Are those lumps water damage?

[Mike Groves]

Margaret and I spent the weekend at Pacific Shores on the Oregon Coast and got some wild rain showers.  What I think I am seeing are bulges on the walls where the carpet is.  In each case these bulges are under the windows.  For example, I pull out the sofa sleeper and I see bulges on the carpeted wall what is normally hidden when the sofa is up.  Am I getting water infiltration somehow from the windows?  The bulges are not wet.

Mike

[Steve Huber]

Mike,
Yes it is most likely water incursion. It gets behind (outboard side) of the wood lining and causes it to bulge. Look closely and you'll probably see a bulge on the outside fiberglas skin also as the moisture causes delamination. Resealing the windows is not a tough job. Use the window caulk strips made for this.
Steve

[Grant Ralston]

Mike, on your age of coach I would also check for leaks at the joint between the roof and walls.  A search of past posts will have much about that, including problems I found.

Good Luck
Grant

[Mike Groves]

Steve and Grant,

Thanks for the replies.

Steve - where can I find caulk strips that you mention.  And Grant, are you talking about the joint at the gutter where the roof meets the sidewalls?

Mike

[Steve Huber]

Mike,
I got mine from an RV repair shop but I think this is the same stuff.
Steve
http://www.amazon.com/Rope-Caulk-Weatherstripping-90-White/dp/B00002N78W/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1446614414&sr=8-9&keywords=window+caulk+strip

[Carol Moffett]

Hi Mike!
   The bulges in the carpet on the walls doesn't necessarily mean a water leak, although, by all means check for that!  It could simply mean that the tacky glue they used to install the carpet is getting weak and coming loose.  After years of temperature fluctuations, dryness then moisture, etc etc, the glue begins to fail.
   Also, it is my experience that there is usually some staining on the wall and/or carpet, if water is involved.  Just my opinion, for what it's worth, and I've got my fingers crossed it's NOT a leak!  Lol!
Beaver salutations!
:^3=~
Carol

[Marty and Suzie Schenck]

Mike, I agree with Carol. When we bought our thunder in 2007 there were no bulges. It came from southern California and was kept outside. Here in the northwest it rains a lot but it is kept under cover. About 4 years ago bulges started to appear. I thought it might be water damage also. I borrowed a moisture meter from a home inspector and there was no presence of moisture. I'm going with the glue theory. May be different on yours though. Marty

[George H. Wall]

Mike, I agree with Carol and Marty, check for glue deteriation first, if you feel or decide there is no moisture evident.  Henry

[Mandy Canales]

Marty and Suzie...I have an older coach and the same thing happened to me.  I kept feeling bulges on the side walls in the kitchen and bedroom and they kept getting bigger.  Just a couple of weeks ago our son and I decided to tackle the problem.  I had purchased a can of spray glue from an auto parts store and had it available when doing the job.  What it turned out to be was not water but just a delam where the original glue had dried out so it didn't have the grit to keep the carpet to the wall.  It was not difficult to do.  The carpet may be stapled to the wall at the top of the carpet near the wood trim.  We just pulled the carpet away from the wall sufficiently to apply a heavy coat of spray glue to both surfaces, let it rest for 5 minutes then push the carpet back in place.  As yet I have not stapled the carpet edge near the wood trim.  Good luck

[Steve Huber]

When you re-glue, try to get as much of the old glue off as possible. Otherwise the new glue will adhere to the old glue which will continue to separate over time.
Steve

[Mike Groves]

Interesting thought on the glue issue.  This coach had been stored inside its entire life until I bought it in 2013 and since then has been outside but undercover.  I guess if I purchased a water probe I could stab the carpet and into the backing to see if there is water.

Thanks!
Mike

[George H. Wall]

Changes of temp and humidity can certainly cause this over time!   Henry