I have a 1996 (I think!) swift baronette 5 berth caravan & the side panel under the window has bubbled & the metal seems to have gone powdery, does anyone know how this can be fixed because I cannot find any information on this kind of repair anywhere

Sherrie Ellis, June 2008

The white powder is aluminium oxide. The aluminium skin has oxidized ( like iron rusts ). You have two options. 1: Use the same method as repairing a rotted car body panel by using a body filler and repainting, or 2: Replace the rotten panel. The first option is much cheaper but difficult to make an invisible job. My swift did this also. This means you probably have damp/rot inside the van wall. The wet has probably got under the metal skin and rotted from the inside out. The last moment is when you see the bubble break through.

Andy, July 2008