Green Roof

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machighlander

Nov 12, 2009
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Hi,

another mundane question for ye all. when i bought my caravan from the last owner, he had kept it parked under a tree in his garden. i didn't realise until after i got it home and it was parked in my drive (downward slope)that the roof was almost the same colour as Brittish Racing Green.

i duly assorted the mrs mop brigade and got out the stepladder to get this stuff off.

however, when i used the sponge and nylon brush to eradicate the problem i noticed that the roof panel was so flimsy and bowed in whenever i put a little pressure on it.

i called a halt to the proceedings when i seen this as i realise the seals around the vents, roof lights, flues etc could be disturbed by this action.

so, what do i do ?, just leave the top of it looking like a 30 year old caravan, or take the chance of giving it some elbow grease with the possibility of enhancing water ingress and damp.
 
L

Lord Braykewynde

Jan 19, 2008
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I wouldn't think the mastic around the rooflights coming away will hurt highlander. In manufacture the mastic is applied and then the rooflight. What you see is what oozes out so in effect it should be ok.
 
M

machighlander

Nov 12, 2009
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take on board what you say buddy, but its a wee bit disconcerting to me to perhaps interrupt a good sealed area.

the roof panel is actually concave in some parts, but the water cannot possibly penetrate through the very thin sheeting if there is no avenue for it to do so, ie, seals around vents, lights, flues etc.

there is one part of the roof that the water is lying as in a puddle, but it isn't near any of the seals, so therefore i think it will be ok.

my point is that sometimes we shouldnt disturb certain parts or areas of any structure which is liable to ingress water.

there are so many firms making money out of house owners recently by cleaning up their roof tiles/slates, what the owners don't realise is that this sort of maintenance can lead to bigger problems through the aforementioned slates/tiles being disturbed from their bed by a power wash or equivelant.

the old car mechanics logic springs to mind "if it aint broke, don't fix it".

i dont want to have a roof that looks like it belongs on a ford cortina lotus, but if i think i might induce other problems, well i will have to put up with it.

i was asking if there was any easy safe way to do this.

cheers.
 
L

Lord Braykewynde

Jan 19, 2008
9,103
0
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take on board what you say buddy, but its a wee bit disconcerting to me to perhaps interrupt a good sealed area.

the roof panel is actually concave in some parts, but the water cannot possibly penetrate through the very thin sheeting if there is no avenue for it to do so, ie, seals around vents, lights, flues etc.

there is one part of the roof that the water is lying as in a puddle, but it isn't near any of the seals, so therefore i think it will be ok.

my point is that sometimes we shouldnt disturb certain parts or areas of any structure which is liable to ingress water.

there are so many firms making money out of house owners recently by cleaning up their roof tiles/slates, what the owners don't realise is that this sort of maintenance can lead to bigger problems through the aforementioned slates/tiles being disturbed from their bed by a power wash or equivelant.

the old car mechanics logic springs to mind "if it aint broke, don't fix it".

i dont want to have a roof that looks like it belongs on a ford cortina lotus, but if i think i might induce other problems, well i will have to put up with it.

i was asking if there was any easy safe way to do this.

cheers.
Click to expand...
You'll have to be careful of end/front panels but roof vent should be ok.
 
M

machighlander

Nov 12, 2009
1,142
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You'll have to be careful of end/front panels but roof vent should be ok.
Click to expand...
cheers buddy,

i have already been carefrul with those panel meeting joints.

the only bit i cleaned was where the end panel and front one met with the roof, i only reached in about 18 inches using a soft nylon brush, now when looking at it from the ground you dont see the effect of the moss/lichen.

think i will just leave it alone now, only people that will see it will be aviators.
 
L

Lord Braykewynde

Jan 19, 2008
9,103
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On my last van the mastic came away from around the Heki light. When I queried it I was told the above. It didn't leak after :O)
 
Parksy

Parksy

Moderator
Nov 12, 2009
11,904
2,400
40,935
You could use a spray bottle with undiluted Fenwicks caravan shampoo to clean off the algae from the roof.

Wet the roof with a hose, spray on the Fenwicks and leave it for a couple of minutes.

Use a brush or a sponge to agitate the shampoo and then hose the dirt off. With this method you needn't apply too much pressure and you will be less likely to disturb any mastic.

It might need a couple of treatments depending on how bad the problem is.

When the algae is removed just use some Fenwicks Bobby Dazzler in the spray bottle to give the roof panels a bit of a shine without polishing.
 
F

forestgump

Jul 1, 2009
2,142
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just done a old marauder and cleaned the roof with a weak mix off jizzer and warm water and tested it on seals on a van last year,no problem and takes off all muck easey.the van i tested on is still going strong and at my storage .
 
T

trucker

Dec 30, 2009
1,662
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Been washing my caravan (4 of them) for over 12 years and always used a long handled brush to wash the roof. We used to lay the van up for winter so had the same problem as you discribe. We have never had a leak through the roof seals to date although now we use the van all year round its not stood still long enough to grow the green alge, being washed each time we go away.

A tip to help stop the alge from forming so much is to store the van nose down so most of the water runs off and doesnt pool, this also is a small added security if you then put steady locks on the rear steadys if they are raised alot.

Kevin
 
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