Applying Antifreeze to Kill Mold and Prevent Wood Rot
Before moving on to the application of the epoxy, Doug used antifreeze to kill any mold that was still around. You can use a simple sprayer to apply the antifreeze to the suspect wood surfaces.
Doug also mentioned you could use borax solution for the same effect, but it’s quite expensive.
CAUTION:Â Using antifreeze is dangerous and can be harmful or fatal to humans or animals if ingested. Use extreme caution.
He let the wood dry for a week before moving on to the next step – application of the epoxy resin.
Thinning Epoxy Resin to Seal Wood From Moisture
Thinning Epoxy Resin to Seal Wood From MoistureEpoxy resin is mixed with a hardener to produce a strong, waterproof bond.
The bonding characteristics of epoxy solidify the rotted wood and seal the area against water.
To make the epoxy cover a larger area, you’ll need to thin it 50% using one of several thinning agents.
CAUTION: Epoxy can produce irritating fumes and should only be mixed and used in a well-ventilated area. You should wear a respirator and disposable gloves while doing this work.
You can buy specialty resins designed specifically for fixing rotted wood flooring, but you probably don’t need it for a small area of a camper. Those resins are usually needed in boat repairs where the wood is continually exposed to extended moisture.
If you’re not using Git-Rot, then you’ll need some standard epoxy resin, hardener, and a thinning agent.
This step might require some new materials that you may not have used before.
Depending on the epoxy and hardener you buy, you’ll only have a few minutes to an hour to work with it. What you’ll need to do is mix the epoxy resin and hardener, and stir in the thinning agent.
The three things you can use to thin the epoxy are:
CAUTION: Xylene in particular produces strong fumes, and you should wear a respirator when working with it. Here’s a fact sheet on xylene.
Any advice if you’ve already replaced the floor once and then find out two years later it has rotted and become moldy again? Can water seep through the frame into the floor somehow? I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest.
I just had part of the floor fixed in my StarCraft Hybrid, the RV repair guy said it will cost $5,000 to replace the whole floor…I’m female and love camping but not a floor fixer upper, does anyone know some one that can replace the floor for $2,000, I love in Lowell Massachusetts Thanks Linda
I have a large area of rotted floor which I have removed. The wood supports underneath ware also rotted. How do I go about rebuilding a framework?
About to embark on replacing rotted wood flooring in my rv . This 3×6 area will be a challenge . Looks to be from a roof leak by awning !
Great point Mike, thanks for your comment.
Ensure you use ORGANIC VAPOR cartridges on your respirator! They will say OV on them. These are the only cartridges that protect you from the alcohol/acetone/xylene.
I’m working on a 2004 Rockwood trailer floor. I’ve torn up the vinyl to find an area of wood rot caused by water. The damaged area is approximately 6′ long x 4′ wide. The area is in the kitchen, in front of the lower cabinets. The cause of the ongoing water damage has been fixed. The problem I have is a lack of joists under the plywood. There is one aluminum joist at the outer edge of the cabinet area. Logic tells me there should be another joist at the edge of the cabinets, but having dealt with trailers for several years, logic is not involved in the manufacturing process. The aluminum joist runs parallel to the 6′ damaged area (runs side to side of trailer, not front to back). There is NO bracing underneath. One full weight step and a person would fall through! So, do I jump in and take the damaged section out and pray I find another joist. At this point, what other options do I have? HELP!!
I’m newly retired and new to the RV life . We purchased a 2003 Ragen 21 foot toy hauler. It has needed some TLC. I appreciate all the tips I’ve been getting from this web site .
I could really use some advice and thoughts on where to purchase and how to install a hinged 12 ” X 7.5 ‘ piece of diamond plate to cover the gap created from the trailer floor and the opened rear ramp door. Also where I might find or build a hinged ramp extension to attach to the top of the ramp door for easier transition onto the ramp from the street . Thanks .
Thanks Ken, glad you found the article useful
Thanks for the great tips!
Wood rot can be a bear to repair. Glad you avoided problems Larry.
Wish I had seen this—I turned down 2 trailers because they had rotten places in the floor–Won’t happen again
Larry
Sounds good Chris, great choice
Becoming a RVerin my early retirement