StuartP Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I have just discovered a worrying hole in the floor tray in the bathroom. It is where the moulded floor meets the side panels. I had noticed that the sealant was starting to pull away from the wall section and now i know why. The wall panel has actually cracked and pieces have broken off leaving a hole about 2" by 0.5". How do i go about repairing this hole, or is it a case of repacing bits that are broken. Can i buy the replacement parts to fit and if so, from where? Or do i need to replace the entire bathroom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Hi StuartP, and welcome. Can you let us have a bit more info - what is your van, how old etc, it will help us to give you a useful reply. Ta Mel B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartP Posted February 7, 2007 Author Share Posted February 7, 2007 Sorry. It is Fiat Ducato Auto Roller 2001. Still don't know if that is any more help. I'm not big on the technical stuff. I just point it in the right directtion and hope it gets me there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I think you need to get this to a dealership or repair specialist to investigate why the hole has appeared. It is unclear whether this in in/around the shower tray, or elsewhere. However, assuming it wasn't there when the van was new, something, clearly, has changed.Is it possible something dropped, or some other impact, may have caused the hole? If this kind of mechanical damage is ruled out, I would be inclined to suspect damp either from within the washroom, or from outside. Has your van recently had a habitation service or damp check? If not, now is definately the time!If cause is water ingress, a professional repair will be essential since an amateur bodge (apologies) would stand out like a sore thumb, and any subsequent purchaser seeing this will immediately suspect the presence of rot anyhow. Without a professional repair the value of the van would be greatly reduced. Don't panic, but above all, don't delay!Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Any chance of posting a pic' of the area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 If its a smallish hole in the flimsy shower tray you might be able to repair it my husband did a repair to a caravan shower tray, he found a upvc window supplier on a tradin estate and they sold him a repair kit it was like a resin that you mixed to-gether and it was plient like putty but sets hard it did the job and he has found it very useful for doing repairs on plastic. I would try it first before you see a supplier as it will be costly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest starspirit Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I would be very wary of using a dealer to repair this. You may well find that when/if you start taking it apart the water damage goes further than you first thought and could cost a king's ransom at dealer hourly rates. I've been down this road several times in the past with both inboard and external water leaks and it can take many many hours and some ingenuity to sort it. Will the shower tray, if that is the culprit, come out? If so it can be repaired or replaced - and while it is out it should be fairly simple to repair the van walls and/or floor. I doubt you will find the original wallboard and even if you do an insert or patch will show so maybe after the repair and before the tray goes back in consider recovering the wall, or part of it with a layer of maybe formica or something similar to seal the repair joint and make the wall look good again. This might be termed a bodge by many with lots of cash to spend, however as long as all the leak sources are found and cured and the work is strong and neat I see it as apractical and cost effective long term way to sort out a potentially very expensive problem without detracting from the van's value. It all depeneds on how handy you or your friends are or if you know a dependable and ingenious handyman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartP Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hopefully this will include a pic/pics. Cheers for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartP Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 Peter Sorry, the MMM server wouldn't let me attach a pic. Do you have an email i could send them to? Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 StuartP - 2007-02-07 9:26 PM I have just discovered a worrying hole in the floor tray in the bathroom. It is where the moulded floor meets the side panels. I had noticed that the sealant was starting to pull away from the wall section and now i know why. The wall panel has actually cracked and pieces have broken off leaving a hole about 2" by 0.5". How do i go about repairing this hole, or is it a case of repacing bits that are broken. Can i buy the replacement parts to fit and if so, from where? Or do i need to replace the entire bathroom? Stuart, I agree about approaching some of the dealers but why not let Dave Newell at http://www.davenewell.co.uk/ have a look at it for you. I know for a fact he has refurbished/fitted out a couple of vans and he has just about rebuilt his present van. There are a few members of this forum who are very happy with his standard of work. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartP Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 Thanks Don. I didn't know Dave did that kind of work. I was planning on going to him for a reversing camera soon anyway, so i might run that by him at the same time. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 starspirit - 2007-02-08 11:28 AM ............... This might be termed a bodge by many with lots of cash to spend, however as long as all the leak sources are found and cured and the work is strong and neat I see it as apractical and cost effective long term way to sort out a potentially very expensive problem without detracting from the van's value. It all depeneds on how handy you or your friends are or if you know a dependable and ingenious handyman? RichardAssuming you are picking up on my use of the term "bodge", I was referring to a poorly executed repair, not a well executed DIY job.If you look back you'll see Stuart said "I'm not big on the technical stuff. I just point it in the right directtion and hope it gets me there." I therefore sought to warn him that the repair would be a) fairly difficult and b) visible, so a rough job would devalue his motorhome. It is for him to decide whether he has the appropriate skills. If he thinks not, I agree with Don, go to see Dave Newell, who I'm afraid I'd forgotten about. Sorry Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 No problem Brian. Its not the kind of work I normally do but I'm happy to take a look at it and offer advice at least. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike.T Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hi There I think you will find that this is made from ABS plastic they say its very hard to repair. I had the same type of problem on my shower tray. I did find some ABS repair glue on ebay only a few pounds it sealed the crack ok I put some bandage on the back of it to improve/reinforce the area ,if as you say a lump has broken away if you can remove tray repair with fibreglass and resin try a ceramic paint to match. I did this around a shower tray outlet that had been cut to big it set very well and re-cut a new hole no problem Best of luck Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest starspirit Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 No dig at you intended Brian - honest - you know it just ain't my style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 starspirit - 2007-02-08 9:00 PM No dig at you intended Brian - honest - you know it just ain't my style? Not taken as a dig, Richard. I was just grateful for the opportunity to clarify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROND Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Stuart, I recently had a hole knocked in my shower tray probably caused by the towel rail falling end on into it, it was split about 2 inches and had a hole about an inch round. I used Araldite Rapid to repair it, I gave it 2 coatings of it and that was 6 months ago, since then we have toured Portugal and Spain for 3 months using the shower every day and it has certainly held up. It looks a bit yellow in the repair area as i havent painted it but im sure a lick of paint will help cover it. RD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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