Leaking water onto hab doorstep

[delicagirl]

Hi all.... this is the first leak i have had for ages...... my van has been parked up over the winter, and i noticed last week there was a fair bit of water on the hab step. The only place i can think of it could be coming in is via the top of the hab door - which is one of those older white metal doors with aluminium strip edges. The reason i think this is that a bit of tree "stole" a bit of my guttering on the hab door side, and the current gutter ends above the hab door. I haven't remembered yet to go out in the lashing rain to see if the water runs off the end of the gutter and inside the van or not.... but i assume this is likely. should i replace the whole length of gutter?

Does anyone know a place not far from Yeovil that i could get this done without it costing an arm and a leg please ? Thanks

 

[harrow]

Hi all.... this is the first leak i have had for ages...... my van has been parked up over the winter, and i noticed last week there was a fair bit of water on the hab step. The only place i can think of it could be coming in is via the top of the hab door - which is one of those older white metal doors with aluminium strip edges. The reason i think this is that a bit of tree "stole" a bit of my guttering on the hab door side, and the current gutter ends above the hab door. I haven't remembered yet to go out in the lashing rain to see if the water runs off the end of the gutter and inside the van or not.... but i assume this is likely. should i replace the whole length of gutter?

Does anyone know a place not far from Yeovil that i could get this done without it costing an arm and a leg please ? Thanks

This sort of thing ?

Aluminium Gutter Section ║ aprx 40x15 mm / 25x12 mm ║ J profile,alloy,U channel | eBay

 

[harrow]

It could be capillary water seepage under the door if there is only a tight gap ?

:wave:

 

[davep10000]

Your door seems to be a bit like a 2 part stable type caravan door - can you see whether the top of the door is sealing properly ?
sometimes the doors can 'warp' a little and stop the rubber seal working.

However, it sounds like the priority is to get the gutter fixed first - can you post a pic of the damaged part?


Dave.

 

[izwozral]

I fixed some guttering onto my friends MH with Stixall intending to put some self tappers in at a later date, it's still there 2 years later and I still haven't got round to putting the self tappers in!
You are pretty handy Delish, I reckon you could do the guttering yourself.

 

[delicagirl]

This sort of thing ?

Aluminium Gutter Section ║ aprx 40x15 mm / 25x12 mm ║ J profile,alloy,U channel | eBay

i will go out and measure the gutter that is there already later on today.... thank you

 

[delicagirl]

It could be capillary water seepage under the door if there is only a tight gap ?

:wave:

Thats got me thinking...... the van is not parked exactly level right now... so there's another clue... i will go and look at the plumb line later as well see which way its leaning....

 

[delicagirl]

Your door seems to be a bit like a 2 part stable type caravan door - can you see whether the top of the door is sealing properly ?
sometimes the doors can 'warp' a little and stop the rubber seal working.

However, it sounds like the priority is to get the gutter fixed first - can you post a pic of the damaged part?


Dave.

Thanks Dave.... it is indeed a stable type door and it is the coldest hab area in the whole van. I need to go inside it when its lashing down really to see if the water is getting in there. Now i have seen this leak i can do that next time its raining - forecast says it wont be long !!

Could i glue a whole new length of guttering on ?

 

[delicagirl]

I fixed some guttering onto my friends MH with Stixall intending to put some self tappers in at a later date, it's still there 2 years later and I still haven't got round to putting the self tappers in!
You are pretty handy Delish, I reckon you could do the guttering yourself.

Amazon.co.uk: stixall

if this is the right stuff izzie - i can order that and maybe get my nice next door neighbour to assist if i glue a whole new length of guttering in place

 

[Canalsman]

Fiamma make a product called Drip Strip that is self-adhesive. This is placed above the door and acts as a gutter.

Could be a good solution.

 

[molly 2]

It could be capillary water seepage under the door if there is only a tight gap ?

:wave:

nothing worse than water in you capillaries ,try water tablets .

 

[davep10000]

Could i glue a whole new length of guttering on ?

If your roof is like mine - it is a one piece fibreglass affair (best design) - so your gutter is not also a join between 2 separate roof / wall sections like on a caravan (or lesser motorhomes...!)
If so, then the best (but risky) option is to remove the whole length of gutter - carefully (is it screwed on or glued?), and then sikaflex a new length on.

An easier option would be to splice a new section in, to replace the missing bit, but you would need to find a matching piece, and ensure the joins are smooth.

A job best left till warmer weather to allow the sealant to bond properely.

Your plan to spend a bit of time investigating (with a hose pipe?) is time well spent.

Good luck,
Dave.

 

[harrow]

nothing worse than water in you capillaries ,try water tablets .

Capillary action it makes water go up hill, it was just a thought.

:wave:

 

[Nabsim]

If it's fibreglass is a repair an option?

 

[sparrks]

Have you put some talcum powder on the door seals to try and find out from where the water is getting in?

 

[delicagirl]

If it's fibreglass is a repair an option?

i am not sure what you are suggesting - sorry ? Repair the gutter? - there is a length missing.

i suspect that replacing a small section of gutter will still end up with a leak over the hab door (as that will be where the join will be) - as its hard enough sealing new pieces of house gutters !!!

 

[Nabsim]

i am not sure what you are suggesting - sorry ? Repair the gutter? - there is a length missing.

i suspect that replacing a small section of gutter will still end up with a leak over the hab door (as that will be where the join will be) - as its hard enough sealing new pieces of house gutters !!!

If it's made of fibreglass you can buy matting, resin/hardner and repair the missing section. You could even buy carbon fibre matting and have some bling haha.

It can be messy though so probably not a good suggestion for a gutter especially if it is removable. I used to buy my stuff from here, think they have guides f you ever need to do any fibreglass repairs: East Coast Fibreglass - Fibreglass Supplies to the UK East Coast

 

[delicagirl]

If it's made of fibreglass you can buy matting, resin/hardner and repair the missing section. You could even buy carbon fibre matting and have some bling haha.

It can be messy though so probably not a good suggestion for a gutter especially if it is removable. I used to buy my stuff from here, think they have guides f you ever need to do any fibreglass repairs: East Coast Fibreglass - Fibreglass Supplies to the UK East Coast

Ah - maybe i didn't explain things too well - my habitation unit body is a single unit made in fibre glass but the guttering is aluminium - someone else sent me a link to ebay for earlier in the thread..... an replacing the whole length of guttering sounds the simplest way - as long as i can get a neighbour to hold one end for me as i glue it on....

 

[Nabsim]

Ha ha, delete my posts

I did see the link to the ali gutter but when I saw the post about fibreglass body I wasn't sure if it was moulded in guttering. Unscrewing a section of ali and replacing will be a lot less messy than fibreglassing

 

[davep10000]

Not sure how good this stuff is, but may be worth a try?
They also do it in long lengths.

Fiamma Drip Stop 75 cm is ideal for Caravan and Motorhome entrance doors - Drip Stop 300 cm is the perfect Rain Gutter