Advice on repairing mastic joint on roof please (1 Viewer)

[Margaritaman]

During the heavy rain last weekend I found water dripping onto the cabinets below the point on the roof where the rear panel meets the roof panel .(see photo below).
Now it's dry had a look at the joint. The mastic sealant has a crazed appearance and is chalky to touch.
I'm assuming the mastic needs replacing.
Is this a job I could do myself?
If so what do I need to do and what replacement mastic is needed etc.
My MoHo 8yr old Pilote is booked into FM Caravans Hull this Saturday for them to have a look, but they are booked up until the beginning of August before they could do the work.
The seam runs the whole width of the roof.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[TheBig1]

it needs scraping out thoroughly, then clean with white spirit, allow to dry and reapply the correct mastic, squeezing well into the joint to ensure no air gaps

 

[Allanm]

Usually, the panels overlap each other and there should be a layer of sealant between the panels. The sealant along the joint itself it there to stop water sitting in the joint
If it were me, I would carefully scrape out the old sealant, thoroughly clean the surfaces and use something like Sikaflex 512 or 212 to fill the gap

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[Abacist]

My concern is if it's already dripping inside then any roof timbers in the area will already be wet and the rot has started. Suggest talking to an expert repairer but I think it needs opening up, drying, anything rotten replaced then re-sealed with top quality mastic, not house DIY rubbish.

 

[FJmike]

As far as I know Pilote don't use timber in the roof they use aluminium. I had trouble with my joints on roof and covered with a 3M waterproof tape, sorry can't remember the name butility I ordered it from Germany and it wasn't cheap. Touch wood it has lasted about six years with no leaks.

 

[funflair]

I would seal and then tape the roof joint, google RV roof tape (the good stuff is expensive) or if you are at Stratford or Stoneleigh I have a roll in the garage and I am sure we could come to some arrangement.

Martin

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[rosalan]

There are other garages that deal with repairs, including Camper UK and I think Becks. Could be worth giving them a call.

 

[Margaritaman]

Thanks to everyone for their advice.
I am pretty sure @FJmike is right about the aluminium construction in the walls and roof
@Abacist and @rosalan I'll see what my local repairer has to say then probably contact Hayes, a longstanding Pilote dealer, for more advice. Good to know about CamperUK and Becks
@funflair I'll be at Stoneleigh with The Tribby group so I'll wander over to the Funsters camp for a chat with you.

 

[Abacist]

To be fair I don't know Pilote's construction methods. I can only speak from a mate who repairs wooden frame caravan and motorhomes and what needs to be done!

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[Figaro]

Eternabond RV roof repair tape is very good. Available on ebay, all RVs in the states get it applied to the roof apparently, lots of info on youtube.

 

[Margaritaman]

To be fair I don't know Pilote's construction methods. I can only speak from a mate who repairs wooden frame caravan and motorhomes and what needs to be done!

I understand what you mean. Although the construction is probably aluminium I share your concern as the wall boards and ceiling are wooden.

 

[funflair]

Thanks to everyone for their advice.
I am pretty sure @FJmike is right about the aluminium construction in the walls and roof
@Abacist and @rosalan I'll see what my local repairer has to say then probably contact Hayes, a longstanding Pilote dealer, for more advice. Good to know about CamperUK and Becks
@funflair I'll be at Stoneleigh with The Tribby group so I'll wander over to the Funsters camp for a chat with you.

See you there but you will have to wander over to the Niesmann+Bischoff area at Stoneleigh.

Martin

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[Minxy]

We had a similar join to that on a previous Rapido we owned and I always thought it was a daft design!

If you contact O'Learys near Beverley you should be able to get the correct materials from them (cheaper than a dealer!) and they'll probably give you some advice on how to do it too ... or may be able to do it for you.

 

[Margaritaman]

We had a similar join to that on a previous Rapido we owned and I always thought it was a daft design!

If you contact O'Learys near Beverley you should be able to get the correct materials from them (cheaper than a dealer!) and they'll probably give you some advice on how to do it too ... or may be able to do it for you.

I live a few minutes drive from O'Leary's. Always find them helpful and good value.

 

[CazPaul]

We had a similar join to that on a previous Rapido we owned and I always thought it was a daft design!

If you contact O'Learys near Beverley you should be able to get the correct materials from them (cheaper than a dealer!) and they'll probably give you some advice on how to do it too ... or may be able to do it for you.

