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daystrom's avatar
daystrom
Explorer
Oct 27, 2014

Leak behind drip edge, insert molding

I've been chasing a leak for a while near the front of my trailer. Comes in the same exact spot in the front closet during hard rain. Light rains, no leak.

I thought it was from the cap seal. Caulked it with Dicor - no help. Covered the cap seal with 4" wide Eternabond tape - no help. Caulked the gutter extensions - no help.

What appears to be happening is the drip edge on that side (door side) gets overwhelmed with water and fills up. It can't drain fast enough which causes the water to fill up behind the vinyl insert molding. From there it finds its way past the screws and into the trailer.

I know its up front because I can spray the front few feet of drip edge with a hose and get water inside once it fills up.

How can I fix this? Remove the insert molding? Eternabond over the screw heads? I don't think the water is flowing out because the awning screws into the drip edge and the bolts hamper the flow of water.

Thanks!

6 Replies

  • Right you are. Magnet is very attracted to the screws. What was I thinking!
  • daystrom wrote:
    All the screws appear to be stainless steel. Guess the factory anticipated rust!


    I highly doubt the company would spend extra money on stainless screws.
    Take one out and see if it sticks to a magnet...if it sticks=not stainless.
  • All the screws appear to be stainless steel. Guess the factory anticipated rust!
  • As said start taking screws out. If they have rusted threads that will give you a clue as to water flow. It may be that there isn't a lot of water getting in which is why it doesn't appear to come out anywhere. Or it's spreading out inside the wall. One other thing, even if you plug the leak, the inside of the wall is still wet. If there is anyway to open up a little of the wall and let it dry out, unless its a vacuum bonded fiberglass wall.
  • Try taking every screw out individually and applying sealant to hole and screw threads and reinsert and tighten ...worth a shot.