Leak from Heki.

AnnieB

AnnieB

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Grt Manchester
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Autosleeper Air
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8+ years
We have discovered a leak from the main Heki. Noticed it last weekend after a day of heavy rain, hail etc (typical May weather ;) ) when we drove the van off and some water that had gathered on the concertina blind dripped down.
We are assuming it coming from the seal and tracking into the near side edge of the Heki - the offside edge is dry. Husband tried to seal it temporarily with Sikaflex and I stuffed some J-cloths into the tiny gap at the side of the fitting but this hasn’t worked.

I know there are many you tube videos about removal and resealing but this is beyond us as my husbands talents do not include major DIY (nor do mine) and apart from that he doesn’t like heights). So we have arranged with a local company but they can’t fit us in for a few weeks.

Can anyone suggest a temporary, but effective, solution please? We have put some duct tape round as much as we can from inside and we’re wondering if putting the levellers under it would prevent any standing water on the roof, but any other suggestions would be welcomed.
Thank.
 
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If the weather don't improve soon u could have a very wet ceiling.
I would duct tape a big sheet of plastic to the roof over the outside of the rooflight andthe levellers u suggest will stop standing water.
Someone will have to do the height!
 
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We had a leak through the spindle for the handle, it was a fairly big job to sort out, but while awaiting parts I duct taped all the way round the roof light to the roof, worked fine.

This has to be done from above I thought I would add.
 
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I wouldn’t use Sika as to do the job properly you need to remove the whole roof light, clean up both the window and roof and totally reseal it.

Sika will make removing it much harder.

I used Hodgsons seam seal cv
 
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Thanks everyone for replying. We have some plastic sheeting in the shed so will do as suggested and cover the whole roof light, hopefully that will be effective in the short term.

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If your rooflighte is the vented type with no seal it may have been a build up of water has rushed over the cill when you drove the van
I say that because it usually dripping from the frame if its the bedding sealant and not onto the blinds
 
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Thanks but it’s definitely dripping (or seeping) from where the frame meets the aperture in the roof. I’ve been out and checked this morning and the strips of cloth I put by the join are damp.
I think it may be dripping in at the front near side corner of the heki then on to the first ‘fold’ in the concertina blind. It isnt coming in down the inside edge of the figment, that is dry.
 
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AnnieB said:
Thanks but it’s definitely dripping (or seeping) from where the frame meets the aperture in the roof. I’ve been out and checked this morning and the strips of cloth I put by the join are damp.
I think it may be dripping in at the front near side corner of the heki then on to the first ‘fold’ in the concertina blind. It isnt coming in down the inside edge of the figment, that is dry.
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Then the only way to do it properly is to remove the whole thing clean and reseal
White spirit was the best for cleaning the mastic off ours
If its black mastic its a messy job I would mask the roof a metre either side
 
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Take the inner frame off sooner rather than later. They hold a litre or so of water. Removing the inner frame doesn't affect the roof seal but you'll able to see the leak.
 
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It's not difficult removing and resealing the rooflight. You Tube videos show how.

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WillH said:
It's not difficult removing and resealing the rooflight. You Tube videos show how.
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Yes, looks quite easy in theory but my husband has a height phobia and if I got up there I don’t think I would ever get down. My 72 year old knees even struggle with stairs now.
We did manage to cover the skylight with polythene yesterday. Took a while and a lot of moving the ladder back and forth but it’s done and hope it holds out for a couple of weeks.
Had to improvise and use a paint roller through the roll of tape to reach the middle of the roof :giggle:.

Thanks Tonyidle for the info about the inner cover. i did wipe it down with kitchen roll yesterday and there was a bit of water in there. Will take it off and investigate further.
 
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Inside the van, what's below? I replaced two 400mm roof lights in the previous van. I did it all from inside. Took the 'glass' off and posted myself up through the hole... Yes, I'm pretty skinny. I did end up with an odd graze on my armpit after getting it caught on a sharp edge, but no clambering about on the roof required.
 
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Guigsy said:
Inside the van, what's below? I replaced two 400mm roof lights in the previous van. I did it all from inside. Took the 'glass' off and posted myself up through the hole... Yes, I'm pretty skinny. I did end up with an odd graze on my armpit after getting it caught on a sharp edge, but no clambering about on the roof required.
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We did put a stepladder in there but you can’t get to the front edge because when the skylight is open it blocks access and we wouldn’t be able to remove the sealant and so remove the Heki.
Also once cleaned and sealant attached to the heki how do we manoeuvre it to the centre of the roof again without it touching (and sticking to) the roof. Afraid it’s beyond us so we will gladly pay a professional to do it for us.
 
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AnnieB said:
We did put a stepladder in there but you can’t get to the front edge because when the skylight is open it blocks access and we wouldn’t be able to remove the sealant and so remove the Heki.
Also once cleaned and sealant attached to the heki how do we manoeuvre it to the centre of the roof again without it touching (and sticking to) the roof. Afraid it’s beyond us so we will gladly pay a professional to do it for us.
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I removed the dome completely so I could get all the way around the frame for both removal of the old one and fitting of the new one. Not sure if that's possible with a Heki?
 
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Not sure we can do that. It hinges on the front edge. My arms aren’t long enough to reach all the way along - need a tame gorilla :LOL:
B8740388-4957-4871-B852-7B5506AAD42E.jpeg

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Did mine from the inside, once the screws are released you can work it free of the sealant and once turned on its edge it fits down through the hole in the roof.
 
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If you can sort yourself it will save you lots as I've been quoted £480 and they can't guarantee not to break the window so could be £800plus
 
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