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eluwak's avatar
eluwak
Explorer
Oct 30, 2016

Water damage found after Matthew :(

So we went to Myrtle Beach with our TT the last week of June, and despite all of our issues had a good time. It rained a bit while we were there, and I didn't notice any issues. Everything was nice and dry. Then we had tire damage repair done, and picked it up at the end of September where everything was still nice and dry.

We got affected some by the hurricane when it went through, but luckily it wasn't severe (still waiting for new roof for our house). We went to look at the TT the day after, and didn't see anything with a quick glance around. A couple weeks later DW had to get chairs out of the front compartment, and noticed that there was mold all over stuff in there and everything was damp.

I finally had a chance to look at it today with the insurance adjuster to asses the damage. I'm on travel a lot this month, and leaving tomorrow for another two weeks. The whole front cap is soft, there's obvious was leak stains inside the front bedroom front wall. The inside of the front compartment is soaked. Mold is all over the front compartment and spread around the front of the TT. Adjuster says the front cap needs to be completely replaced, and also the front compartment, along with general mold abatement inside the TT.

The downside is that they may not cover the repair because some of the caulk is cracked where the front cap meets the roof... damage as a result of wear and tear. I hadn't noticed any real cracking, but then again I only really check a couple times a year when we give it a good bath.

Does anyone have any ideas on what a repair like that should run? I can't imagine it being cheap...
Seeking Advice

8 Replies

  • Eric_Lisa's avatar
    Eric_Lisa
    Explorer II
    Oct 31, 2016
    Two thoughts...

    1) I bought a 3-year old used camper from a dealer. I bit on the extended warranty. A year later I discovered dry-rot in the camper. Keep in mind, it lives in a heated shop when not in use - so this didn't start on my watch. Yeah, the fine print reads something like 'water damage, regardless of cause, is not covered'. So just what it the point of a warranty??!!??

    2) Hurricane Matthew was less than a month ago. Soft wood in the front? This had been leaking for a while. Matthew may have exasperated it, but it did not cause it.

    My $.02
    -Eric
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2016
    push the winds tisted the rv and caused the cracking, any thing you can see ,or your neightbors have had happen that will help.
  • joelc's avatar
    joelc
    Nomad
    Oct 30, 2016
    First of all, it is a must that you check your RV at least 2X per year for areas where the seals are wearing. If the sealant is cracked or coming off you should immediately remove the old sealant and reseal. I use Lexel. I am not sure how long after the storm you noticed the damage, but if there was a lot of mold it could be possible that you had a leak for some time and the storm just made it worse. Hopefully, it is covered, and can be repaired or you can get another trailer. Maintenance is key to not having problems on the road.

    We were in Myrtle Beach State CG before the hurricane too, and had to travel to Roanoke Rapids, NC to escape the winds, but we did get a lot of water.
  • spoon059's avatar
    spoon059
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2016
    Mich F wrote:
    I don't know how strong the winds were where your TT is located, but if they were strong enough, it's possible you could make the argument that the winds caused the cracking in the caulking.

    Very good thought. Dry caulk can be intact and fine, but once pressure pushes one surface from the other it can crack. Due diligence and regular maintenance might not have avoided this. I would push on my insurance company. If it was an old leak and old damage, I would agree with insurance. The fact that it is still soaking wet should help you argue that it was caused by Matthew.
  • eluwak's avatar
    eluwak
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2016
    I just looked over our policies (insurance and protection), and both have exclusions for leaks or anything as a result of bad caulking... Even for windstorm damage it seems. I'll have to wait and see what they say before I can do anything. I did see some of the cracks, and they were very minor except where the front cap is warped it has separated from the trim where the diamond plate joins. I haven't looked at the roof myself yet.
  • Mich_F's avatar
    Mich_F
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2016
    I don't know how strong the winds were where your TT is located, but if they were strong enough, it's possible you could make the argument that the winds caused the cracking in the caulking.
    As for the cost of the repair, a good independent guy with a small shop, could perhaps do it for as low as a few thousand dollars up to ????, assuming most of the mold issues would be taken care of by removing and replacing the bad areas.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2016
    I would ask for detailed pictures of the alleged cracking.

    BUT even a decent-size caulk failure would not have let in that amount of water that fast without the hurricane. Seems to me the damage is the result of the hurricane. But of course the insurance company is operating in weasel mode.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2016
    if your real lucky they,ll total it, because of mold.BUT the adj said he seen cracking. might not be covered at all. complain if they turn it down,

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