Leaking Skylight

[Danny_374481539]

As it says my veteran Burstner caravan has developed a leak from the rear sky light. Visiually it appears sound, just a fair amount of gunk on the roof and around the sky light. The caravan has a raised lip of about 1 inch all around and the plastic sky light cover has two skins the inside of the two vented and I cannot see any water between the two and they appear crack free. Are there any usual suspects with leaks around here, before I make the call?

Cheers Danny

 

[Guest]

If there are no obvious cracks then it sounds like the mastic sealant has aged and is leaking. You may have to consider removing the whole thing to reseal it. In that case it would be a good diea to fit a new skylight, as they are not that expensive. Do you have any dampness around the inside lip against the roof lining?

 

[Danny_374481539]

I did a fingertip search and there is none apparent, it just pools on the plastic blind runner.

 

[Guest]

If there is water, rather than condensation on the upper surface of the nightshade blind then it is coming in either through the top cover, or through the mastic and entering through the side frames. You may have hit a branch or something and cracked the outer cover, and not be able to see it from below. This means a climb 'upstairs' to have a closer look.

Sorry, but the ideal remedy is to remove the skylight and check it thoroughly on the ground, and replace if required. Then reseal the whole caboodle back into place. It is not too difficult, just a pain in the a..e. It may be a suggestion to get the dealer to do it, as they have the climbing frames to get to the roof a lot easier than you perched on a ladder.

 

[Barkas]

Hi Danny, I agree with scotchlad, having had this prob myself last year, as your van is a veteran the old skylight will have suffered decades of sunlight and will be brittle, mine was a 1994 and it was like glass and snapped into 3 bits, you will be lucky to get it out in one piece so buy a new one,I did my own, it was easy and its always rewarding knowing you've done it yourself, also...when you purchase some mastic check the sell by date on the tube ,some dealers sell outdated tubes hidden in amongst fresh tubes to catch out unattentive customers to get rid of old stock. if you decide to do it yourself steep the mastic tube in hot water before you apply as it eases application at this time of year, .....enjoy!

 

[Danny_374481539]

Thanks for the hints and tips, I will be waiting for a break in this awful weather at the moment.