Roof leak repair - a DIY job

Did awning rails and a roof strip once, simple enough job but very messy. Removed all the screws holding the rails and strip on then pushed a plastic scraper through the sealant under them from one end to the other. Don't pull the rails/strip away because they can bend quite easily.

After removing them clean ALL old sealant off the jointing surfaces on the van and rails/strip, I used copious amounts of white spirit and numerous old rags. Once all cleaned up the a new thick bead of Sikaflex and screw the rails/strip back on pulling them down evenly until they're bedded. Once done then clean off the sealant squeezed out with white spirit and job done. 

Hi Keith, thanks for the reply. I've been researching online and along with your positive reply I'm feeling like it's a goer. I'm not sure if the existing rails are bedded on mastic strip or Sikaflex. I think some moisture maybe tracking down the screw threads, so I'll squirt a spot of sealant into the holes before putting  screws in.

Cheers

Paul

I've done this job several times over the years. It used to be considered as normal maintenance to reseal the roof joints every five years or so, particularly on the awning side.

As Keith said it's not difficult but hard work, specially removing all the old mastic from the rail once detached. I usually found that the original screws had been "self tapped" through the rail into the caravan side so the soft aluminium was distorted preventing a close fit. By carefully flattening the "pimple" then drilling out all the holes to be a clearance size to the new screws it was easier to get a good seal when reassembling. Sikaflex is good but make sure to use stainless steel screws too.

PeteCl, Thanks for the screw hole tip, I'll  do that when re fitting. The frustrating thing is having to do this on a 5yr old van. I've owned vans built in the 80s and 90s that didn't leak, the last van built in 1996 was 25 yrs old when sold, that didn't  leak either. I've owned houses, numerous cars and several boats, none of which leaked. No other industry could get away with producing such a shoddy and overpriced product. Wouldn't it be good if we all stopped buying them until they sorted themselves out.

Paul

I must be very unlucky then. I've owned 9 caravans over the last 40 years or so and every one has leaked. None of them was more than 5 years old when water ingress began. 

Absolutely agree with you we have had the exact same problem with our lunar van, been in several times with roof leaks ive now myself discovered on of the air vents in roof one above microwave has never had any sealant on the other one over the bathroom is sealed fine shoddy workmanship apparently 5-6 years ago when we had ours now no warranty as the crap company gone bust disgraceful