It’s every RV owner’s worst nightmare: water in the floor. Water isn’t only unsightly… It can lead to a variety of problems even more serious like floor damage—sometimes requiring replacement—not to mention lingering issues such as mold. Want to know the best way to address your water problem as soon as it manifests? Here are a few tips for effective RV water damage floor repair.
Match Your Strategy To Your Floor Type
The simple truth about RV water damage floor repair is that there is no simple truth. Different RV’s have different needs—especially since we’re not talking about something as uniform as fiberglass. RV interiors can include a range of materials even within the same RV, which is why it’s so vital to understand what you’re getting into before you act. If there is water damage, it may require bringing up some of the floor to have a look at what’s underneath, just to be sure.
The Difference Between Repair And Replacement
Should you hire a professional to get a completely new floor installed, or should you simply buy the right materials and repair the floor yourself? This is the problem of diagnosis, which can feel like a difficult judgment call. But if your damage is isolated to one spot, there’s a good chance that you don’t need to go for a total replacement. You may be able to simply address the issue in this specific area—taking care to inspect the floor in surrounding areas. You don’t want to end up with water damage that you left alone, because over time it can lead to rot and mold..
Look For Dry Rot
Dry rot occurs when your wood has rotted out. There may not be any signs of the water damage that produced it, but if it’s there, it’s a real problem. The good news about dry rot? There are products like Git-Rot® RX, designed specifically to tackle this problem. Featuring a two-part liquid epoxy, you can use Git-Rot to penetrate any rotted wood—so long as you’ve given time for the wood to dry. The wood itself will help the epoxy to soak in via capillary action. Allow it to cure overnight after applying, then sand it if needed.
Preventing Future Rotting Problems
One of the best ways to ensure that you never have to deal with dry rot and RV water damage floor repair? Nip it in the bud. Use an End Grain Sealer on any relevant wood in your flooring—and even the surrounding areas of your RV. This is a fast-curing preventative that works well and doesn’t require constant reapplication. That means you get to start enjoying your RV again as soon as possible.
Shop RV by LIFE
For all of your other RV repair projects, be sure to browse our entire collection of RV maintenance products. With better cleaning, sealing, and protecting, you’ll be able to prevent future water issues and maintain the quality of your RV for years to come.
