Rooflight leak

[Justus3]

Last weekend due to heavy rain we found out that the Rooflight in our camper has started leaking. Never had issue before we are wondering if the extreme hot weather has damaged the seal/sealant.

i'm not able to go up on the roof and sort it so need to find someone who can repair it. I've looked online for possible repairers but are having little luck.

Anyone know someone in south Yorkshire who repairs things like this?

If I can get someone I know to just sort it what sealant is best to use ?

 

[TerryL]

Are you sure that it is actually leaking? Sometimes very heavy rain causes an overflow effect or water can be blown in, especially if you are on the move.
You don't say what vent is fitted but maybe try to tighten up the fixing screws which might close off any leak that has developed.

 

[Justus3]

TerryL Thank you for that will have go at the fixings.

Re is it leaking it looks that way when I got up to try and see what was going on and to stop the flow. I found the channel that the fly screen and shade run on. Had filled with water which must have then made it its way out via the top end of the surround. It all happened when park up on site at 7 in morning so not moving.

For information it's a MPK Vision Star M Pro.

 

[pwilmo]

It certainly sounds from your description as it is water level collecting around the skylight and being windblown or high water level coming in through skylight vents.

 

[Justus3]

We are still new to this so forgive the questions

If that was the case would the sides of the lip around opening not be wet as well?

We’ve been away and parked up at home with heavy rain before and not had an issue. Would this not have happened before now ? Or can it just be one of them things that are hit and miss.

If it’s just all down to conditions what can be done to deal with it if anything?

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[donkey]

Are you sure it was rain. We haven't rain for more than a month

Geoff

 

[Justus3]

Are you sure it was rain. We haven't rain for more than a month

Geoff

Yes it was coming down like rods at the time.

 

[mitzimad]

only way to fit roof lights in a panel van is with spacers in the corrugations ill bet when you remove it is just been glued down with loads of glue/sealant in the dips
to fill the dips use either hardwood strips or plastic window frame trim i would lay one layer of butyll mastic tape tape the add the spacers then another layer of tape across the top or two overlapping if the frame is wide enough

Small Mastic Sealing Strip (5m Rolls) - Magnum Motorhomes

19mm - ADHM00160 32mm - ADHM00161

magnummotorhomes.co.uk

 

[mitzimad]

the old sealant will probably come off with white spirit

 

[PaulOH]

I have used WD40 to good effect to remove old sealant - though you need to leave it on for a while if parts of your sealant are relatively good and still elastic.

Then I've used alcohol to wipe down and clear any grease before resealing. I have used a Spanish brand of white sealant called 'Ceys'. My rooflight above the O/H cab bed had been leaking - not much but enough to create a little bit of discolouration on the ceiling and the interior blind fixing had filled up with water and grown a mad fungus behind it - all of which fitted neatly behind the trim so you wouldn't even have known unless you removed it.

With some difficulty, I managed to squeeze myself out the open vent (one shoulder at a time) the roof slopes forward and down at this point and I found that parts of the rearmost seal were crumbling, so I attacked the lot with a blunt edged screwdriver, gouged it out - much of it came away readily. I did the best job I could getting rid of the seal exposed along the three sides and then sprayed the lot with WD40 and had another go - and more came away.

Then I cleaned it down with cotton wool soaked in alcohol, let it dry, and put on the sealant using the mastic gun (hard work - the Ceys screw-on tip isn't great).

I was able to achieve a gap free, neat finish down three sides. The front I could not reach as the plastic lid of the vent prevented me from getting to it - it has not had such a seal at the front as far as I can tell, so I'm going fingers crossed that the three sides approach on a vent on a roof that slopes down will assist the water continue to flow down and away from my interior!