Grandvilla roof material

Topic: Grandvilla roof material (Read 1121 times) previous topic - next topic

Grandvilla roof material

March 21, 2016, 06:29:09 pm

I have a 1990 U280 Grandvilla, 36 '. I don't know what kind of roof it has..... It's leaking (I'm outside of Seattle in the wettest winter on record.) I think it is original, but when I asked the RV repair shop over the phone they asked me if it was fiberglass, or rubber, or something else. And I don't know.

Also, has anyone replaced their roof before? Any recommendations, opinions? Estimate cost?

Thanks, Susan

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #1 – March 21, 2016, 06:34:51 pm

Our coach is a 1989 GV and the roof is fiberglass. I don't think Foretravel used anything but Fiberglass on ANY coaches after about 1986--maybe even earlier.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #2 – March 21, 2016, 06:37:46 pm

Susan,

Determine EXACTLY WHAT IS LEAKING.

Suspect it is NOT the roof itself, but aged calking around a roof "penetration".

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #3 – March 21, 2016, 06:47:02 pm

If it is fiberglass - can fiberglass crack? Last summer I had a two foot crack and I repaired it with a special tape and sealant.
EternaBond RSW-6-50 White Roof Seal

I have a lot on my roof - two solar panels that I had put on in 2007 in Quartzite.... but other things by previous owners. Like antennas, and dishes' brackets - tho the antennas and dishes are gone, the footings are still there.

There seem to be little hair cracks coming out from vents and things. I tried to caulk them.

Guess my main question - is the roof actually fiberglass - and is that what cracked?

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #4 – March 21, 2016, 07:27:54 pm

Yes, the roof is fiberglass along with the sidewalls, front and rear caps and the underbelly also. I've not heard of anyone replacing their fiberglass roof. Unless it was maybe a damage repair. I suppose you could overcoat the existing roof with a new layer.

Have you tried the Barry and Darlene Brideau's Personal Website site. Tons of Foretravel specific info there.

Where do you see the water at inside ?

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #5 – March 21, 2016, 07:34:47 pm

With fiberglass, you could have either very fine hairline cracks (will not allow water intrusion) or deep cracks through the fiberglass.

The latter are very rare.

Yes, on an older coach, no issues with using Eternabond to seal questionable areas. Be sure to clean completely before applying and "roller" on for good adhesion.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #6 – March 21, 2016, 07:36:46 pm

Quote from: Susan – March 21, 2016, 06:29:09 pm

It's leaking (I'm outside of Seattle in the wettest winter on record.)

Ha! "Wax as in candles, rain as in Seattle". You know we've lived up there most all of our lives! Other than coming down here (it's 92 and roof air is needed), I'd get the coach as level as possible and try to see where the ingress is. It may not be at the interior leak you see; water has a odd way way of finding a path that is not at the opening itself. I would doubt it's the roof, bet you've got a leak in a "by others" install. How bad? Where is the water coming in? Let us know how it goes, we have friends up there that have a RV shop & have a couple of forklifts that are perfect for finding the problem, let us know if we can help.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #7 – March 21, 2016, 07:54:43 pm

Quote from: mike leary – March 21, 2016, 07:36:46 pm

we have friends up there that have a RV shop & have a couple of forklifts that are perfect for finding the problem, let us know if we can help.

Ok, I'll bite. How in the world does a forklift help you find a water leak :-D

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #8 – March 21, 2016, 08:04:57 pm

Was kind of wondering myself about the forklift..... $:-\$

The leak is coming in through a music speaker under the dropdown clothes shelf (with roller door) above and to the right of the bed. I have a bowl catching the water until it dries enough for me to climb up on the roof. But today I noticed the vinyl ceiling was unattached from the center seam strip, and when I touched it I realized there was a "bowl" of water there! So, I got the water out, after putting a tarp on the bed. Thinking I will have to let down that whole ceiling vinyl to distinguish where the leak is coming in from.

I turned on engine to run, thus also enabling the levelers.

I am glad to know that I don't have to replace the whole roof. But sounds like I need to get up on top and replace all caulking... it may be the bead along where the very back of the roof connects to the back wall.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #9 – March 21, 2016, 08:14:45 pm

Susan, Being that vintage with a flat roof I would highly suspect the air conditioner gaskets. Best to get the coach off level left or right for water to freely run off.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #10 – March 21, 2016, 08:40:26 pm

Quote from: Bob & Sue – March 21, 2016, 07:54:43 pm

Ok, I'll bite. How in the world does a forklift help you find a water leak

My guys have extensions on their forklifts to be able to inspect and repair any roof problems. They replaced both our ACs with this slick method. Eric's RV Performance Intro page

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #11 – March 22, 2016, 01:19:27 am

Check the skylight over the tub. Ours leaked and the water came in in different places.
Sometimes in the shower, sometimes in the bedroom driver's side wall, down thru the upper cabinet.
Didn't find the cause until we removed the skylight and found the aluminum retainer had weld beads that broke the fiberglass corners. Filed off the beads, resealed everything--three years ago and still no leaks!!

