Blistered wallpaper?

lesptr · 05-01-2016, 08:03 PM

Wife and I went out to the TT to sanitize the fresh water tank today. When I was closing up when the job was complete, I noticed something strange on the wallpaper between the entry door and the bedroom door. From floor to ceiling, the wallpaper is "blistered" in a weird way. It almost looks like there is a large grain of sand under each "blister", or "pimple", but I can press the raised area back down to the plywood beneath and there is nothing behind the wallpaper but air. I can find no signs of water infiltration, no discoloration, and I can't remember any water ever getting sprayed on that particular wall.
Here's a few pics,...any ideas? (Yes, I have checked the roof for leaks and cannot find any suspicious areas)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

crunchman12001 · 05-01-2016, 08:33 PM

Oh man, I know that is a scary feeling. I have never seen it personally but have heard described here as the first signs of water infiltration as you have suspected. So close to the window, maybe that is it? Anyone else seen this?
If still under warranty, get it in asap.

lesptr · 05-01-2016, 09:07 PM

Not under warranty.
Also, it is above the top of the window and a little more than a foot to the right. Water infiltration from the window was my first thought, but there is nothing around the window frame.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

asquared · 05-01-2016, 09:11 PM

signs of water infiltration. Water can come from anywhere and run back. Check door seals, slide seals, marker lights, etc. You can run those over the area and see if you see any bubbling or signs of water inside.

lesptr · 05-01-2016, 09:15 PM

Hmm, there is a porch light on the wall outside that area and I did not check that. I was focused on the roof and window frame.
And of course I leave for five day trip first thing in the morning.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

asquared · 05-01-2016, 11:35 PM

Take your caulk with you and check it at the campground.

lesptr · 05-02-2016, 04:40 AM

Businesses trip.

lesptr · 05-02-2016, 11:01 AM

Before leaving for the airport this morning, I had planned to do a temp fix above the porch light to hold the situation while I'm out of town. The light I though was the culprit is actually above the window, about 18 inches forward of th pimples. So, it is not the likely cause of the infiltration. The only thing near that area attached to the outside is the forward awning arm. At this point I can just hope for no rain this week till I can do a better inspection.

doc73 · 05-02-2016, 01:33 PM

Do not write off anything, water does crazy things!

I had a screw leak in the gutter at the rear of my mini lite.. The water traveled all the way to the front cabinet in the roof where it would drip into the towels over the bed in the cabinet. 20 feet it traveled. I had a hell of a time finding it. Took a pin size amount of sealant to fix and almost a month with a hose and tarp to find.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

lesptr · 05-02-2016, 02:28 PM

I keep plugging away. And I'll post updates of my progress or lack there of.

wicked1 · 05-04-2016, 09:07 AM

That is water or moisture had it in my Shasta had to replace the wall area and have the roof and gutters resealed it was leaking in under the gutter from what a Shasta dealer told me, did not damage the wood so we were lucky

2016 F350 SCREW SB 6.7 PS Diesel
2015 FR Rockwood Roo 23IKSS

lesptr · 05-04-2016, 09:09 AM

Thanks for the info. I'll be home this weekend to hopefully get it taken care of.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

mrpep · 05-06-2016, 08:14 AM

Caulk the heck out of anything and everything , I'm not trying to make pretty anymore, I'm trying to protect the trailer is all.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Flybob** · 05-06-2016, 08:19 AM

Check the side marker lights. Many times they are not sealed well and water will travel along the wiring once it gets inside.

mrpep · 05-06-2016, 08:22 AM

I have a spot like that too and the only thing that makes me feel some conform is that it is very hard so the integrity of the wood is still there. If your wood is soft , really soft then you may have a bigger problem. If your gutsy , pull off some paper if the wood is soft and if it is wet and soft than you have a problem that needs fixing , if the wall is soft but completely dry than its an old problem that was stopped and may be able to wait.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lesptr · 05-07-2016, 12:04 PM

Update: we've been cleaning and inspecting the roof and walls where the gutter, awning, and porch lights attach. This is what we have found that raises our suspicions.

There is a screw through the awning where it attaches to the gutter presumably to keep it from sliding fore and aft in the rail.

I'll cover that screw with proflex.

I pulled the plastic wire covers from the awning attachment and found this.

The top right quadrant of that hole has no sealant at all. It is where the worst part of the wallpaper blisters are, but the hole is near the bottom of the wall. I know water can flow upward through capillary action, but can it flow upwards of 5 feet or more?

We also noticed where the wires go through the wall for the led strip under the awning is poorly sealed.

I don't believe this is a cause of any damage though as it is on the other side of the door. It too will get some proflex.

My question is, what should I use to insure a good seal of the gutter to the roof. This is what I have on hand.

Do I need something else?
Thanks again
Les

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

mrpep · 05-07-2016, 01:12 PM

Lap sealant is soft and has self level ability so don't use vertically , use the proflex for verticals. There's also Dicor clay tape that is used when putting on trim or anything that gets screwed down .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lesptr · 05-07-2016, 01:45 PM

Just to be sure, it IS ok to use proflex on the roof membrane?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

mrpep · 05-07-2016, 01:47 PM

From what I have been told you don't wanna use proflex on roof - use the lap sealant .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mr Havercamp · 05-07-2016, 02:20 PM

Dicor makes a lap sealant that is not self leveling called non sag.....thats what you use for roof to awning or gutter rail.

In addition to flybobs comments about marker lights, not sure how coachmen does it but on our new Rockwood they do not caulk them......they use a closed cell foam gasket. I pulled 3 after a rain and found water behind all 3. For gaskets to work screws need to be tight and not stripped. I ordered geocel so I can caulk all the lights, windows, and everything else. Pay 20 K for a trailer and then finish building it.

Why did you post Rudys picture lol. He's one creepy dude that Rudy.

You may also like: