Screws removed and holes left in cladding

[sarahlou]

Hi everyone,

Today I started removing some of the lining in my van. I made slow progress today but here's a couple of photos.
I hope I am doing it right!

                   

It's really slow going and I actually preferred removing the lathe and plaster in my bathroom to removing the lining in my van!

Anyway, the previous owner had removed the little handles from the front left and right sides of the caravan and as a result there are now holes in the outside that go through to the inside:

              

I guess I have two options regarding these holes:

1) Source new handles to replace the ones that were removed an(though I'm not that keen on having them back but if it means filling the holes then I'd be happy to do that);
2) Patch the holes.

If I were to patch the holes, what product would you recommend and would I patch from the inside or on the outside?

Thanks!

Sarah

[Franklin1]

G'day Sarah,

The easiest thing to do is to put a rivet in the hole, but that depends on the size (diameter) of the hole as it stands. You can buy rivets with a 4mm diameter shank, and they'll cover up to a 5mm diameter hole when they are set/popped. Put a smidge of sealant around the underside of the rivet head, so the rivet seals onto the cladding when you pop the rivet.

The other alternative if there is timber immediately behind the hole, is to put a stainless steel screw in the hole, making sure the head of the screw covers the hole. Same deal with the sealant under the head of the screw. I took all the press studs off my late model van, where the canvas wind skirt clips along the bottom of the van. The studs were rusty as, and I didn't want a skirt anyway (cause I'm a bloke ). I put stainless screws into the holes, and they've been perfect for two years now.

Clean up all that gunk off the cladding where the bracket was originally fixed, and away you go!

cheers,
Al.

[raym]

Hi sarah I would suggest that the holes are from a towel rail pillar most caravans have a towel rail at the front and back . They are very use full and I would recommend you re place it. pillars are available to accommodate 16 or 19 diameter rails these are available from any hardware shop. As for the rail I would recommend you use stainless steel this most likely to be only available in 19 stainless steel Ray

[sarahlou]

Thank you Ray and Al.

Al, yep you're right they're from a towel rail. Looks like they removed it at the time they installed the window shade/awning/protector as the rail was in the exact wrong position and the awning wouldn't have been able to close.

I'll put a new towel rail in and utilise the bottom screw holes on each if the pillar points.

Sarah

[sarahlou]

Also I apologise for the sideways photos above. No sure why it positioned them that way as I know the originals aren't sideways!

Sarah