Forum Discussion

combyy's avatar
combyy
Explorer
Oct 26, 2017

Water leaks in vintage TT "S" clip aluminium siding

At present, my TT (Dutchman 35' Classic) interior walls and insulation is removed on the left side. Only the studs and siding exists. I don't have any pic's and wouldn't know how to post them if I did.

Over the years I've had numerous water leaks and have fixed or stopped most of them. During this time, I've had to repair or replace some of my walls, studding and insulation due to damage from water leaks. All of my roof and corner leaks have been cured. It's the long side of my TT(side with no doors) that I'm having trouble with. I've had the siding off 3 different times over the years trying to find where water is getting in and finally witnessed where and how it's doing it. With moderate rain, the water coming from the roof runs down the siding at a rate that it doesn't allow it to drip but curls under the drip edge in a capillary action and then continues vertically up into the seam, entering the back side of the siding on the inside. Hence, collecting the water in the interior siding grooves and spilling over in various places getting everything wet.

I've tried a number of things to stop it, short of butyl caulking all the seams, which I don't want to do, and wonder if it's a manufacture design flaw. The siding is in excellent condition. No dents, warps, cracks/splits or corrosion holes. It's kept clean and the TT is level.

Because I've actually witnessed this happening and know that no other source of leak is causing this, I'm totally dumbfounded and desperately needing help. Has anyone ever seen this kind of problem? Does anyone have any kind of suggestion to remedy this kind of problem?

Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
  • Downwindtracke1's avatar
    Downwindtracke1
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2017
    I'm sorry, but you are not going to want to read this. We live on the wet coast. It rains here. The siding isn't a problem. The caulking is. Butyl tape is used because it's cheap, easy to use, quick and makes a good looking job. It just doesn't keep water out. Which is a good thing for the industry, a trailer will rot out in about five years ,about the same time as your payments last.

    A RV can be leak free for about 20 years. Ours should out last me. I've even been accused of turning my camper into a submarine. The leaks are at the corners, sidewall/roof, windows, doors. The answer is simple. Quality sealant like Proflex or Stikaflex for walls and Dicor self lapping for roof openings. The stuff is about $15 a tube here. And you'll need a carton or more.

    My Missus and I did the TT in two weekends. It's work, and messy work to boot.

    It should be done within a couple of years of purchase. A simple check is to pull the vinyl trim, it just snaps out, and undo a rusty headed screw, if it's got rusty threads it's time.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2017
    If the roof runoff is entering the siding directly underneath the gutter/edge trim, you'll need to seal that joint. Proflex or any of the other polymer sealants is what you want to use.
  • combyy's avatar
    combyy
    Explorer
    Nov 01, 2017
    UPDATE !!!
    It's been raining a good bit since I've made the original post and have had time to study why roof run off water was traveling back under the seams and entering into the inside walls. Mind you, that this water is water that has already passed the roof trim and now running down the siding and when it hit the siding drip edge it was curling back up into the seam itself. Capillary action then took it up the seam and entered the back side of the siding joint, dripping in the inside. This only happened with a moderate rain. I actually watched this happen.

    After a few experiments, trial and error, I found why this was happening. Over time, these seams gather dust and dirt, which never gets cleaned when the TT gets washed. Where heavier deposits of this dust/dirt in spots, it acts as a channel for capillary action to occur. The solution to this problem was quit simple. I washed out the seams with a brush and soapy water, let it dry, then used wax-n-wash so I could leave a wax film on whatever I washed. (wax repels water causing it to bead). It's rained twice since I did that and not a drop of water entered the TT. I even stood in the rain to watch. All the rain water run over the siding and not once did I see the water curl back under into the siding seams.

    This is a first for me. I never really thought before this incident, that this could happen. I now have a leak free TT and hope this helps anyone with a difficult leak problem.

    Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions.
  • drsteve's avatar
    drsteve
    Explorer
    Nov 01, 2017
    combyy wrote:
    UPDATE !!!
    It's been raining a good bit since I've made the original post and have had time to study why roof run off water was traveling back under the seams and entering into the inside walls. Mind you, that this water is water that has already passed the roof trim and now running down the siding and when it hit the siding drip edge it was curling back up into the seam itself. Capillary action then took it up the seam and entered the back side of the siding joint, dripping in the inside. This only happened with a moderate rain. I actually watched this happen.

    After a few experiments, trial and error, I found why this was happening. Over time, these seams gather dust and dirt, which never gets cleaned when the TT gets washed. Where heavier deposits of this dust/dirt in spots, it acts as a channel for capillary action to occur. The solution to this problem was quit simple. I washed out the seams with a brush and soapy water, let it dry, then used wax-n-wash so I could leave a wax film on whatever I washed. (wax repels water causing it to bead). It's rained twice since I did that and not a drop of water entered the TT. I even stood in the rain to watch. All the rain water run over the siding and not once did I see the water curl back under into the siding seams.

    This is a first for me. I never really thought before this incident, that this could happen. I now have a leak free TT and hope this helps anyone with a difficult leak problem.

    Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions.


    Truly interesting! Sounds like a good reason to give the TT a good wash and wax now and then. Good work!

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