Glossary of RV, Van and Fleet Repair Terms

Delamination is the separation of a laminated sidewall's layers, usually caused by water reaching the adhesive bond. It shows as bubbling or waviness in raking light, and the debonded area is always larger than it looks.

Azdel is a composite backing used instead of luan plywood in some laminated walls. It does not rot, but it still debonds. Gel coat is the pigmented outer resin layer on a fiberglass panel; crazing is the fine spiderweb cracking that develops in it.

Teardown is the disassembly stage where hidden damage is exposed. Almost every meaningful supplement originates here, because an estimate written from photographs cannot see behind a panel.

Schwintek is an in wall slide mechanism using two synchronized motors driving vertical racks. When the motors lose sync the room racks in the opening and jams, which is a very different repair from a failed motor.

EPDM and TPO are rubber and thermoplastic roof membranes. TPO can be heat welded at a seam; EPDM cannot. Dicor self levelling sealant is for horizontal seams only. Eternabond is a tape applied over a cleaned and primed surface.

A supplement is an addition to the original estimate covering damage found after it was written. Betterment is a carrier deducting for the improvement in condition when a worn item is replaced new. Depreciation is a reduction applied for age and wear.

Diminished value is the loss in resale value a vehicle carries after a documented repair, separate from the cost of the repair itself.