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Topic: 93 GV skylight repair (Read 524 times) previous topic - next topic

93 GV skylight repair

Skylight leaking into tub, removed cover and dome, corner of dome snapped off as I was removing it, inner white piece had several cracks in it. Ordered new pieces from FOT, figured I would reseal the flange, wondering what the experts say would be the best solution for sealing the flange to the coach top? I've Read through many threads about replacing the skylight. Any thoughts, concerns, tips, tricks are welcome. Any tips on releasing whatever is holding the flange down, I've got all the screws out. TIA
Michael & Roxene, Aussie the wonder dog & his daughter Luna the lunatic.
1993 Grand Villa Unihome 280 build #4203
36' 8.3 Cummins 300 hp- 2001 Chevrolet Tracker toad

Re: 93 GV skylight repair

Reply #1 –
On our previous FT of similar vintage, I used polyurethane to bed the cover, and lap sealant over the edges and screws.

BTW, I found the domefor under $75 on the shelf at Lowe's, but that was some years ago.  I had to trim off 1/8 inch from one edge for a proper fit.

Old dome came off in a BUNCH of pieces, pried off with a screwdriver.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: 93 GV skylight repair

Reply #2 –
SUREBOND SKYLIGHT BUTYL

This is what you want to use. Solvents in other sealants can cause premature cracking in skylight material so I 've been told. I used this on my last roof rebuild and liked it very much!
This also does not require that you cover the screws with anything as setting the flange into the liquid butyl and screwing through it will self seal. Good stuff :)

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Re: 93 GV skylight repair

Reply #3 –
Replaced ours last year,the flange holding the dome in place should not have any sealant between the flange and the dome.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: 93 GV skylight repair

Reply #4 –
I agree with Dave. Put some self leveling sealant around where the dome meets the flange, in other words, after the dome and flange are down in final location.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: 93 GV skylight repair

Reply #5 –
I guess I have not looked closely at the FT skylight but on the one I installed on my HR Navigator there was not a flange to hold down the skylight itself. Again whatever sealant you use you just don't want anything but skylight rated sealant to touch the dome itself. Also, self leveling (dicor or similar) is only a flashing. It is not designed to actually make the seal. Everything I have seen on an RV relies on a mechanical connection with a sealant between two surfaces. That sealant is normally a butyl type flexible sealant. The self leveling type sealants on top of those connections just act as a flashing to divert water away from the joint. Hope my ramblings make sense.
 

Re: 93 GV skylight repair

Reply #6 –
Well I finally got around to repairing a crack and associated delam in the corner of my skylight.  It was there when I bought the coach in 2012.  I kept it covered well with dicor but recently it started expanding and leaking back into the shower stall.  Taking it to FOT was out so I decided to try find someone in the area to help since I'm no fiberglass expert.  I got lucky and found out that Dick Lancaster a fiberglass expert was living in the area.  Called him up and he agreed to help even though he had been suffering through long Covid and was still weak and shaky. He has an interesting and bizarre work history (as he puts it) and the more I got to know him found it very fascinating.  He had his own boat building and fiberglass repair company in Florida in which his reputation was such that he was flown to New York to build the sets for the musical Cats! 

What I Learned At The Fiber Glass Shop - Veteran on the Move

I was his gopher and shade man but I learned a lot.  The heat was brutal outside late in August and we couldn't work mornings and when it rained so work was slow but we finally got it done.  Dick still has his equipment and his work truck plus all of the materials needed. 

In order to do the repair right Dick decided to build a form and glass up the four sides of the opening to form a lip to shed water and to add rigidity to the roof. His expertise in boat and fiberglass repairs is amazing.  After the fiberglass was done we even built a platform out of bondo for the frame to sit on.  The outcome was better than I expected and the dome frame fit perfectly. 

I decided to order a new skylight from FOT to replace the old one.  The new double dome skylight fits the frame perfectly. It's made by DAylyte (23 3/4" by 23 3/4") is much stronger and adds more headroom in the shower.  I used Surebond SB-140 to seal the frame to the roof.  No more Dicor for me!

Jerry

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Jerry and Cindy Maddux
1993 U300/36WTBI DD6v92TA
build 4271  "Miss Lou"
1995 suzuki sidekick 4x4 toad
Gulfport, Ms

"Pride of Ownership"