RV delamination is a common problem that many owners of recreational vehicles face, especially if they have older models. When this happens, the outer layer of fiberglass peels away from the material beneath it, causing bubbles or blisters on its surface. If left unattended, it can lead to serious structural damage and reduce the resale value of your motorhome. However, whether one should fix this themselves or seek professional assistance remains the same. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of each method to help you make an informed decision about how best to repair your RV.
Understanding What Causes RV Delamination
Before choosing between self-repairing and hiring experts to fix delamination in your RV, it’s important to know what causes it. Water intrusion due to leaks along seams or through the roof is usually responsible for causing most cases of delamination. Once moisture enters the walls, it weakens the adhesive binding fiberglass onto the substrate, leading to separation at different levels. Over time, such damage becomes widespread, necessitating costly fixes if not detected early enough.
Self-Repairing Delamination in RVs
Advantages
- Cost-effective: The greatest merit of DIY repairs on an RV with delaminating panels lies in cost savings. Hiring professionals may require paying hefty amounts for labor alone, whereas this alternative eliminates such expenses.
- Educational process: Undertaking personal tasks involving fixing delaminated areas provides valuable insights into how various sections are built, plus equips individuals with skills applicable during future maintenance work.
- Quick Response: By handling the repair yourself, you can address the issue as soon as you notice early signs like soft spots or bubbles. This immediate action can prevent the damage from worsening while you wait for a professional appointment, which could take days or weeks, especially during peak seasons. Acting quickly on your own could save you from more extensive and costly repairs.
Disadvantages
- Knowledge Required: RV delamination repair requires a background understanding of the way the process operates and hands-on experience with materials like fiberglass or adhesives. It is not a job for novices; without adequate skills, there is a high chance of errors that could worsen the problem or cause more problems later on. Inexperienced individuals may result in expensive mistakes, which will still need professional intervention, thereby nullifying any initial savings. If you do not feel confident enough about fixing your recreational vehicle, it would be better in terms of safety and finances to seek assistance from those who are knowledgeable in this area.
- Time-Consuming: Do-it-yourself repair on an RV with delamination can take quite some time, not only during the actual repairs but also during the preparation stages. You will likely spend hours watching video tutorials online, reading through forums and articles, gathering the necessary information, and collecting all required tools and materials. Without prior exposure, one may easily make blunders that would force them to seek expert help later at extra cost, making their service even more expensive than if they were consulted initially. Moreover, if the repair takes longer than anticipated, one might lose out on the entire traveling season because their vehicle remains grounded during vital months for road trips.
- Tools & Materials Limitations: Although certain tools might be readily accessible at home, most cases demand specialized equipment and supplies to effectively accomplish the task of repairing RVs with delamination. The cost incurred when purchasing such equipment, like adhesive applicators, fiberglass repair kits, or even specialized sanders, can quickly add up. It’s also difficult to know exactly how much material is enough, leading to overbuying and wasting resources or underestimating and incurring additional costs. Ultimately, these investments could make what seems like a cheap do-it-yourself fix turn out to be expensive, especially if any tool becomes a single-use item. It's worth considering these factors when thinking about fixing up your RV.
