Plumbing worry

[CarinaHymer]

I have found a leak and am pretty sure I identified where, on roof under some metal runner boards I assumed were for travel holder, I have half taken it off and revealed a breach in fibreglass, but had a horrible though last night that it could be for plumbing !! like for the shower, could anyone advise me on where pipes run? I am praying all is under for access??

 

[jongood]

Iv

I have found a leak and am pretty sure I identified where, on roof under some metal runner boards I assumed were for travel holder, I have half taken it off and revealed a breach in fibreglass, but had a horrible though last night that it could be for plumbing !! like for the shower, could anyone advise me on where pipes run? I am praying all is under for access??

I've never seen or heard of a motorhome with plumbing pipes in the roofspace so no worries there.

I'm puzzled by the metal runners? An addition by a previous owner? Pics might help

 

[PP Bear]

Hi and welcome, pictures would really help in this situation.

 

[Figaro]

We need photos please
Never heard of metal runner boards on the roof of a Hymer

 

[CarinaHymer]

Iv

I've never seen or heard of a motorhome with plumbing pipes in the roofspace so no worries there.

I'm puzzled by the metal runners? An addition by a previous owner? Pics might help

Thanks, I have a tarpaulin over atm because of heavy rain, but will be asking for advice for repair soon, I will take pics today, thanks im relieved with your advice. Carina

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[CarinaHymer]

Iv

I've never seen or heard of a motorhome with plumbing pipes in the roofspace so no worries there.

I'm puzzled by the metal runners? An addition by a previous owner? Pics might help

Hi, My Merc Hymer s650
The inside felt on interior in this area bubbled up when I took her camping last week after me spending money on foam and interior clean up, I wanted to do fly nets etc, but that will have to wait now.. so I looked at roof and seen it was puddling in-between these roof walk ons, I don't know what they are called as this is my first Campervan see lat picexpecting to work on it a bit but didn't expect the leak, as ive been focusing on interior mostly atm aiming to get him new wheels etc, my instinct was right somebody has covered it up all wrong, it corresponds to the hole where my finger is pointing, (thats it cleaned up with compressor it was full of grey slurry) so now I have to fix it from scratch, I was thinking... wait for it.. dry it out for a few weeks, ive had the compressor out and heater inside overnight and will continue like that with tarpaulin over and windows open in daytime, then get bitumen, acrylic gauze as in from nail acrylic gauze cover it up then cover with bitumen again, screw some aluminium over bitumen then more bitumen?? I don't know what to use? the other issue I have is those seals that are not sitting righting 4th and 5th pics ill take them to be re-done as when I use compressor its disgusting stuff coming out from under, I took the aluminium off myself but gave myself sore hands and back as im only 5ft2 and 8 stone so im having a day in bed today, but relieved it isn't plumbing issue. so so far so good ... but so much for getting away from it all on a campsite!! any thoughts welcome, I don't mind being called a dumb woman, I have a brain injury and ex racehorse rider, I can take the banter. Carina

 

[scotzsue]

CarinaHymer can't help with any info on fixing, but hope some of our knowledgeable funsters come long with some info.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
Really don't think bitumen is the way to go though, only from reading other 'fix it' posts.

 

[scotzsue]

Just to add might be better if you asked Jim to change the title could plumbing problem be scored through and leaking roof be added?

 

[jongood]

Hi, My Merc Hymer s650
The inside felt on interior in this area bubbled up when I took her camping last week after me spending money on foam and interior clean up, I wanted to do fly nets etc, but that will have to wait now.. so I looked at roof and seen it was puddling in-between these roof walk ons, I don't know what they are called as this is my first Campervan see lat picexpecting to work on it a bit but didn't expect the leak, as ive been focusing on interior mostly atm aiming to get him new wheels etc, my instinct was right somebody has covered it up all wrong, it corresponds to the hole where my finger is pointing, (thats it cleaned up with compressor it was full of grey slurry) so now I have to fix it from scratch, I was thinking... wait for it.. dry it out for a few weeks, ive had the compressor out and heater inside overnight and will continue like that with tarpaulin over and windows open in daytime, then get bitumen, acrylic gauze as in from nail acrylic gauze cover it up then cover with bitumen again, screw some aluminium over bitumen then more bitumen?? I don't know what to use? the other issue I have is those seals that are not sitting righting 4th and 5th pics ill take them to be re-done as when I use compressor its disgusting stuff coming out from under, I took the aluminium off myself but gave myself sore hands and back as im only 5ft2 and 8 stone so im having a day in bed today, but relieved it isn't plumbing issue. so so far so good ... but so much for getting away from it all on a campsite!! any thoughts welcome, I don't mind being called a dumb woman, I have a brain injury and ex racehorse rider, I can take the banter. Carina

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The roof shouldnt look anything like that. Difficult to tell from the picture but is it GRP? Any thoughts funflair

 

[Figaro]

It appears the aluminum checker plate you have lifted was poorly applied and there certainly shouldn't be a hole underneath.
This could well be the source of your leak.
It the other checker plates are similar poorly applied I suggest lifting them all, sealing holes and reapplying.
Bitumen is definitely not the stuff to use, puraflex 40 or sikaflex is the stuff to use after thoroughly cleaning and preparing

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[Phill D]

If it were me then all that plating needs to come off, the puncture holes repaired with the correct grp mating and Gell coat.

