Re-Roofing

Topic: Re-Roofing (Read 1245 times) previous topic - next topic

Re-Roofing

April 27, 2020, 09:30:30 pm

Has anyone looked into a new fiberglass roof for a 1989 GV?

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #1 – April 27, 2020, 11:33:37 pm

Yes I have and at Brett's suggestion decided to just do some in place repairs. Everything has to come off the roof, vents, ac units etc then the old roof and all the attachment screws.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #2 – April 28, 2020, 12:26:09 am

How much Dicor do you have covering the screws? A heat gun, a sturdy knife and my 1/4" cordless finally did the trick. You want to get all the Dicor out of the Philips screw slots as you don't want to round the corners on even one. I also had an impact screw driver on the ones that were marginal. I ordered stainless screws, including oval head plus stainless. They are cheap by the box on Ebay and the seller sends them really fast.

The roof fan over the kitchen (can't remember the name) is the hardest as I could not get the screw gun on a row of screws and the steel nuts were rusted and would not come loose.

Pierce

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #3 – April 28, 2020, 12:52:07 am

Any time I remove a steel screw on the exterior I replace it with stainless. Also if the screw has been replaced with a larger screw
or stripped I will fill the hole with fine steel wool soaked in a epoxy mixture an put it back like new.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #4 – April 28, 2020, 10:08:12 am

Several years ago an owner in CA bought a burned ORED, replaced roof , main problem was finding a full sized sheet of Fiberglas. Sourced it from FT and turned a flat roof into a crowned one. A job I would not have tackled.
Gary B

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #5 – April 28, 2020, 10:31:11 am

Does anyone know the composition of the roof? I'm thinking 3/8" plywood with fiberglass or filon on top of that?

see ya
ken

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #6 – April 28, 2020, 10:44:31 am

Quote from: kenhat – April 28, 2020, 10:31:11 am

Does anyone know the composition of the roof? I'm thinking 3/8" plywood with fiberglass or filon on top of that?

see ya
ken

I measured ours when I painted the roof. The total thickness is .400" so 3/8" plywood is .375" plus the glass. I could have been off by a tiny bit when I measured.

Pierce

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #7 – April 28, 2020, 03:47:00 pm

Re-roofing of foretravel coach would be like redecking a 40 ft sailboat. A PIA but not impossible. I'm not sure why you would have to replace the roof, if I was doing it I would just rebuild it. Several layers of biaxial fiberglass cloth with epoxy resin. Cover with some fairing compound, sand sand sand. Paint reinstall components. Tackled in small parts of say 10 ft each I guess as you could do it in a couple weeks. Any delamination on the existing roof could be repaired by grinding it down and repairing that then overcoating it as above. Not a job I would want to tackle just for the heck of it, but if I had to I would do it myself. My guess is that you pay six times what you would pay to do it yourself.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #8 – April 28, 2020, 08:45:03 pm

Nancy,, what's the condition of the roof that warrants a replacement vs repair..

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #9 – April 29, 2020, 01:31:25 am

It's a mess will post pics tomorrow

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #10 – April 29, 2020, 11:23:11 am

Factory was replacing them long ago as the roll material chalked easily. Not a help to you but you might call FOT?

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #11 – April 29, 2020, 03:33:07 pm

Let me describe what has happened. The PO about 10 years ago applied a liquid rubber coating over the Foretravel Fiberglass roof. Seems the fiberglass was not clean enough and now 10 years later that rubber coating is blistering really bad. Our plan has always to let it blister until you could just peel it off and that probably is the best answer, since the other answers are complete replacement, manual removal , use a paint stripper or a river gun with a blade and cut it off. Am thinking the best answer is to do nothing.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #12 – April 29, 2020, 03:53:32 pm

As long is there are no water leaks and you are only doing this because it is unsightly, were it me, I would do nothing or if really bored strip the rubber coating. This is assuming the OE fiberglass roof in in good shape.

But, post a picture and we can be of more assistance.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #13 – April 29, 2020, 05:00:20 pm

I am needing help, cannot send pics. OK here they are

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #14 – April 29, 2020, 05:02:35 pm

Quote from: NancyS – April 29, 2020, 05:00:20 pm

I am needing help, cannot send pics.

Mac, iPhone, Droid or PC?

P

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #15 – April 29, 2020, 05:04:02 pm

PC win 10

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #16 – April 29, 2020, 05:08:36 pm

Condolences.

Once you've had a MAC you'll never go back.

