Has anyone ever done this?Our TC has a skylight over the bathroom. The sun is bleaching the plastic in places and it heats the TC if the door is left open. (I like to keep the dog's water in there.I bought a piece of vinyl to fit over a lip that runs around the edge, to be affixed with Velcro. Does this sound feasible? Any other suggestions? No, not paint. I also bought a piece to fit over the fantastic fan and the door window to keep the light out. If the weim can see that it's a bit light, he wants breakfast, no matter if it's 0530!Any suggestions on past mods you've done? I figure Velcro is the way go to affix these for quick and easy removal.

campn4walleye wrote:Has anyone ever done this?Our TC has a skylight over the bathroom. The sun is bleaching the plastic in places and it heats the TC if the door is left open. (I like to keep the dog's water in there.I bought a piece of vinyl to fit over a lip that runs around the edge, to be affixed with Velcro. Does this sound feasible? Any other suggestions? No, not paint. I also bought a piece to fit over the fantastic fan and the door window to keep the light out. If the weim can see that it's a bit light, he wants breakfast, no matter if it's 0530!Any suggestions on past mods you've done? I figure Velcro is the way go to affix these for quick and easy removal.I have never had any luck using velcro. The type of plastic and/or heat will release the velcro adhesive. Industrial velcro which Home Depot, etc. sells has a very strong adhesive. It generally sticks to plastic. But, when you attempt to remove the cover, the velcro is so strong, it frequently tears from the material covering the opening. I recently used turn buttons/buckles used to secure boat covers, etc. They are somewhat costly and available at Amazon.com. The items are available in black or chrome. Then I used the regular door or vent covers. Works, but can be costly if you use alot of the buckles.

I saw where one person cut up thin blocks of Styrofoam and wedged them in place.

Maybe swing by an upholstery or crafts place and get some foam rubber. Cut a hair bigger than the opening, cover with some fabric, and you can wedge them into place when you need them. In the meantime, tiny pillows!

To cover my skylight I use a piece of fiberglass ceiling tile cut to fit and a expandable refrigerator rod to hold it in place. You could also use rigid foam.

naturist wrote:Maybe swing by an upholstery or crafts place and get some foam rubber. Cut a hair bigger than the opening, cover with some fabric, and you can wedge them into place when you need them. In the meantime, tiny pillows!This is what I did. Night time blackout screen, daytime cushion.

making covers for fan, door window and shower skylight

24 Replies

nremtp143
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
timmac wrote:
nremtp143 wrote:

Does this still allow some light in or is it dark, would like to do this but would still like some light but not as much as now.

These are pics of it the day after I painted it. Yes, I know, there is junk on top of the inside light:B All 3 shots were taken within seconds of each other. The camera just darkened the first ones due to looking up. No, there is LOTS of light still coming through. Just no heat!
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timmac
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
nremtp143 wrote:
The sun was really heating up the inside of our new Sandpiper at the beach last year through the clear skylight. In searching for a solution, I came up with this. I bought a can of Krylon Gloss White spray paint, some painter's tape and got some news paper. I cleaned the outside of the skylight, taped it off from the rest of the roof and put 2 coats of white paint on the outside. Dropped the temps dramatically, no fading of interior, looks like part of the roof and best of all only cost me around $6!

Does this still allow some light in or is it dark, would like to do this but would still like some light but not as much as now.
gatorcq
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Susan, makes all of our outside covers, using a tan sun screen. For laughs she made on for our skylight. I went on top and used Velcro to attach it. It work very well going down the road until we hit the 40 mile per hour winds in Nebraska. Now she is going to have to make another one.
nremtp143
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
The sun was really heating up the inside of our new Sandpiper at the beach last year through the clear skylight. In searching for a solution, I came up with this. I bought a can of Krylon Gloss White spray paint, some painter's tape and got some news paper. I cleaned the outside of the skylight, taped it off from the rest of the roof and put 2 coats of white paint on the outside. Dropped the temps dramatically, no fading of interior, looks like part of the roof and best of all only cost me around $6!
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Back in 2000 when we drove to AK I made inserts for the living room and bedroom vents out of heavy duty cardboard. They were cut to fit the opening and about two inches from one edge I sliced halfway through the cardboard to make a hinge and used tape to make a tab to pull the inserts out. DW didn't know I had and when she realized how simple insisted on one for the bath. Easy to find the material and make the insert while on the road. Still using them but, I like dbates idea of using the 1/2" construction foam even more.
sowego
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
We have made covers for skylights and windows using the foil covered bubble wrap material available in rolls. Clean the area on both surface where it will be mounted with alcohol to be sure it will stick. The bad news is..sometimes when you pull loose the cover the velco will stick together, not remaining on the surface you want it on. For the windows we didn't need velco as the shades hold the foil in place. The ceiling is the bear. Maybe someone here has found a better solution.
Marsland
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Reflextic and velcro. Good stuff. Used it to block the sun on our bedroom door.
Robocop
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Reflectix sounds so much more scientific than 'bubble foil'. Hah!
restlesswind
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Robocop wrote:
I have been a fan of Reflectix since my HTT days and still use it extensively in my MH. It is cost effective, easy to cut, no fasteners required and stores easily when not in use. I use it in my windows, door, vents and shower skylight as needed for room darkeninng as well as heat dispersion and/or insulation.

Knew there was a correct name for that "bubble foil" !!
Anyway,I certainly agree that there are many good uses for the stuff.
wbwood
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Campin world also sales a reflectix type thing for the door window which could be used a crossed the vents as well.