Keeping the roof clean

Dec 7, 2006
201
0
0
Visit site
Happy new year to all. We keep the van parked up the side of the house and this seems to have caused a lot of green algae to thrive on the roof of our previous van. Although I cleaned it regularly with an extendable brush it was dificult to get in and around the skylights. We now have a new van, parked in the same place, and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on either how to prevent the algae or how best to clean it off. Are there any products out there that might prevent this from happening?
 
Mar 14, 2005
3,027
40
20,685
Visit site
A common problem, and not helped by the caravan 'designers' who, clearly, have never had to clean one themselves.

Many modern caravans will stand your weight on the roof if you feel like getting up there, but if so use boards to spread your weight out.

Once you have got it clean apply a coating of .Fenwicks Bobby Dazzler or over winter products which will make the next rinse off much easier. Park the van either nose or tail down so that water does not accumulate on top. Not easy with a van like mine where the 'designers' have arranged a raised edge all round the flat part of the roof which holds at least 4 litres of water when the van is level. (If you don't know about this it will fall off on those waving you a fond farewell from you pitch - great way off being remembered)

Park as far away from leaf shedding trees as possible. I would seriously consider a top only cover but make sure it is well anchored down and that the bungees or hold down straps cannot move in the wind and rub on the painted sides of the caravans.

This problem was very rare with caravans of the ^0's which generally did not have flat roof or big rooflights - so you may just have to blame 'progress'
 
Jun 17, 2011
826
26
18,885
Visit site
I apply a polish. Usually Autoglym. Hard to put on but worth it. i use a paint pad on a long pole to apply as thinly as possible then when dry polish off with an old T shirt. (In reality I stand on a step ladder and the boss holds it- i hate heights.) By standing on the caravan step inside the van i can do 3 sides of the opening roof lights. I find this keeps it algae free. Do it in spring. A word of warning- don't apply too thickly as it is hard to buff off and then rain streaks it down the windows.
 
Sep 10, 2014
247
10
18,585
Visit site
This is something that bothered me too,,a long handled brush wasn't doing the job.
So I got steps inside the van, opened the sunroof fully and used T cut sparingly then a good polish.
I managed to reach most of the roof from this position then did the rest on the ladder from the outside at the sides of the van.
It now has a good quality full cover secured on and it'll stay that way untill spring.
 
Mar 28, 2014
36
0
0
Visit site
I park mine alongside my garage , and when I need to clean it , I just stand on the garage roof with a car cleaning brush extended and the hose up there , I have never had green marks and as I clean it about every 6 weeks I get very few black streaks on the sides
 
Jan 3, 2012
9,571
2,050
30,935
Visit site
We own a Twin Axle it was washed & polish and the roof was like new and then wrapped up with a 4 ply Breathable winter cover that was tailored made from Specialised Accessories based in Bradford and that was put on in the middle of October .
It on a seasonal site and the owners keep us updated about the caravan ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
Feb 6, 2009
339
7
18,685
Visit site
My 18 year old van has to live in the garden under some trees when I'm not using it, and so the roof (which will bear practically no weight at all) is a little difficult to clean and gets a good layer of green algae building up on it during the winter.

There is no access from inside the caravan to the roof, no sunroof or Heiki etc just a tiny roof vent), so unless one has the physical dimensions of a meerkat) that approach is a non starter, so I have worked out a strategy over the years that works well for me...

I use a stepladder and a long handled telescopic car brush ( £10 from the market) and a bucket of very hot water with Asda's car shampoo to clean it off when I lay up the caravan at the end of September. I use double the recommended amount of the shampoo and the whole van takes me about 45 minutes to do.

By Christmas the caravan has a lovely green carpet of algae all over the roof so its time for its mid winter clean...

The same cleaning procedure is adopted, but the secret is to do it when it's raining! I get a few strange looks from passers by, but the rain helps enormously and the green gunge just seems to float away with very little effort. I use a hosepipe on a gentle spray setting to rinse off, and the van comes up looking like new.

This midwinter clean is repeated again at the end of March/ beginning of April so my van is clean and shiny for our first use around Easter time..... this later clean onty takes half an hour or so as the Asda car shampoo seems to have a high wax content and this seems to seal the surface so the green gunge tends to sit on top rather than become engrained in the plastic roof.

My only reason for using the Asda car shampoo is that its the cheapest I could find, A 2.5 litre can cost me about £2.50 and using it at the rate of 2 or 3 capsful in a bucket of very hot water 3 times a year, I reckon it will probably see me out!

During the summer the rain cleans the roof satisfactorily, supplemented by a gentle spray hosing if necessary, so no shampoo is needed at all.

As I have not seen the use of very hot water being recommended, or Asda's cheapest car wax shampoo being recommended for caravan use, I am not recommending that anyone folows my strategy.....I have, however been doing it this way for years and with no adverse effects and my 18 year old van is shiny and looks like new!

Regards to all
paws
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts