Problem with surface of skylight - or whatever they're called

[popotla]

Yesterday I set up the ladder to go up there and clean the surface of the big skylight / roof window. However, it's not as easy as I thought; far from it, in fact.

Whatever it is that's on the surface of the acrylic (and is now very unsightly, as seen from the inside) has deteriorated and cracked, and is extremely difficult to get off. I have some window-scratch remover and have tried using it, hoping it would cause the deteriorated surface to soften and thus be more easily removable, but it hasn't worked. With an old butter knife around which I wrapped cotton cloth I've managed to scrape off some of the surface, and have then cleaned this up using the scratch remover. However, it's very slow going and also difficult. I don't want to get up on the roof: am not sure how strong it is, there's nothing to hold onto and anyway I know I wouldn't feel secure up there. (In the past, in order to clean this skylight in the normal way - in other words, get the dirt off it using shampoo and water - I could lean across halfway while standing on the ladder, then do the same from the other side.)

Is there a chemical / some substance I could use to thoroughly soften the deteriorated and cracked surface so that it would come off easily, more or less just be peeled away? Or any other suggestion?

I'm not sure whether my description here is clear. Helpful comments or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[irnbru]

At a guess if it were mine I would try some label remover or elbow grease cream followed by lots of water to rinse away. Good luck.

 

[Lenny HB]

If its a bonded roof they are OK up to 75kg always walk on mine when washing the roof.
If its that bad you probably need to use an electric buffer on it with an acrylic polish but tak it gently and lubricate with water easy to burn acrylic.

 

[Gellyneck]

If its a bonded roof they are OK up to 75kg always walk on mine when washing the roof.

Do you think it would be OK if I hopped around on one leg to meet your weight criteria?

 

[The Coops]

Can we start a list of those under 75kgs who are open for a bit of roof walking? Thinking of rallies etc where the new sport could be introduced and the term * Lightweight* would have a whole new meaning I think I was about 12 the last time I weighed under 75Kgs!
On a more serious note be careful with what you use as some products will react with acrylics

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[eurajohn]

At a guess if it were mine I would try some label remover or elbow grease cream followed by lots of water to rinse away. Good luck.

I'd be careful with label remover, depends on make perhaps but it can be extremely aggressive, try an out of sight area before splashing it all over.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Brintons patio , moss and algae cleaner, spray it on when rain is unlikely, [ now !!] and forget. It cleans muck off and clears the above mentioned. Also brilliant for the jointing of chassis cab, to bodywork silicone joint, and the rubber seal between awnings and bodywork.
I have used it with no hint of detrimental effects to paintwork. Also good for the green tinge on the window seals of chassis cab.
Mike.

 

[Lenny HB]

Can we start a list of those under 75kgs who are open for a bit of roof walking? Thinking of rallies etc where the new sport could be introduced and the term * Lightweight* would have a whole new meaning I think I was about 12 the last time I weighed under 75Kgs!

I'm a bit overweight at the moment now upto 77kg should be back to under 75kg next time the roof needs cleaning. .

I thought the recommend weight for a Motorhome driver was 75kg, that's what all the Motorhome manufacturers state.

 

[denisejoe]

Well over 75kg and walk on mine if you do make sure the ladder doesn’t fall down speaking from experience

 

[gus-lopez]

You don't think there is a possibility the original clear film that they are supplied with as protection has been left on & is now baked to the skylight?

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[CazPaul]

You don't think there is a possibility the original clear film that they are supplied with as protection has been left on & is now baked to the skylight?

I fitted a new skylight and then spent ages cleaning it before I realised and peeled the protective film off.

 

[popotla]

You don't think there is a possibility the original clear film that they are supplied with as protection has been left on & is now baked to the skylight?

Well, guz-lopez, that's certainly interesting. I hadn't thought about that at all. We've had this van from new and didn't know there might be a clear film on there. This would apply, presumably, only to the skylight and not the other windows. No such thing has happened to them and as I look now, there's no sign of any protective layer on any of them.

And looking now at the skylight, there is an irregular "breaking up" around the bottom edges. I think your suggestion could be right. So in that case it looks like it's going to be more of what I did yesterday, namely patient scraping and cleaning.

 

[TheBig1]

A bottle of plast-x and a buffing pad in a drill set to low speed. Excellent stuff and can be used to buff scratches out of side windows too