Solar panel removed- Gelcoat Repair. Advice please, (I'm up on the roof now!)

[Emmit]

Afternoon All,

Ive started to increase my 'array' of solar.
I already had one up there but the 'Numpties' who put it up there, not only
secured it with Sika, or some such but screwed it down

That wouldn't have been so bad but they screwed it down before the Sika (other brands are available)
with the result that there was virtually none under the 'foot of the solar and certainly not enough
to get a cheese cutter under but said solar was still stuck to roof like the proverbial.

To add to my problem, said numpties didn't use 'connectors' in the normal sense but spliced the wires
together and they were not available to do anything with before they disappeared down the waterproof fitment,
into the van.

So, I very gently removed the solar panel using minimum force and a chisel.

As a result I have discovered that the roof of the Hobby is fibreglass and where the previously applied feet were
there is a small amount of damage to the top coat of the roof and the fibre glass matting is showing.

The good news I suppose is that I can fill in the screw holes.

Here comes the question;

After I have got rid of the unattractive gree/brown roof from under where the panel was, is it merely a question
of applying 'Gel Coat' to the damaged surface and rubbing down. And, after doing that, is Gel Coat waterproof
or do I have to paint it.

There's my problem. Whats the answer, pretty please.

 

[Happy Jim]

Yep, gel coat (and activator), cover with cling film to help it cure, rub down, polish up - job done, it’s waterproof (think kit cars and sailing boats, they all start as Gel coat and most are not painted ever).

Cheers

Jim

 

[cornish boy]

Yep, repair with GelCoat, however, GelCoat only ever goes off when air is excluded, so you can use cling film as suggested or sellotape or a release film, but IMO, the real answer is to add some Styrene Wax to the GelCoat which then forms a floating layer on top and allows the GelCoat to go off.

If you don't exclude the air 100% and the GelCoat remains 'tacky', you are left with a real mess to clean up and sort out.

If the area isn't too large, you could use a GelCoat repair paste/filler.

 

[Emmit]

The area is three of the four feet.

The feet themselves are small (about 25mm x 100mm)

God knows why they screwed them down. There was no way the 'stuff' (to use a better word) was going to let go. And that was with a minimal amount between roof and foot.

Arkwrights tomorrow morning then. Thank you to all contributors. I didn't know about the 'Air' exclusion.

 

[AXO66]

The area is three of the four feet.

The feet themselves are small (about 25mm x 100mm)

God knows why they screwed them down. There was no way the 'stuff' (to use a better word) was going to let go. And that was with a minimal amount between roof and foot.

Arkwrights tomorrow morning then. Thank you to all contributors. I didn't know about the 'Air' exclusion.

Any idea who put it on originally?

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[Emmit]

Yes.
(At this point I was going to give a 'One Word' answer which would have created onward questions)
The Co. that did the work is still in business but is a 'Different' Business to when the Solar was done.

Therefore, for very good reasons, I will not name and shame.

It could cause confusion going forward. (and if you think differently to that, I make no apologies for having a different opinion.)

 

[Lenny HB]

With Gel Coat filler if you get the amount just right and smoothed off nice and level, then smooth the tape down often you can often get away without any further finishing. Where the screw holes are, fill them first but not right to the surface then go over the area when they have dried.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Are you still on that roof Emmit?

 

[Emmit]

Are you still on that roof Emmit?

Yup!

There's me and another bald fella called Jimmy up here.
He keeps breaking into song, (as opposed to me who can only break wind)

 

[denisejoe]

Yov could always fit a small repair patch held down with stuff

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