Then no matter what you are going to reseal the roof with all that crazed Gell coat needs a complete sanding down to good material.
Then Depending on how much you have to take off to get to sound material depends if you will need a full coat of grp matting and new gel coat or if it’s not much taken off you may get away with marine boat deck coatings.

There may be members with more experience than I who could advise better.

 

[pappajohn]

I would remove the "walkways" completely... You don't need them and it's one less water trap.
You can buy rubber roof paint as used on American motorhomes/RVs.
Not cheap but puts a thick coat of fully weatherproof rubber membrane.

 

[CarinaHymer]

It appears the aluminum checker plate you have lifted was poorly applied and there certainly shouldn't be a hole underneath.
This could well be the source of your leak.
It the other checker plates are similar poorly applied I suggest lifting them all, sealing holes and reapplying.
Bitumen is definitely not the stuff to use, puraflex 40 or sikaflex is the stuff to use after thoroughly cleaning and preparing

Thanks for the info, when I google or youtube I get American products, good to get a UK perspective, ill be doing exactly what you say I have some in my basket from tool station and will begin the hard work getting it all off, as I don't think the metal should be there at all as its gathering water in other areas and am now suspicious of it all, might buy some muscle power at a local garage to help now, but I do like to get hands on with things, I took solar power panels off and cleaned under and re-attached them, but the sheer effort to get that metal off and lack of expert tools is hindering me, Thanks very much .. im spurred on now. Carina

 

[CarinaHymer]

I would remove the "walkways" completely... You don't need them and it's one less water trap.
You can buy rubber roof paint as used on American motorhomes/RVs.
Not cheap but puts a thick coat of fully weatherproof rubber membrane

 

[CarinaHymer]

I agree and will be doing something like that, thank you.
Carina

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[Diabalo]

Looking at the thread below it looks like the aluminium plate is supposed to be there.

Hymer b644 Aluminium roof foot plate / leak

Hi all, The buytl seal on my rear roof foot plate seems to have gone so that when i stand on the plate water seaps out the sides a little and i'm not sure it the bolt thread seals have gone either. I have just removed and changed my rear roof light-vent due to a leak and have found that the wood ...

forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk

 

[jongood]

I agree and will be doing something like that, thank you.
Carina

I quite like the GRP skin idea but whatever you do needs a lot of prep, it needs to be completely clean, dustfree and dry so you get a complete weathertight seal. unfortunately water has a habit of running between surfaces so could be quite difficult to find the point of entry if it doesn't 'take' properly somewhere.

Have you used GRP before? messy stuff.

 

[funflair]

I reckon Phill D has it pretty spot on really, the gelcoat has all flaked and lifted, don't forget that it is the gelcoat alone that makes the fibreglass waterproof, it needs a fair bit of work to remove any flaking gel coat and then of course it needs re-sealing so either a gelcoat or possibly the rubber based roof sealing that has been mentioned, to do a proper job and certainly if it is going to be gelcoated then all roof fittings would need to be removed and then reset when the roof is sorted.

 

[TheBig1]

It's certainly not a 5 minute job and removing the aluminium sheet has pulled the surface away with the sikaflex it was bonded with. Buy a glass scraper and spare blades. Meticulously clean all sealant off the area. Sand the area and fill any holes with grp 2 part filler. Resand all the filler and either paint with tanking paint or redo the fibleglass gelcoat.

The tanking paint should be on the other aluminium panel too to prevent further leaks. When dry put a thick border of sikaflex or puraflex round the edges of the aluminium. This will stop water seeping under it.

Removing the aluminium is a destructive process as you have discovered. Better to leave it there and make watertight. We all learn by our mistakes. I just wish you had asked here before you started to pull bits off.

 

[Just smiffy]

Do you have or know of a friendly boat yard..? They deal with this sort of stuff all the time, it may cost a bit but it will be done properly and the roof is the main thing on a motorhome….

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[Terry]

I’m in the leave it on camp . You will do more damage to the roof removing the Ali checker plate, plus the checker plate will not leak it’s the joints in between that have leaked. I would fill the hole and fit another bit of CP then seal all joints with Puraflex 40 from Toolstation. You can then either redo the gel coating or paint with the rubber paint.
A new roof won’t be cheap

 

[scotzsue]

See CarinaHymer you are a free member, so may well have used up all your free posts, might be better to pay the fee, could save you a fortune.