TonyMin
Walnut Creek CA
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Joined: 01/25/2005
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I am planning to document the repair of the delamination on my Class C caused by water leaks at the rear seams of the coach.
First of all I would like to ask what manufacturers were thinking when they decided to use interior glue luan as their substrate.
Secondly, there is no mechanical water proofing in this area at all. It entirely relies on caulking. This is nuts!
I first noticed the problem when I saw some bumps at the rear corners. I thought I could do an easy opening up and gluing down but once I got into it the damage was way more extensive than expected. The corner 2x3 support was totally rotted out. The outside luan delaminated from the filon and from itself for an area about 24" wide and the entire height of the coach on the left side, about 12" wide on the rear.
There is also damage to the RR corner but it appears to not be as bad. I am planning to do that area next.
After extensive googling and research I have decided on using G Flex by West systems as the glue. I spoke to them and they agree. Instead of using Luan I am getting 1/8" marine plywood. Which is probably what should have been used in the first place.
Currently I am gathering materials and letting the area dry out. I will take pictures as I go. Here are the first two.
From inside the rear closet:
And outside:
'98 Shasta Cheyenne 280 highrise, widebody
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Johnworth914
USA!
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Joined: 04/27/2012
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From a quality control point of view, I have never understood why manufacturers use products like luan and particle board.
from a sales poing of view, I know they do it for cost and weight, but it just makes so much more sense to use a maring plywood.
Alaska is next! Still trying to fit the pontoons to the RV so We can get to Hawaii!
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larry cad
ohio
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Joined: 05/23/2004
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Over the years, I have repaired dozens of RVs, and hundreds of "problems", including major water damage, electrical problems, mechanical problems, etc. I continue to be amazed at the absolutely stupid things that manufacturers do when they make these things, even the "high end" manufacturers. We like to use the excuse that they do it for cost, but many times it just looks like plain stupidity and you end up asking yourself, "WHY???". There is no real quality competition in the industry and folks have no choice when it comes to buying a quality unit. No matter what you buy, it is a******shoot.
Please do not tell me that you own "brand A" and it is wonderful. I've seen brand A, I've worked on brand A, and they are all the same.
Today is my personal best for most consecutive days alive.
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bingford
Utah
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Joined: 09/25/2011
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I agree with the above posts. RV manufactureres have come a long way but the bad workmanship and poor quality control is still evident.
West g-Flex is a good product.
I've used a product from Composet Products called SLV epoxy. It was developed specifically for marine and RV repair. It is a very thin 2-part epoxy resin that bonds most materials, will penetrate and solidify soft and rotted materials. Comes in a kit with injection syringes, etc.
For another option you can call them too.
Thier website is
www.delamrepair.com
* This post was
edited 05/04/12 07:40am by bingford *
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recycler
michigan
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Joined: 02/15/2012
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Johnworth914 wrote:From a quality control point of view, I have never understood why manufacturers use products like luan and particle board.
from a sales poing of view, I know they do it for cost and weight, but it just makes so much more sense to use a maring plywood.
because it is cheap cheap.. to bad it gets heavy, especially when laminated together...my tc's doors were 3/4in thick made from luan lam'd together the cabinets had shelves 3/4 in thick made of particle board and luan laminated together all super heavy..i agree with why not use marine ply it is made to deal with being wet...
and fixing water damage because they used indoor grade materials quite frankly stinks 
to op best of luck on the repairs from what i've seen the west systems products are super strong and should work great
* This post was
edited 05/05/12 08:19am by recycler *
1968 franklin 11fk
back to my 93 cummins
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Turbo Diesel Dude
Green Mountain, NC
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Joined: 01/10/2005
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Am preparing to drop our TT off at the body shop who does repairs of this nature. It's about 50 miles from me and fortunately our insurance will be covering it. We had some really high winds come thru in Feb/March along with torrential rains that apparently forced the water past the seals around the window and over the door. Framing behind seems firm still, but the fiberglass has started to lift. Insurance company so far easy to deal with. Hopefully it will be correctly repaired. Will try to talk them into marine plywood.
charles weidman
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TonyMin
Walnut Creek CA
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Joined: 01/25/2005
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When talking delamination the only problem is the luan. It is not that the luan separated from the foam, or that the luan separated from the filon. It is that the luan separated from itself. I have a layer of luan still attached to the coach, and a layer of luan still attached to the filon. Neither can be removed. It is the center layer that has crumbled. The amount of moisture is astonishing. It is like a sponge. It has spread a huge distance from the original leak.
We wouldn't buy a boat made with cardboard, we shouldn't have to buy an rv made with luan either.
The lack of proper flashing is another story. Butt joining of trim pieces and depending on caulk for the seal is just asking for what happens. If I was going to design a system that fails quickly, this would be it.
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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Curious. HOW does using Luan cause the water to get INSIDE the RV????? HOW does using ANY substrate product cause water to get in or NOT get in????? How does Marine Plywood keep water from getting in???? What happens to marine Plywood when water gets IN and STAYS in due to not fixing any exterior leaks??? Doug
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TonyMin
Walnut Creek CA
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Joined: 01/25/2005
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Not sure about your question. But obviously Luan doesn't cause water to go into the RV. However, when water does get in the Luan quickly breaks down and the layers delaminate. Marine plywood would be more resistant from this happening. Obviously, the best thing is when water doesn't enter the seams which entirely depend on caulking.
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TonyMin
Walnut Creek CA
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Joined: 01/25/2005
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Update to my repair:
The corner 1x3 has been removed and all the rotten luan layers scraped off. The epoxy has been ordered.
Everything has been open to dry out. It is amazing and sickening how much water was soaked up by the wood.
Next will be the regluing of the plywood and filon to close the corner back up.
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