I think its a good design, easy and simple to repair, as Martin says, sealant then tape over. A lot less trouble and work than Hymer roof joints for instance.

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[Minxy]

I think its a good design, easy and simple to repair, as Martin says, sealant then tape over. A lot less trouble and work than Hymer roof joints for instance.

... a much better design would have been not to have had such a large join on the roof in the first place ...

 

[CazPaul]

... a much better design would have been not to have had such a large join on the roof in the first place ...

Yes, agree with that to some extent. Ideally, an even better design would be a one pieces roof cap placed over, how many do them like that, virtually none. Le Voyageur used to, maybe a few of the older German ones until they all realised it was quicker and cheaper to have joins. What I am saying is as roof joins go the one in question is far, far easier to work on\put right than a Hymer one for instance or a lot of others.
Scrape old sealant out, re seal and a strip of tape. Easy, job done.

 

[Sue]

If you use a garage to do the work, take the advice of others on here and make sure they have experience and know what they are doing. A local garage (to us) really made a mess of applying sealant to a roof light on ours. We took it to an expert later and he repaired their mess, and did a brilliant job making it good again

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[Bart]

if you are ok with DIY and know how to use a mastic gun ,then do it your self and you will know it's done right.
Nothing complicated in the repair.
Remove old sealer using a sharp blade ( all of it ) , clean the surface area properly , apply sealer

 

[Margaritaman]

Just an update on this mornings visit to the caravan repairers.....

The whole of the back walls, ceiling and cabinets were checked for damp and none was found.

It was recommended that both front and rear joints were renewed and also the rear marker lights resealed. £100 for a day's work including materials.

Not a job I've done before but one I feel capable of doing. Think it would take me longer than a day as it's my first time, so am inclined to let them do it.

Thanks again for the advice. Will post some pics after work is completed, but may be some time as they're busy at the moment.

 

[Bart]

It was recommended that both front and rear joints were renewed and also the rear marker lights resealed. £100 for a day's work including materials.

Not a job I've done before but one I feel capable of doing. Think it would take me longer than a day as it's my first time, so am inclined to let them do it.

Yip at that price , i would do the same

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[kitcar man]

try
PU18 Polyurethane Adhesive & Sealant (WHITE)
Tiger Seal PU Adhesive Sealant
I use the pu 18 to stick kit car panels on when building up a car brilliant stuff go for ebay for the best price

 

[Margaritaman]

try
PU18 Polyurethane Adhesive & Sealant (WHITE)
Tiger Seal PU Adhesive Sealant
I use the pu 18 to stick kit car panels on when building up a car brilliant stuff go for ebay for the best price

Welcome @kitcar man .
They sound like useful products for other jobs on the motorhome too!

 

[Gizmouk]

For a hundred quid, I'd have chucked the keys at them and told them to get on with it.

By the time you've bought the sealant and any other bits your need, you'll not be saving all that much.

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[Margaritaman]

For a hundred quid, I'd have chucked the keys at them and told them to get on with it.

By the time you've bought the sealant and any other bits your need, you'll not be saving all that much.

Thanks @Gizmouk ... my thoughts too... This company has been going some time and has a good local reputation... which is possibly why I can't get booked in until Aug 3. I have some clear Lidl/Aldi waterproof tape which I'll be putting over the offending seam ( when I can find the tape) in the meantime. Will also have a chat with @funflair at Stoneleigh for his advice.

 

[Margaritaman]

Update:
Day before my van was booked in for work FM Caravans called to ask what time I would be bringing in van. Dropped it off at 9-30. 2-30 had a call to say work was done. They recommended leaving it in their workshop overnight to allow mastic to set without any body movement.
Collected it yesterday. They also re-sealed my shower tray, which wasn't in the original estimate, in the agreed price.
A couple of pics

 

[TheBig1]

to my eyes that looks a poor quality job leaving hollows in the roof joint and too untidy down the sides

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[Dazzles]

to my eyes that looks a poor quality job leaving hollows in the roof joint and too untidy down the sides

What he said. That looks pretty awful.

 

[pyro]

Not a job I've done before but one I feel capable of doing. Think it would take me longer than a day as it's my first time, so am inclined to let them do it.

Good call. They are then responsible if it fails. However, the quality of the workmanship is questionable

 

[Podney]

And I thought I was crap at DIY! That is taking the ****.
Take it back and ask them if they think you are blind or stupid.

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