motorshieve
Hi all first post need a bit of a shoulder to lean on hope that's okay!
Basically, last week I noticed a slightly creased patch in my van one evening on the veltrim where it meets the ceiling. Touched it, and thought it felt a bit funny. Started touching around it and all was dry. Eventually, I summed up the courage (apologies for the slight drama here) to actually press on it and to my horror it felt wet. Got a bit of paper towel pressed it and confirmed that when I saw the paper soaked. Popped out the screw driver, took the bug screen off the skylight and saw the batons were absolutely soaked and starting to develop mold. So at least I located the leak (well, there is only one hole)
Thankfully this weekend I managed to replace the skylight. Originally I actually pointed it with Stixall which I was lead to believe was excellent. The stuff peeled of very easily to my alarm and I remember two years ago properly preparing the surfaces with spirit before laying the stuff. So I think people should seriously stop using that sealant for exterior jobs. But before I digress the new one is on as good as I'll ever get it. All surfaces on the new skylight gently abraded, roll mastic used to create a level surface (rather than just Sikastromer gunk) edging all done and cleaned up after the screws tightend (the mastic seeped out under compression) to finally point with Sika 512 (not Stixall never again) it now truely looks like a thing of beauty not a rush bodge at all. This is a do-or-die job. It it fails I'm done.
Which leaves me with the ceiling. When I popped off the ply, the celotex behind was absolutely soaked. All the pillow insulation inserted in the ribs was soaked and rusty too. Unfortunately, behind the insulation and against the actual metal of the roof was drenched. So I've had to completely strip down the ceiling. Seeing how the damp was so evenly distributed across the surface area of the ceiling, I'm wondering if some of the wet was actually caused by condensation at least in part. I feel as if I really do not want to use celotex again, it was a pain to fit originally and no where near panel-perfect fit (due to the bowed roof) it's just disheartening because I was under the impression that I was doing all the right things with the best products and techniques I could. All the sheets were foil taped to try and create a vapor barrier etc. Pity.
So I'm currently looking alternatives here, ideally a chap to professionally spray foam it with the closed cell stuff. Any thoughts or recommendations in Gloucestershire region or I can travel!
Any idea on price too?
Thank you
Basically, last week I noticed a slightly creased patch in my van one evening on the veltrim where it meets the ceiling. Touched it, and thought it felt a bit funny. Started touching around it and all was dry. Eventually, I summed up the courage (apologies for the slight drama here) to actually press on it and to my horror it felt wet. Got a bit of paper towel pressed it and confirmed that when I saw the paper soaked. Popped out the screw driver, took the bug screen off the skylight and saw the batons were absolutely soaked and starting to develop mold. So at least I located the leak (well, there is only one hole)
Thankfully this weekend I managed to replace the skylight. Originally I actually pointed it with Stixall which I was lead to believe was excellent. The stuff peeled of very easily to my alarm and I remember two years ago properly preparing the surfaces with spirit before laying the stuff. So I think people should seriously stop using that sealant for exterior jobs. But before I digress the new one is on as good as I'll ever get it. All surfaces on the new skylight gently abraded, roll mastic used to create a level surface (rather than just Sikastromer gunk) edging all done and cleaned up after the screws tightend (the mastic seeped out under compression) to finally point with Sika 512 (not Stixall never again) it now truely looks like a thing of beauty not a rush bodge at all. This is a do-or-die job. It it fails I'm done.
Which leaves me with the ceiling. When I popped off the ply, the celotex behind was absolutely soaked. All the pillow insulation inserted in the ribs was soaked and rusty too. Unfortunately, behind the insulation and against the actual metal of the roof was drenched. So I've had to completely strip down the ceiling. Seeing how the damp was so evenly distributed across the surface area of the ceiling, I'm wondering if some of the wet was actually caused by condensation at least in part. I feel as if I really do not want to use celotex again, it was a pain to fit originally and no where near panel-perfect fit (due to the bowed roof) it's just disheartening because I was under the impression that I was doing all the right things with the best products and techniques I could. All the sheets were foil taped to try and create a vapor barrier etc. Pity.
So I'm currently looking alternatives here, ideally a chap to professionally spray foam it with the closed cell stuff. Any thoughts or recommendations in Gloucestershire region or I can travel!
Any idea on price too?
Thank you
Last edited by a moderator: