Recommendations for sealant work in Redhill, Surrey area

[neverenuffvan]

Hi there!

I've been lurking for a while since we got our first precioussss. I've been doing my very best to learn everything I seem to need to know about owning a coachbuilt. It's been quite a process!

I've grown concerned about the state of many of the outside seals on our relatively new (2017) van. I confess I didn't give it enough attention when we first bought it, since it was only a few years old and I foolishly thought it'd be OK, but now I know a bit more and have spent a lot more time clambering over the thing, it seems there are several places where the seals seem to have peeled away entirely exposing the joint, or accumulated black mould which won't come off.

One of the roof vents leaked a tiny bit in the recent rain and I really need to do something about it.

For someone with no experience, is this the sort of work you'd risk doing yourself? I can reasonably competently seal a shower, but obviously this is pretty different work in several ways. I'd much prefer to get a trusted, competent person to check it over and do the work and pay a sensible rate, but I've heard horrifying reports of the cost of sealant work. I also don't quite know where to start finding a trusty mobile engineer or workshop near our storage site near Redhill.

Suggestions and recommendations would be very welcome!

 

[Charlie696]

Hi. Buy yourself a descent gun (Cox) a couple of tubes of required sealant and some silicone tools from toolstation. Have some paper towels and wonder wipes too hand. Have a practice first. Wipe off the excess sealant on the paper towels and clean off the tool with the wipes. You will get a nice finish on the sealant.

 

[Manic]

The roof vent would need to be removed to do a proper job and it needs sealing with a non setting butyl type sealant which is available in tube or tape.
As a temporary fix you could go around the roof light with something like this until you can sort it properly.

Stixall Adhesive & Sealant

Bond and seal virtually everything to anything with Stixall Extreme Power adhesive and sealant. The high strength glue is a versatile nail replacement solution with hybrid PMS polymer technology, and it's specifically designed to stick together most common construction materials. From jointing...

www.toolstation.com

but don’t use silicone based sealant

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

+ Masking tape, this help stop the joint spreading to far and leaves a neater finish. Some water with a very generous dollop of washing up liquid, [ in your own favourite flavour] will aid tooling off, either with a tool, or whichever ever size "pinkie" best fits the job . Take your time with the preparation, silicone will not stick to old silicone, there is a silicone digester available that brakes down the stuff in failed areas.
If it's on a roof, you may want to think about an access tower so as a continuous run can be applied, unless you can safely use the roof of the van ???
Mike.

 

[neverenuffvan]

Thanks all! I think this all sounds too involved for me first out.

I'd welcome suggestions on good professionals upon whom I could throw myself for mercy

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[Lenny HB]

Take your time with the preparation, silicone will not stick to old silicone, there is a silicone digester available that brakes down the stuff in failed areas.

Silicone should never be used on Motorhome joints.