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #12 – March 22, 2016, 10:22:38 pm

FT uses a blower to pressurize the coach, then uses a bubble solution on the roof to identify leak sources. I had a leak at the driver's map light bezel. FT found the source quite far away.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #13 – March 22, 2016, 10:46:24 pm

Our recently acquired 1999 U270 developed a leak at the corner of the wall and carpet on both sides of the bed. We have made an appointment with Westcraft in Fife Wa to have the pressure and soap bubble test done this Friday. Hope it is as easy as the map light find and fix. Will keep everybody posted. Water leaks are the worst.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #14 – March 23, 2016, 12:26:20 pm

Our 88 GV has a patch on the Fiberglass roof and small splits around the luggage rack mounts. The problem we have is the Massive split in the roof above the side door caused I think by over flexing the chassis, don't know who or where the patch was applied but I'd like to get another

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #15 – March 23, 2016, 09:40:30 pm

Susan suggest you get a white tarp, I hate the blue ones and cover the roof, I have been where you are with your roof. I will post pictures tomorrow, the main thing here is to stop any more water from entering the roof structure, it needs to be dried out before repair can be done. The roof structure looks a lot like honeycomb with hard foam filling a number of cavities.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #16 – March 24, 2016, 12:17:13 pm

Any flat roof RV will leak due to the 120lb AC Roof Unit bouncing up an down. The fix is to remove the AC and use 1"x3" oak strips screwed down with steel metal screws around the 14" x 14" roof opening. Place the Oak between the fiberglass and the Aluminum structure, use some RTV to help the wood slide into place. Remount AC with new gasket compressing the gasket to 1/2 of original thickness. Did ours 3 years ago no leaks yet. Now about the trim strips between the front and rear caps and the roof and sides. The factory used no sealant under these trim strips, just relied on sealant on the edges to seal. The leak factor is not that bad unless you have the coach set up to flow rain water off one side or flow it off the front or rear. The area to pay attention to is where the top trim strip butts against the cap trim strip. I had a hole about 1" long right there that allowed water to flow in , down the front cap to the floor and under the paneling. The cap is still open waiting for it to dry out.
I suggest using RTV under the trim strip to seal, this way the strip can always be removed if necessary.

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #17 – March 24, 2016, 12:29:56 pm

NancyS,

Actually a leak from the A/C to roof seam is reasonably unusual on a Foretravel. And, when it occurs, a simple retorquing of the 4 hold down bolts or at most replacement of the gasket should fix it.

Have never seen a Foretravel factory, Extreme or MOT "fix" such as you suggest. But would sure be interested in anyone who has done this on a Foretravel!

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #18 – March 24, 2016, 02:20:30 pm

We live in Puyallup, and have identical weather issues. Three years ago, I noticed a sag in the headliner over the bed, on the drivers side, and within days, the material had pulled free from the center seam-strip. No water evident (thankfully), but a definite freak-out.
On the roof, I observed no cracking in the fiberglass and the seal around all vents and accessories was in good shape. Started scrutinizing the units themselves, and found a crack in the Lexan skylight over the shower. Rain was working its way down the inside and between the double-wall sleeve. The crack and the water leak were not visible from inside of the coach. If the adhesive in the ceiling had not failed, it probably would have gone unnoticed until the wood had started to dry rot.
I would suggest that you take a very close look at the obvious possible routes of water entry before making plans to re-surface the roof. Both Nitehawk and I found our leaks through the skylight before we had to spend a ton of money on major repairs.
Then it will be time to re-seal the joints, and keep that 'glass waxed! Hope you caught it in time.
Good luck,
Steve & Nikki

Re: Grandvilla roof material

Reply #19 – March 24, 2016, 02:43:15 pm

EternaBond seals, remains flexable & stays in place without issues forever (yes, that's a long time.)
The easiest place to purchase (& cheapest) is ebay.
Wipe the area w/prepsol (wax, road grime etc..) lay down the tape THEN roll it down or stand on it to activate the tape.
EternaBond is.. GREAT.. PC

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