Flooded rear storage/galley area

[Pea Pod]

Hello, I've been soaking up all I can from the forums over recent months and am hoping for advice on a big (?) repair just ahead.

My '06 Bambi storage area flooded and I need to decide on the best possible fix

The repair technician said the original rear hatch gasket was installed wrong allowing water to seep up under the bed and creep all the way to the bathroom area! Yuck. Black mold took hold and I want to be sure I deal with it correctly (sooner than later).

I've attached a couple of pics: much obliged for any input on how I should approach this repair (feel free to PM me, too).

I'm based in Portland Oregon and hope to find a local or nearby shop that offers top-notch repairs. The technician who pulled off the floor and removed the bed-frame and other systems adjacent to the areas behind the bathroom and closet indicates a partial cut-away and subfloor replacement will do the trick. It seems wise to get a second opinion to be sure the fix works the first time around.

Thanks!
Susan, aka Pea Pod

[dbj216]

There are others with newer Airstreams like yours that have had rain water ingression from the rear body to floor joint. Search for threads in the subfloor repair category.

You probably have probed the subfloor with an ice pick or sharp awl. If the subfloor is soft, then it needs replaced. If not, then maybe mitigating the mold is all thats needed. I had a section that I bleached, and then encapsulated with polyurethane.

The OSB flooring is known to rot when wet, so it is best to have it replaced, along with the cause of the leaks repaired.

As you may know, the sub floor is attached to the frame, and the shell is attached to the sub floor (essentially). The repair person must be familiar with Airstream construction. The new floor section must be driven under the shell. It's a big job.

David

[Pea Pod]

David, I appreciate the information, especially drawing my attention to the flooring material. I'll take your recommendation to search for others faced with the same problem.

The info you shared makes me wonder why a partial floor replacement was suggested at all. I'd guess you can't really salvage any of the floor as the water definitely marinated the entire area (and the technician works on Airstream's).

One thing's certain: I only want to do this fix once!
-Susan

[KJRitchie]

Get it out of the rain and dry it out. I doubt your subfloor is OSB. Once dry then it can probably be treated. Many have had this unfortunate problem and have not had to replace parts of the subfloor. Do a search for this issue to see what others have done. Good luck.

Kelvin

[Pea Pod]

Kelvin, I sure hope it's not OSB! First thing tomorrow I'm going to research exactly what the flooring is installed.

The techs were pretty clear it is completely saturated through and no longer viable. That, coupled with mold, leads me to think the best option is to replace it. But I definitely want to learn more about the options: if I can do a partial replacement with confidence it sure beats a full replacement.

I suspect it's been wet/damaged as early as April when I took a video of streaming water behind the bathroom near the wheel well ( at the time, I was told it wasn't due to a leak but rain run-off).

Thanks for the advise!
Susan

[dbj216]

Here it the thread by BoldAdventure describing his "bold adventure" with leaky rear end sealing design. Maybe it will give you some insight to the problem.

You will find other threads in the "repairing subfloors and frames" .

A moisture meter to detect a wet subfloor so you can address the cause is a very important Airstream maintenance chore.

We like to say all Airstreams leak or are gonna leak.

David

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...or-124684.html

[m.hony]

I got water in the rear storage area simply because the door didn't close tight. The latches needed to be adjusted to make the door seal good against the gasket.

[TinTin]

Originally Posted by Pea Pod

Kelvin, I sure hope it's not OSB! First thing tomorrow I'm going to research exactly what the flooring is installed.
Susan

Susan, from your photos your floor certainly looks like OSB to me. Good luck with the fix, there are many threads here about alternative flooring materials, including marine plywood and coosa board.

[Pea Pod]

Thanks for all of the helpful advice and links! David, I'll get my hands on a moisture meter: I'd hate to do this kind of fix only to deal with another up front (amazing how big my '16 is feeling all of the sudden).

Bold Adventures venture sure seems like a preview of what's in store for me.

And m.hony I checked the latches and I think you're right: seems like there's a bit of give , though the rubber seal seems snug so not sure why that's the case.

Bob, I'm 100% sure I'll ask for a different flooring to go in- I'm doing more research on Coosa and think it could be a great option given I'm in the rainy NW.

Thanks again! Sure helps to have experienced folks and a sense of community when faced with such a daunting repair!