not pretty to look at.) Luckily, the floor under the area is undamaged.
Prepping the wall and cutting templates for the replacement sidewall took some patience with measuring and dry fitting. The coach is now back in it's storage garage as we wait for the panel adhesive to fully cure before putting things back together. All in all, a satisfying project, and we're confident that we've run down and fixed any leaks. We can't wait to get back on the road and maybe even fasten a power strip to the wall!



Class A
  • Pirate1's avatar
    Pirate1
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2016
    I used FRP panels when I rebuilt mine. I think I glued FRP to the remaining fiberglass, then plywood, then another layer of FRP to make the thickness correct. Fiberglass Reinforced Panels.
  • Hudsoner's avatar
    Hudsoner
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2016
    Not a Yurt! wrote:
    Hudsomer,
    We replaced the wall paneling with 7/32" birch plywood underlayment from Home Depot. It's a real wood product--advertised as moisture resistant hardwood plywood and suitable for RV repair. It's not expensive and has a smooth surface (any small voids are filled) that takes paint well. It may be labeled on the shelf as 5mm or 5.5mm instead of 7/32" (don't remember which), but we used the sku number to confirm we were getting what we wanted. Here's a link:

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/7-32-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Birch-Underlayment-431178/203183022

    Good luck with your project and with tackling that exterior delamination.
    - Notayurt

    Thanks for that info. Once I am parked for the winter, I will tackle the wall problem. My windows are OK now, the wall can dry out now.
    Just found that this item is not available in any Home Depot in a 100 mile circle around my location.
  • Not_a_Yurt_'s avatar
    Not_a_Yurt_
    Explorer
    Aug 16, 2016
    Stormy Eyes,
    My awning fabric is anchored at the sidewall in a long "C" shaped channel rail. This rail extends beyond the length of the fabric on both ends and continues forward, past the awning brackets, and ends where the roofline begins to slope downward at the front of the coach. I took a hex head bolt that had a shaft diameter about the same size as the gap in the rail (the space between the open ends of the "C"). I then used my bench grinder to shape the hex end of the bolt to slide into the channel, so the bolt pointed out away from the sidewall. I used a small round file (a chainsaw sharpening file) to slightly elongate the "C" space at the top and bottom, being careful not to expand the space at the opening of the "C." When the bolt fit the channel firmly, I tapped it into the channel until it lined up to the awning bracket's original attachment point. I drilled a hole in the center of the awning bracket to accept the bolt and tightened it down with a lock washer and deformed nut. I contemplated grinding off two bolts to use in the two original holes in the awning bracket, but the effort to enlarge the channel sufficiently along its length didn't seem worth it. The one bolt has to hold just as well or better than two rusted lag bolts driven into a rotted sidewall, I figure. Sorry I don't have pictures to show you this, but our coach is parked off site in its garage until we get weather conducive to putting it back together. Hope this helps.
    -Notayurt
  • LakeLifeTL's avatar
    LakeLifeTL
    Explorer
    Aug 16, 2016
    Great post. My Damon has a leaky window frame, and I will be doing this soon enough. Thanks for the pictures.
  • Stormy_Eyes's avatar
    Stormy_Eyes
    Explorer
    Aug 16, 2016
    Good work.
    How did you attach the awning top bracket without penetrating the sidewall? Thinking of upgrading my awning, a technique that avoids such penetrations sounds desirable.
  • Not_a_Yurt_'s avatar
    Not_a_Yurt_
    Explorer
    Aug 16, 2016
    Hudsomer,
    We replaced the wall paneling with 7/32" birch plywood underlayment from Home Depot. It's a real wood product--advertised as moisture resistant hardwood plywood and suitable for RV repair. It's not expensive and has a smooth surface (any small voids are filled) that takes paint well. It may be labeled on the shelf as 5mm or 5.5mm instead of 7/32" (don't remember which), but we used the sku number to confirm we were getting what we wanted. Here's a link:

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/7-32-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Birch-Underlayment-431178/203183022

    Good luck with your project and with tackling that exterior delamination.
    - Notayurt
  • Hudsoner's avatar
    Hudsoner
    Explorer
    Aug 16, 2016
    I have a similar problem at two different areas. Mine was caused by leaking window frames. But I also have a section of the outside delaminated.
    what did you use to replace the paneling? I was thinking of using some kind of Wainscoting paneling because the problem I have is under the windows only.



  • Pirate1's avatar
    Pirate1
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    Had a similar problem on mine. I rebuilt it from the inside out. Still looks brand new and no more leaks.
  • Ava's avatar
    Ava
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2016
    A lot of work but you will appreciate it later! Good to see you are doing it your self and not relying on a company that might or might not do as good work.

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