Water leaks

Malcolm James replied on 10/02/2016 18:28

Posted on 10/02/2016 18:28

Has anybody had any problems with water leaks from the sky light in heavy rain. Also has anybody been told by a caravan professional that due to the design of sky lights they are not water tight and therefore are susceptible to water leaks. As a newby to caravanning, I find this rather surprising. Any advice would be much appreciated.

JillwithaJay replied on 10/02/2016 18:33

Posted on 10/02/2016 18:33

We had a problem a couple of years ago with a drip from the skylight but our local caravan workshop fixed it with sealant and we've had no problems since.  

Regarding the second part of your post, that sounds like a cop out to me.  After solving the problem, as mentioned, no matter how heavy the rain or hosing it down for washing, our skylight doesn't ever leak.

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ADP1963 replied on 10/02/2016 18:52

Posted on 10/02/2016 18:52

Do you know where the actual leak is?. Not always where the drip is causes the problem. We have had caravans for 38 years,none have had skylight leaks,many other leaks though.

Phillippa42 replied on 10/02/2016 19:07

Posted on 10/02/2016 19:07

Not a skylight but on my last van during one terrible storm we had quite a bit of water come in through one of the side windows.  I took it straight down the dealers and they couldn't replicate a leak even after blasting it with a hosepipe from all angles.  They shrugged it off and said occasionally there may be some slight water ingress if the rain is blowing in a certain direction.  Never happened again.

Kerry Watkins replied on 10/02/2016 19:21

Posted on 10/02/2016 19:21

As mentioned above, it may be worthwhile playing a hosepipe on the roof light and seeing where the water dribbles in

you may then be able to trace the leak back to its source

EJB986 replied on 10/02/2016 19:23

Posted on 10/02/2016 19:23

Most skylights allow plenty of ventilation but have never had water enter that way. Occasionally a very fine spray if there is a gale blowing!

Tigi replied on 10/02/2016 20:34

Posted on 10/02/2016 20:34

I`ve been in some pretty violent storms on the continent and have never had water leak in through a closed skylight , in caravans or motorhomes, your professional is spinning you a yarn!

Wildwood replied on 10/02/2016 22:44

Posted on 10/02/2016 22:44

It is difficult to remember any caravan professional being quoted spouting sutch ridiculous rubbish. Of course if the skylight leaks it is faulty and needs repairing although given what this man has said I doubt I would want him on the job.

ClubMember1333A783BB replied on 11/02/2016 21:01

Posted on 11/02/2016 21:01

It's the sealant around the skylight that gets brittle and can eventually leak. There's a flange on the skylight that is clamped onto the caravan roof  and the sealer,  which is sold in long strips acts like a gasket. It's a surprisingly easy fix to remove skylight, scrape of the old sealant apply new and refit.....job done

Nuggy replied on 11/02/2016 22:29

Posted on 11/02/2016 22:29

It's the sealant around the skylight that gets brittle and can eventually leak. There's a flange on the skylight that is clamped onto the caravan roof  and the sealer,  which is sold in long strips acts like a gasket. It's a surprisingly easy fix to remove skylight, scrape of the old sealant apply new and refit.....job done

Write your comments here...It is fairly simply to do, a bit messy, it's getting a dry, preferably warm day that is harder. Make sure the sealant is the non settng type.

juliec replied on 18/02/2016 10:06

Posted on 18/02/2016 10:06

Nothing would surprise me about the shoddy assembly of English caravans and whats more is they just don't care !

I had a bad leak from the roof area on a new English van and as I was in France I found it myself. It was a trapped cable to the fan,trapped in the fitting of the fan vent itself.

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