Roof Swimming Pool

pwilmo

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 17, 2009
414
670
Kings Lynn, Norfolk
Funster No
8,936
MH
Auto Roller 747
Exp
Since 2005
Parked up in level perfect, best ever and done in minutes.
However, after torrential rain and high winds; water drips came through one corner of the roof light.

Normally at home, I park the motorhome on the huh .. so water runs to the front and over the sides.

When we opened the skylight and looked at the roof, the skylight sits in a dip in the roof and was surrounded by a lake, some 2" deep.

Added to the high wind stopping the water from running off and possibly blowing excess into the vents.

Rather than roll off the levellers I used a handled mop and pushed most of the water over the edges.

The dripping has stopped completely now and luckily there is no water marks or discolouration anywhere.

Any ideas on how to prevent this in the future, I'm pretty sure the roof seal is ok A1, however the skylight is not designed to work in that depth of water.

Yes I could park up wonky, but being level was so nice I don't fancy hill walking in the van. £5-6000 for self level is beyond my bank balance.(push button - tip off the water and relevel would be great).

Any ideas please, oh .. and all your jokes and funny remarks are welcome.
 
We have the same problem with our Autocruise Starburst, when level on site we get gallons after rain so when we leave we have waterfalls all around. On drive I have to put ramps under rear wheels to help flow down off front. Very annoying.
 
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It only needs to be a very slight gradient to let the water run off. One tip though, park so that it doesn't run off over the side motorhome door, did it once and had a very cold shower !
 
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Two inches deep is a lot and far more than any designer would allow. Methinks more investigation is needed here.

We've had a similar problem (although not very deep) over the last few months and suspected the seal was damaged or deteriorated. Parking the van nose down usually kept everything dry. Booked it in for investigation/repair and the guy found a crack in the roof which I hadn't spotted and which I'd had "repaired" some years ago. He wouldn't try to repair it himself but has booked me in with a professional bodyshop and meanwhile done a temporary seal (not exactly pretty but it's on the roof so......) so we can use the van for now.

My point is that water can find it's way in from almost anywhere - but two inches! That would overflow most frames I have seen.
 
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Any chance of a photo of your roof. I can’t understand how you could get 2”. Mine due to its design can get 10-15mm. So always park arse down so water runs off the back.
 
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If you have 50 mm dip in your roof it’s sagged and perhaps a sign of water ingress over a long time as said earlier could be rotted beam if you have timber up there I think it would be worth taking a further look just in case🤔

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The OP says there are no water marks or discolouration, surely if there is enough damage to rot a roof beam there would be some evidence of it inside the van?
But worth inspecting and looking a little deeper just in case to prevent further trouble?🤔 however I think a roof holding a 50mm deep puddle is a damp problem waiting to happen and need sorting sooner rather than to much later🤔😊
 
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But worth inspecting and looking a little deeper just in case to prevent further trouble?🤔 however I think a roof holding a 50mm deep puddle is a damp problem waiting to happen and need sorting sooner rather than to much later🤔😊
I agree something isn't right and needs checking.
 
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Parked up in level perfect, best ever and done in minutes.
However, after torrential rain and high winds; water drips came through one corner of the roof light.

Normally at home, I park the motorhome on the huh .. so water runs to the front and over the sides.

When we opened the skylight and looked at the roof, the skylight sits in a dip in the roof and was surrounded by a lake, some 2" deep.

Added to the high wind stopping the water from running off and possibly blowing excess into the vents.

Rather than roll off the levellers I used a handled mop and pushed most of the water over the edges.

The dripping has stopped completely now and luckily there is no water marks or discolouration anywhere.

Any ideas on how to prevent this in the future, I'm pretty sure the roof seal is ok A1, however the skylight is not designed to work in that depth of water.

Yes I could park up wonky, but being level was so nice I don't fancy hill walking in the van. £5-6000 for self level is beyond my bank balance.(push button - tip off the water and relevel would be great).

Any ideas please, oh .. and all your jokes and funny remarks are welcome.
Install a submarine hatch 😉
 
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Yes ah well, her indoors measured it with her fingers !!
I measured with a measure and more like 1"- 1and1/4" approx 32mm.
I have rolled off my leveller chocs just now and Niagra Falls drained most of the pool.
Thanks for your interest people
here are photos of where the deepest water lay after Niagra Falls ..what crap sealer job the previous owner has made, although the leak was the opposite side.
We are at Norwich Show at present but the MH Fun camp is a long way away to walk, we're at the opposite corner nr the entertainment blocks.
Apologies for the poor photography, as I was viewing through the skylight opening.

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Can you take the shroud off inside the van? You may be able to spot where it's coming in - and also gives you a chance to inspect the innards for damage.
 
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Yes ah well, her indoors measured it with her fingers !!
I measured with a measure and more like 1"- 1and1/4" approx 32mm.
That's a surprise, it's usually the menfolk who 'exaggerate' sizes :LOL: ... wishful thinking on her part perhaps? :blusher:
 
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Yes, I have kept measuring in imperial inches, I think 1" inch sounds so much better than 2 5.6mm.
I am pretty sure now the water ingress (posh for water drops)..was due to the water laying on the level roof at such a depth , that the high winds were blowing through the vents.
Contrary to some advice my skylights are not designed to be sealed completely submerged.
They are the annoying "continual" vent, where they decided we weren't intelligent enough to open a window when using gas hobs. So they only fitted a half rubber seal, hence when driving the skylight blind would flap, and driver and passenger would get draughts on the back of your necks.
I had this same problem on my previous Kontiki.
I had to buy a full seal for my Bessacar Heiki, luckily they still do them, and even that didn't 100%, I filled in the remaining gaps with foam door seal.
No more flapping or draughts!

