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05-26-2017, 04:07 PM
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#1
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New Member
1977 27' Overlander
Austin
, TX
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2
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I'm allergic to my beloved silver bullet!
Hey y'all,
My 1977 Airstream Overlander sent me to urgent care due to an allergic reaction the day I started interior demo. Since then I've stripped most of the interior including carpet, kitchen, cabinetry. I've covered the subfloor with plywood and painted over the vinyl walls. Yesterday I spent the entire day working inside and today I'm experiencing all the same allergic symptoms as I did on Demo Day 1!
The only things that haven't been stripped are the vinyl walls and the bathroom. Do you think there's hope to remediate the allergens (potentially mold, formaldehyde, etc)? Is there a way to resolve this without stripping the bathroom and the walls?
Have you experienced an allergic reaction to your Airstream? Did the issue resolve itself, or did you need to do more-- mold remediation, cover everything with bleach, etc? Thanks for your help!
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05-26-2017, 04:12 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,742
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I would think that any off gassing from any of the materials would have stopped years ago. Maybe mold. Maybe mice. No telling what is hiding in your walls and especially belly pan. There mold test kits available.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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05-26-2017, 05:22 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1962 28' Ambassador
1961 19' Globetrotter
1962 26' Overlander
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,996
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Could it be the dust you are stirring up. Is a mask helping.
__________________
Hittenstiehl
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05-26-2017, 05:33 PM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
2016 30' International
Calgary
, Alberta
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 166
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I'm assuming that you're wearing a high grade particulate mask? I know a little about mold remediation from my work days, and it can be very toxic. Many people have suffered serious lung and respiratory infections from mold and mildew. I would suggest that you purchase the best particulate mask you can, and wear goggles not glasses. the other thing is to keep any potential infection sites protected, and I would recommend sturdy nitrile gloves under (or by themselves) your work gloves. A thorough blowing off with compressed air after working on your rig, and the work clothes right in the wash.
I hope that these recommendations help, I too suffer from severe mold/mildew allergies and know the discomfort you must be feeling. All the best with your project, hope you are feeling "back to your old self" again!
__________________
Michael and Leah
2016 International Serenity 30'- "Suburban Cliche"
2017 F350 Lariat
Poodle and two cats!
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05-27-2017, 11:59 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1972 29' Ambassador
Boynton Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 568
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Maybe you're reacting to the new paint off-gassing? There are potentially tons of air leak points where the nastiness in between the skins is wafting inside.
If it were me, I'd tape off the bathroom, making it air tight. Then, see if you get the symptoms. Keep taping until the symptoms don't re-occur. You can then seal everything with Big Stretch caulking. Maybe spend a few nights in the trailer before building any new stuff...
Probably the best thing would be to hire some local talent to remove the interior skins and old insulation. Check the archives for all of the gross stories of what folks have found in their walls!
I had not-fresh odors in mine, but painted the walls with Kilz and then Zolatone FLEX, which sealed up all the seams. No more stinky!
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05-27-2017, 12:29 PM
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#6
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Classy Roscoe
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 214
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It's not your trailer, it's Travis County.
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05-27-2017, 03:31 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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I expect it is some sort of mold growing between the skins. The vinyl coating on the interior walls can still outgas. Try rubbing some of the sticky oil from the walls on the inside of your arm and see if it turns red. If it does, you found the problem. I expect it is mold of some sort.
Perry
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05-27-2017, 03:33 PM
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#8
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Reads a lot
2017 30' Classic
Titusville
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,209
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I would do as Masondood suggested AND get yourself a high quality air purifier with HEPA filters, get the expensive ones as it is much cheaper that another trip to Urgent Care. I seriously doubt it is anything else but Mold and mildew and both can be very serious to those that are allergic. All the demo you are doing is great but it is also stirring up all that stuff and you are breathing it in. Once you are done with demo I bet your issues resolve quickly but keep that air purifier in the AS for a while. Hope you feel better soon.
__________________
Lauri
She Believed She Could so She Did.
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05-27-2017, 05:23 PM
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#9
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,201
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I'd get an allergist to run a panel test on me to see exactly what kinds of things I'm allergic to. Without a test, there's no way to know for sure. Meanwhile, I'd hold off spending quality construction time in that trailer until I had a sense of what's causing my reaction.
What have you found in there so far? Make a list and maybe share it with the doctor to give them some ideas of what they should test for.
As for relieving / preventing allergic reactions while in the trailer, it really does depend on what they find in the test and what you've found in in the trailer. Worst case, it could be necessary to do a full shell-off restoration to get all the nasty stuff out.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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05-27-2017, 07:16 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Not a bad idea to get tested for common allergens. To some folks molds can be deadly.
Perry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocinante
I'd get an allergist to run a panel test on me to see exactly what kinds of things I'm allergic to. Without a test, there's no way to know for sure. Meanwhile, I'd hold off spending quality construction time in that trailer until I had a sense of what's causing my reaction.
What have you found in there so far? Make a list and maybe share it with the doctor to give them some ideas of what they should test for.
As for relieving / preventing allergic reactions while in the trailer, it really does depend on what they find in the test and what you've found in in the trailer. Worst case, it could be necessary to do a full shell-off restoration to get all the nasty stuff out.
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05-29-2017, 11:31 AM
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#11
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New Member
1977 27' Overlander
Austin
, TX
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2
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Thank you for all your valuable feedback!! Testing the trailer, getting myself tested, and doing some trial & error moving forward is the plan for now. Much appreciated!!! Hopefully the indoor air quality in the trailer will improve once construction settles down. Thanks!
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05-29-2017, 11:51 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Superior
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 442
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Nothing get's through this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you feel you might be sensitive to airborne "junk", wear this.
__________________
1972 33' Streamline Emperor Crown Imperial
1949 30' Spartan Royal Mansion
2012 Nissan Armada
Most of China
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05-29-2017, 11:52 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Superior
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 442
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Also, run the roof vents continuously?
__________________
1972 33' Streamline Emperor Crown Imperial
1949 30' Spartan Royal Mansion
2012 Nissan Armada
Most of China
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05-29-2017, 12:28 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,074
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FWI, mold, rather in a home, business, and certainly in a closed in trailer is very bad for anyone, even worse for those with allergies or lung disease. I hope you will be able to find the culprit and end it. Good luck.
__________________
Evelyn & Mikki,(chihuahua) or Nikko (Pomeranian mix) Near Denver, Colorado
2016 AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE GRAND TOUR EXT. 24.5' "GOLIATH"
TV: 2015 Nissan Pathfinder 2015 BAMBI 16' Sport
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