Delamination can occur to your RV from exposure to the elements, from improper installation, or just because of regular wear and tear over time. It’s common for people to have a professional take care of this issue, but there may be some minor fixes that you can take on yourself. Ensure that you know what you’re doing before you start so you don’t end up causing more harm than good.

Why Does Delamination Occur?

Your RV includes a finished wall on the inside of the vehicle, plywood behind that, and a fiberglass shell outside the car. An adhesive is what holds everything together and keeps your vehicle’s exterior strong. The fiberglass exterior of your RV can occur when this adhesive is compromised from extreme temperatures or moisture. The result will be a loose or rippled area that looks like bubbling. While it’s not very nice to look at, you could also be dealing with a weakening of your RV’s shell.

Fixing the Problem

Before you can repair the delamination, you have to determine what the core problem is. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself right back where you started from. There is likely water that is coming in near the damaged area. The most common places to look is near your roof on that side, around door frames, and windows. Once you find the damage, seal it properly, so you prevent any more moisture from coming into the area. Then you can take on repairing the actual delamination.

Repair on Your Own or Professional Assistance?

If you’re dealing with one whole side of your RV experiencing delamination, it’s a good idea to call in a professional. A much smaller area can be fixed yourself if you’re handy and you know what you’re doing. You’ll need to cut away part of your interior wall to expose any damaged areas underneath. Removing the insulation will be necessary. Try to take care of this neatly, so you have an easier time replacing the materials.

Fit in a replacement piece of plywood using screws and the existing framework. You’ll also need to drill small holes through your plywood and into the grid pattern behind it. New adhesive will be applied through the holes you’ve drilled, so it runs down into the bubbled area. Pressing new plywood against the back of the area should help to flatten it out.

If you would like assistance with your delamination process or know more about why this occurs, contact Reliable RV for more information.