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osolow · 09-09-2008, 08:00 PM

well i decided to tear out the front of my airstream to find a leak in the front, pop out a big dent in the front of my airstream. fix some floor rot and and change the floor covering in the front of the trailer.o and fix the cracks in the plastic trim in the front of the trailer were the radio is(thats getting replaced aswell). I just wanted to show everyone here what am doing and hear some suggestion's on fixing the floor. i think am going to patch the floor since the rot is right over a brace.

Mike Leary · 09-09-2008, 08:15 PM

Airstream uses partical board flooring ??

osolow · 09-09-2008, 08:39 PM

yes they do they did in my 1990 29fter any way.
i figure after i patch the rot i have now aim going to get some of that floor epoxy to roll on it when i am done

soldiermedic · 09-09-2008, 08:41 PM

Airstream did use OSB for some years. Dreadful stuff since it disintegrates with water.

Bummer D.

You need a leak checker? Leak Finding for RVs

Steve

Sugarfoot · 09-09-2008, 08:46 PM

I'd heard rumors that Airstream used particle board at one time. Guess this confirms it. The epoxy sealer sounds like a good idea.

osolow · 09-09-2008, 08:55 PM

iam just glad it's just a couple of small spots in the front of the trailer.
i havent seen any signs of rot any were else thankfuly.
but like i said earlier i going to look around this forum because i dont remember what the wood epoxy is called but I am going to put it down and hopfuly keep from haveing the any more floor rot in the front any way.
the big problem is going to fix the plastic end cap it got like a dozen cracks in it, I think iam going to try fiberglassing it to fix it?

LI Pets · 09-09-2008, 09:01 PM

If you want to just patch rather than replace you can do this.

Take fiberglass cloth 1 or 2 layers and coat in MAS fiberglass 2 part resin, it will last laonger than the wood around it.

osolow · 09-09-2008, 09:11 PM

sounds good
but i would think it would work good in the small spot by the door,
but but the top two pic are pretty large roted areas.

another question were would be a good place to pic up the plastic trim for the front windows the plastic is hard and broken in a few places or would i have to call a dealer and hope the can still get parts for my 90?

Silvertwinkie · 09-10-2008, 06:24 AM

Airstream may still use particle board (aka OSB) in the entry level Airstreams....I believe the 16' and 19' did even as recently as a few years ago...might still be the case...I think, the 22' units did too. Not sure anymore if they still do and if that has been extended to the 23', but I am sure someone here could say for sure that has been out to JC recently.

Attached was a trip I took to JC in December 2003. It shows a 16 or 19' unit with OSB.....I have another pic of a widebody and that is regular plywood....

Silverhobby · 09-10-2008, 06:35 AM

Git-Rot is the stuff that boat restorers use. Many on this Forum have used that product as well.

DEITZ645 · 09-10-2008, 06:39 AM

Osolow,
I think the trade name I have heard around here is ROT DOC. I have also used Minwax Wood Hardener with petty good results. the wood hardener will work as long as the fooring is still intact. It basically soaks into the wood fibers and hardens.

Over59 · 09-10-2008, 07:05 AM

Some of this board is near marine quality for water resistance, some is near cardboard. Have you found the leak yet. The water is likly getting into the board from between the walls, on the edge where this stuff is most vulnerible. What condition is the frame member under that rot? Since you have it apart you have an opportunity to repair it before it gets worse. Prehaps some Por-15 is all it needs or a bondo stlye patch. You see under that wet floor is a layer of fiberglass. You may be able to tell from the edge of the flooring if the leak got to the glass and then sat on the frame nice and wet.
Check with a good marine supplier for which penatrating epoxy will actually penetrate the flooring, it may be treated and not let the epoxy in.
Why is the end cap cracked? That's a little unusual. Do a little test with a good two part epoxy (like a teaspoon) to test for adhesion. (Follow the mixing directions for temperature) By the way these are the hardest part to get back on if removed.

Good Luck, should keep you out of trouble this winter.

BDandTTs · 09-10-2008, 07:20 AM

We found similar areas in our 2005 22' CCD. In our case the OSB flooring was damp or showed evidence of previous dampness, but was not punky. See post #4 in this thread, http://www.airforums.com/forums/f223...ccd-44473.html

Make sure that you clean and dry the flooring before attempting any repairs. We vacuumed and used soap and water to clean, then dried the area with a fan for several days. Bob drilled holes in the OSB and applied "GIT"-ROT penetrating epoxy from West Marine. He also painted the area with Easypoxy Undercoat paint (West Marine) before reattaching the vinyl. Some of the vinyl had so much mold that we cut it off and threw it away, luckily it was in a storage area.

Our repair was recent, and as I've said before we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Lumatic · 09-10-2008, 07:27 AM

If the affected area of the "wood" is only discolored the structural integrity may not have been affected but I would use the epoxy anyway. If wood is soft, the epoxy treatment won't solve the problem and you will have to cut out the rotten wood and scab in a patch. While you have the floor exposed I would use epoxy treatment on those areas of floor subject to rot: both ends of the coach, door area, around plumbing and in the bathroom. I can recommend a product called Rot Doctor. Wear a respirator it's nasty.

Over59 · 09-10-2008, 08:45 AM

Don't forget to treat the area with something to kill the bacteria that causes the rot before treating rotten wood with epoxy.

osolow · 09-10-2008, 09:52 AM

thanks all this is one of the many reasons i like this site all the helpful responses
the all three spots are rotted all the way throw i will have to cut the wood out anad patch it i dont know what the frame looks like yet. i plain on lookink a liitle more tonight. i do not plain on replaceing the whole floor so unless i see signs that the frame is in bad condition. then my small foor repar will turn in to a complet frame up remodel. because if i have to fix or replace any of the frame am going to go allthe way.besides the wife is wanting to a complete redo on the bathroom
i will try to get more pic on to night that shoe the rot better

osolow · 09-10-2008, 09:53 AM

what product do you suggest for this?

osolow · 09-11-2008, 10:46 AM

OK i need insulation advise now ? what kind ?

DEITZ645 · 09-11-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osolow

OK i need insulation advise now ? what kind ?

Osolow,
For this one I would go to google.com and enter something like this for a search...

insulation site:www.airforums.com

or maybe

floor insulation site:www.airforums.com

You will find a plethora of information and opinions on everything having to do with insulation

.

JohnWB · 09-11-2008, 12:50 PM

In my 1995 A/S Land Yacht, they used particle bd (OSB) flooring also. No leaks so far so it is still good. I couldn't believe for the so called quality of an A/S they did not use plywood in the MH.