Heiki mini 400x400 bathroom vent. (1 Viewer)

Feb 9, 2008
8,924
18,663
Corby, Northants
Funster No
1,455
MH
Coach Built
Exp
Since 2007
I need to replace the whole unit when I return to the UK. Has anyone any experience of replacing one? I have looked at a couple of U- Tube videos and it looks quite straight forward. Just remove the retaining screws from the inside, then from above, using cheese wire cut through the mastic seal that holds the top section to the bottom section and seals against the elements.
I would welcome advice from those have experience on the matter.
Picture of unit to be replaced, below.
Thanks in advance.
 

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Jun 30, 2011
7,189
19,911
Barnard Castle, UK
Funster No
17,128
MH
Concorde Concerto
Exp
Since 2007
Yes its straightforward, I think you will only need to use cheese wire it its been sikaflexed on. With flexible mastic you need to push from below with a lump of wood after undoing all screws etc.
That's what I did anyway and its eased off. It depends also how long its been on to how secure it is, also as mentioned what was used to stick it in the first place.
Hardest part is cleaning up the old unit if re-fitting and cleaning the area on the roof where its going to be stuck down.
You are fitting a new unit completely so only the roof area to clean up, simples.
 
OP
OP
PhilandMena
Feb 9, 2008
8,924
18,663
Corby, Northants
Funster No
1,455
MH
Coach Built
Exp
Since 2007
Thank you for your kind input. It will be silkaflex as it is the original build from new. I will remove remaining seal with white spirit and rub down the sealing area with sandpaper and clran again to ensure a obtain a good grip when replacing new unit.

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Aug 6, 2013
11,941
16,533
Kendal, Cumbria
Funster No
27,352
MH
Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
Exp
since 1999
It will be sealed with butyl mastic. You can use the same to replace it. A kitchen plastic spatula and a thin flexible steel blade will get it off. The remains can be removed by the same method finishing with white spirit for the last bits. White spirit dissolves it. I hope never to come across one held with Sikaflex PU adhesive! I haven't as yet in either German or UK caravans or mhs.
 

Minxy

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
32,488
66,010
E Yorks
Funster No
149
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
One of the best 'scrapers' for the residue is a 'sharpened' credit/debit card (old ones preferably!) as they can get it off without causing damage to the roof. As mentioned it's removing the residue that will take time ... I replaced 2 roof lights on a Rapido (it has smoked glass ones and it was like the black hole of Calcutta) and cleaning off the 'gunk' etc easily took the vast majority of the time!

Oh ... a tip, when putting on the new mastic put a strip of masking tape around the aperture on the roof, at the outer edge of where you want the mastic to finish, then put the mastic on ... once you've fitted the new roof light you can remove the tape and it should leave a nice straight line on the edges ... saves a lot of cleaning up!
 

Northernraider

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 30, 2017
27,132
173,739
On the sofa ....
Funster No
49,727
MH
Mobilvetta eurayacht
Exp
On and off since 95
Yeah I've replaced quite a few they are easy to do.
I opted for Mastic on a roll for replacing as it got a nice even amount all the way around

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Jan 3, 2008
3,329
5,340
Pakefield, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
Funster No
1,118
MH
Looking
Exp
35
Thank you for your kind input. It will be silkaflex as it is the original build from new. I will remove remaining seal with white spirit and rub down the sealing area with sandpaper and clran again to ensure a obtain a good grip when replacing new unit.

I used this on my Rapido rooflight,

http://www.johnscross.co.uk/products/Sikaflex-512.html

Excellent stuff. Masking tape around the apperture gives a good finish. I know its difficult to remove but that's not a problem, if I ever need to replace the rooflight again it will be damaged anyway and the joint is easily separated with fishing line used as a cutter.
 

scotjimland

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,084
9,014
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
if I ever need to replace the rooflight again it will be damaged anyway

but it may leak again, then it may be damaged getting it off..

Sika is an excellent adhesive / sealer, and it has it's uses, eg. joints between wall and roof panels.. but it's not advisable for sealing roof-lights and windows. which should have a non-setting mastic.

Sika doesn't allow for the different expansion amounts between the aluminium roof surface and plastic window frame .. this can cause leaks.. also if you walk on the roof near the window it can split the seal.

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Jan 3, 2008
3,329
5,340
Pakefield, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
Funster No
1,118
MH
Looking
Exp
35
but it may leak again, then it may be damaged getting it off..

Sika is an excellent adhesive / sealer, and it has it's uses, eg. joints between wall and roof panels.. but it's not advisable for sealing roof-lights and windows. which should have a non-setting mastic.

Sika doesn't allow for the different expansion amounts between the aluminium roof surface and plastic window frame .. this can cause leaks.. also if you walk on the roof near the window it can split the seal.

Perhaps for ordinary Sikaflex yes, but I have had no problems with mine and I regularly walk on the roof when cleaning, as for expansion and the seal splitting I just read the product information o 512 and was converted. I did once agree that Sikaflex adhesive should not be used, however that was before I looked into Sika 512 which was developed for caravans / motorhomes were an elastic seal was needed, to quote the Sikaflex data sheet:-

Joints produced with Sikaflex 512 Caravan are strong, watertight, permanently elastic and do not shrink.

I appreciate what you are saying and am not arguing just relaying my experience of it. So far so good, mine has been in place for around two years now and there are no signs of any degradation of the seal. If it ever leaks I will report back.
 
Nov 4, 2011
5,887
38,113
Uk
Funster No
18,763
MH
A class
Exp
2001
I will still use idl99 when I replace my other heki soon,
also Sikaflex 512 is a lot dearer than idl99.
Just my opinion.
 

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