Progress is being made on the new front window frame on my old ABI but I am a little worried about the central roof rail. Having gone so far I would like to reseal it for peace of mind, my question is how would you go about doing/getting to it?
If am correct,has this van got a bead that runs down the front in the center of the van roof? If so,Can you see how bad the roof strut is? If all the screws are just turning on the alloy roof beading that join the roof panels it sounds like its rotten,First take the inside paneling out, remove the plastic beading that covers the central roof panel & center joint, carefully removing the staples,Cut the inside roof panels out as close as you can to the cupboards,unless you take the cupboards out useing a stanley knife,remove all the ceiling panel staples,The ceiling boards are ply backed, so be careful not to pull to hard with them.The joint over the window shelf is more difficult to remove, but i just cut along the shelf as the is timber there to stick the panel back too,Now all the inside panel is out,you will see the center strut, this is made in a few lengths i think four and glued & stapled togeather. If it is rotton, remove the staples that hold it in place, these staple are under the alloy beading on the roof which hold the outside panels to the stut. replace the timbers,
& insolation,I used adhesive & screws on the timber.The inside panels...paint PVA on the back to give them more them to strengh,when dry fit them to the van,put adhesive were the joints meet then staple the panels up, The cuts you made removing the panels can be filled with a flexable filler,If you were careful removing the panels,you wont tell that they have been removed.
Good luck
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
Thats right my van has the upside down boat roof. Many thanks for the excellent "how to"!
How would you suggest actually reaching the roof rail from the outside, I am not sure I could reach it even from a ladder leant up against the van?
I was thinking of trying to reseal it even if it doesn't look leaky yet, or should I leave alone unless proven leaky when I have finished the front rebuild?
If its dry leave it alone, If there was any signs of damp in the van,it will show on the shelf over the front windows mainly at the corners because of the shape of the van roof
, If you still want to look at the roof bead,I used a ladder with a towel wrapped round were the ladder will rest against the van,I then put a length of timber from the awning rail to the center bead just to put my hand on when reaching to the top screw in the beading.
If someone has run mastic or wot ever either side of the beading, then i would be tempted to investigate.
Post last edited on 10/10/2014 14:41:18
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
i am glad my old avondale van has a one piece fibre glass roof.. it sits on the van sides like a lid on a jam jar.. roof seam leaks i dont have to worry about.. :)
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Topic: Sealing central roof rail?
