kimberwarden
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17' 64 Oasis
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Post by kimberwarden on Sept 14, 2015 13:48:01 GMT -8
I feel absolutely sick!  One of my recent projects was to replace two ash panels while I had all of the skin off to replace rotted framing and reinsulate. Then I covered the whole trailer with tarps and had to leave it for about 6 weeks. For the most part, the weather has been very hot, but we've had a few wet days too. I don't know whether the tarps leaked or what, but now there is some mildew on the ceiling panel where it meets the wall. In an attempt to stop it before it got any worse, I sprayed some mold & mildew killer on it and wiped off the excess drips. Now I have mildew stains AND water stains where I sprayed. (The panels haven't been shellacked yet.) I figure the best thing to do is to try to sand it off. Is that right? Is it likely to work? Is there something else I should try? I'm currently in the middle of hanging new skin. Should I finish that first, or do I need to tend to the wood immediately? It's very discouraging to have so much of my hard work come undone! |
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Sept 14, 2015 17:52:41 GMT -8
I've read that it is possible to LIGHTLY sand the finish till below the stains. You might get really good results since you are not working with a "finished" surface yet, but rather bare wood. This may be the most reasonable approach (IMHO) before using too much more chemical fixes or water sprays. (Another thing you might try is clear vinegar, it should kill the mold and may dry out without leaving the "water stains" behind. ) The key word will be patience...don't panic and don't try to rush it.
Remember, the real lesson here is that the structures, in all their forms, need to breathe. Trying to make them too airtight (and water tight) can cause a stagnant air situation that will not only affect the paneling, but innerds where you really do not want to have to get into in order to remedy them.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Sept 14, 2015 18:00:05 GMT -8
I'm surprised it mildewed so quickly. The tarp over the camper must have trapped the moisture. Depressing. Stained in just a few small spots or huge areas? Black stains or subtle water marks? Follow Ten's suggestions first. Look at this thread BUT DO NOT rush to try what's suggested. If gentle sanding doesn't work, try this with a QTip on a very, very, very small area first. Like the size of a dime where nobody will see it. This stuff is heavy duty. I think it may be overkill on raw wood. vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/3097/amber-shellac-dealing-small-stains?page=1 |
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kimberwarden
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17' 64 Oasis
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Post by kimberwarden on Sept 15, 2015 6:51:24 GMT -8
Right...I need to remember to breathe and not rush. Thanks for the reminder! I think I rushed to spray on the chemical in a bit of a panic. So far, the mildew is barely creeping out from underneath the gimp along the edge of the one panel. The water-type stain from the mold remover is about 3 inches along the edge of the ceiling and 3 inches down the wall, with a few drip runs. I had thought that I had adequate ventilation in the trailer, since the windows are removed, but I didn't consider that water vapor might get trapped at the top. I'll put a small fan in there to keep the air moving.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 22, 2015 6:10:52 GMT -8
I've had varying degrees of success with the Oxallic Acid but it's worth a try. READ and FOLLOW the instructions.
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kimberwarden
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Post by kimberwarden on Sept 23, 2015 6:53:38 GMT -8
It looks like the water stains can be sanded out without too much problem. (Except for the fact that they're on the ceiling. Overhead sanding is never fun!) Some of the mildew can be sanded too, but it goes deeper than the water stains. I'll give the oxalic acid a try. Thanks!
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swirlygirls
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Post by swirlygirls on Sept 23, 2015 13:45:13 GMT -8
Oh kimberwarden, I feel your pain. Don't despair, you may find that there will be several steps forward as well as backward along the way.
That said, I just ran out to look at my trailer. Ten, you said trailers need to "breathe," well I recently finished mine and have a tarp over it. How do I know if it's breathing? Do you leave a window cracked ever so slightly under the tarp? This is probably a dumb question but I have no idea.
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Post by vikx on Sept 23, 2015 22:01:22 GMT -8
All of my trailers are tarped if they are out in the open. I've never had mildew in a dry trailer, even if old and rotten. However, if something is damp, or previously mildewed, it will grow.
I once used older tent trailer cushions: MISTAKE. They not only added mildew to the mix, but smelled as well.
I think you are fine, Swirlygirls.
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One of my recent projects was to replace two ash panels while I had all of the skin off to replace rotted framing and reinsulate. Then I covered the whole trailer with tarps and had to leave it for about 6 weeks. For the most part, the weather has been very hot, but we've had a few wet days too. I don't know whether the tarps leaked or what, but now there is some mildew on the ceiling panel where it meets the wall. In an attempt to stop it before it got any worse, I sprayed some mold & mildew killer on it and wiped off the excess drips. Now I have mildew stains AND water stains where I sprayed. (The panels haven't been shellacked yet.) 