How to post a photo (or file) which is located on your computer:

(This is way it works on a MAC - should be similar on a PC)

1. Go to the post where you want to add a photo.
2. Bottom right corner of post, hover over "MORE", click on "MODIFY".
3. In the editing window, scroll down page to the line that says "Add files by dragging & dropping or selecting them".
4. The words "selecting them" is a button. Click it.
5. Another window opens showing the files on your computer.
6. Navigate to the photo you want to post, and click to highlight the photo name.
7. In the bottom right corner, click "CHOOSE".
8. A line will appear showing a green progress bar. When it says 100% the photo has been successfully uploaded.
9. Go back up, just below the editing box, bottom right corner, click "SAVE".

Yer DONE! That was easy!

PS: If you are trying to upload photos directly from a tablet or a smart phone, I can't help you.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #17 – April 29, 2020, 05:37:24 pm

Quote from: NancyS – April 29, 2020, 05:04:02 pm

PC win 10

OK, I was hoping but...
Assuming you will be using a phone to take the photos. Take photos, download PhotoSync for your phone and PC at PhotoSync - Photo Transfer App | FREE Download for Windows PC & Mac - PhotoSync. It's free. Open Photosync on your phone and computer. Touch each photo you want to upload to you PC. A red check mark will appear on each photo you want to upload. Touch the red circle with the arrows in the top right of your phone. Select the middle icon with the small red circle/check mark then go to the top left and select "computer." Then choose your PC.

Once the photos are on your PC, select the ones you want to put on the forum and export them out of you photo album to a file with a name like " motorhome roof." You will probably have to make the new file and name it before you can send the photos from your photo application to the new file.

OK, now write your message on the forum and then select "Preview" right below where you have written your message. You will see this "Add files by dragging & dropping or selecting them." "selecting them" will be in green. Click on it and navigate to the "motorhome roof" file you made and select the photos you want to have displayed.

This is how I do it on our Macs but not sure it's exactly the same on PC computers. Once you do it the first time, it will only take a minute to take a photo and then post it.

I can do a series of screen shots if you have a problem.

Pierce

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #18 – April 29, 2020, 06:05:05 pm

Nancy,

I should have included that PhotoSync can transfer photos from your smart phone to your PC either via USB or wirelessly. Photos transfer fast either way but smart phone movies are slower using the wireless method. If you have an iPhone, go to the Apple's app store, Droid phones at the play store. They are also FREE!

Pierce

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #19 – April 29, 2020, 06:22:55 pm

The pics are up in the body of this posting, thanks for all your help

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #20 – April 29, 2020, 06:28:17 pm

Quote from: NancyS – April 29, 2020, 05:00:20 pm

I am needing help, cannot send pics. OK here they are

Hey, hey...

Are the small/larger circles depressions? Soft to the touch? Any water damage or stains inside the coach? Cracks in the roof?

P

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #21 – April 29, 2020, 06:34:01 pm

The circles are blisters full of air, you can pop them and they are full of rubber crud that looks like sand. The roof is sound, only leak was around the front AC unit that was solved with a new gasket. Am going to call our old buddies at Filon, since I am pretty sure the roof came from them to see what they have to say.

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #22 – April 29, 2020, 07:40:08 pm

Yes, they might have an idea. I've never seen anything like this.

One way might be to pop all the blisters (with the top clean) and if the blister lies flat against the rest of the roof, buy a rolls of glass cloth not mat and follow the YouTube videos. Probably 3 layers depending on the cloth weight. I like epoxy resin as it sticks to almost everything, is restive to chemicals/gas/diesel and has almost no odor. Fairly easy to clean your hands too. You have to look around to get the wide rolls of cloth. Don't have to get a smooth surface as no one can see it plus better traction especially when wet. Roll and tip with a good FG paint and you are done. In this weather, one layer a day. It takes a few days to get super hard. I've purchased the resin (laminating not casting) online in gallons on ebay. Hiring a glass guy that is out of work will save a huge amount of time and get it done right. Call boat shops, check CL or put an ad on CL.

Sorry, forgot to supply the link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fiberglass+cloth+

Pierce

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #23 – April 29, 2020, 08:52:16 pm

Anyone here have any experience with Rubber Roof? Is it possible to dress the blisters and glue a new Rubber Roof down?

Re: Re-Roofing

Reply #24 – April 30, 2020, 01:39:50 am

If it were me, I would remove the rubber roof and see what is under. Try a small area first. Foretravel spent a lot of time and money to make the fiberglass roof.
Previous owners don't always make the right choices.
But if it's just cosmetic, you could wait and see. As long as there are no leaks.
That roof will make it hard to sell one day.
If your not able to do the repairs, bet you could find someone in Mexico for a good price.

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