Stay with me folks ...Anyway thank you every body for your contributions, I have decided to stick with moderate hill climbing, allowing good water drainage rather than perfect level and hope the gas fridge doesn't mind too much.
 
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Yes CazPaul I totally agree with you, spot on. Unfortunately it is an old van 2006 and although bad roof design, ( it may be sagging ), inside wise all seems ok.

I think for now I'll just bury my head in the sand .. if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Lots of very wise funsters have advised me to investigate further, if it had been my previous Kon-leaky then yes I would.
However the overhead front sleeping cab joint on this 2006 Bessacarr looks to be a most sterling job.

Onc again funsters .. Thanks a Bunch for all your help
 
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Its caused by girt big blokes climbing up on the roof to inspect for roof sag.
the precursor of which was girt big blokes climbing up to clean it.
ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED ON FORUMS after ignoring advice ALSO SUPPLIED ON FORUMS that says DONT CLIMB ON YER ROOF
 
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If perfectly level I get a paddling pool on the roof and a drip down the winding handle of the large roof light.
I just live with it now as it's not often I'm that level as even to the slightest slope stops it happening.
 
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Roof Swimming Pool Update.
I've had the Heiki skylight out and resealed. There was no sign of water damage.

Needless to say there were no youtube reseal movies of my type of rooflight; Bessacarr 2006 E745, hundreds of others.

However I have found where the water was getting in, it was as I suspected ..the depth of water was coming in air vents on the frame corners.

DSC00458.JPG


DSC00470.JPG
DSC00461.JPG



Here you can see evidence of the water leaking in..

DSC00435.JPG


DSC00435a.JPG

So I have sealed them up with W4 45mm sealer tape, damn sticky stuff it is too.
DSC02272a.JPG



DSC02272.JPG

All four corners had vents and were sealed.


Yes I know you're going to say there shouldn't be that depth of water on the roof, but it will do for now.

While I was up there I ran a !ine of W4 tape over the roof seal and kept the plastic paper on, the old seal was flakey dry and crumbling out.

The little hump may cause water collection but it will definitely not leak with that sticky bonded to the roof.

DSC02290.JPG



DSC02288.JPG

I only got a liitle bit of white sealer on her indoors' carpets, hope to get it off before she sees, she never noticed her best cutlery spoon missing while I did the sealant edges though.
 

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Roof Swimming Pool Update.
I've had the Heiki skylight out and resealed. There was no sign of water damage.

Needless to say there were no youtube reseal movies of my type of rooflight; Bessacarr 2006 E745, hundreds of others.

However I have found where the water was getting in, it was as I suspected ..the depth of water was coming in air vents on the frame corners.

View attachment 538487

View attachment 538488View attachment 538489


Here you can see evidence of the water leaking in..

View attachment 538490

View attachment 538530
So I have sealed them up with W4 45mm sealer tape, damn sticky stuff it is too.View attachment 538499


View attachment 538517
All four corners had vents and were sealed.


Yes I know you're going to say there shouldn't be that depth of water on the roof, but it will do for now.

While I was up there I ran a !ine of W4 tape over the roof seal and kept the plastic paper on, the old seal was flakey dry and crumbling out.

The little hump may cause water collection but it will definitely not leak with that sticky bonded to the roof.

View attachment 538518


View attachment 538519
I only got a liitle bit of white sealer on her indoors' carpets, hope to get it off before she sees, she never noticed her best cutlery spoon missing while I did the sealant edges though.

Roof Swimming Pool Update.
I've had the Heiki skylight out and resealed. There was no sign of water damage.

Needless to say there were no youtube reseal movies of my type of rooflight; Bessacarr 2006 E745, hundreds of others.

However I have found where the water was getting in, it was as I suspected ..the depth of water was coming in air vents on the frame corners.

View attachment 538487

View attachment 538488View attachment 538489


Here you can see evidence of the water leaking in..

View attachment 538490

View attachment 538530
So I have sealed them up with W4 45mm sealer tape, damn sticky stuff it is too.View attachment 538499


View attachment 538517
All four corners had vents and were sealed.


Yes I know you're going to say there shouldn't be that depth of water on the roof, but it will do for now.

While I was up there I ran a !ine of W4 tape over the roof seal and kept the plastic paper on, the old seal was flakey dry and crumbling out.

The little hump may cause water collection but it will definitely not leak with that sticky bonded to the roof.

View attachment 538518


View attachment 538519
I only got a liitle bit of white sealer on her indoors' carpets, hope to get it off before she sees, she never noticed her best cutlery spoon missing while I did the sealant edges though.
Hi - I know this is a very late response to your post but very interested in whether you solved your problem as I think I might have a similar issue. Look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers

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Yes the water problem competely gone now.
I think recognising and finding the cause of water leak is 95% of devising your own solution. Good Luck
 
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Yes the water problem competely gone now.
I think recognising and finding the cause of water leak is 95% of devising your own solution. Good Luck
Is that because it stopped raining :whistle2:
 
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No you plonker! but it is nice to have a bit of humour on here ... ask a silly question, get a silly answer ... no offence meant, "plonker" as in Del Boy, an affectionate term.
 
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Yes the water problem competely gone now.
I think recognising and finding the cause of water leak is 95% of devising your own solution. Good Luck
Thanks for getting back to me. Do you think it was sealing the air vents that did the trick???
 
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