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bobbyg123's avatar
bobbyg123
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013

Just found my first case of roof rot! HELP!

I was in the midst of what I thought was going to be an end of summer PREVENTATIVE maintenance roof caulking day when I discovered a small soft (ROT) spot next to the bathroom skylight. I removed the entire skylight, and sure enough it was leaking.

Now I've got a small area of ROT that I don't know how to deal with. By small, I'm talking about maybe 12" x 6" where the luan is wet.

I'm in the process of finding a replacement 17"x25" skylight, and in the mean time I need to figure out how to attack the rot issue. Keep in mind that this is a weekend camper, so the fix doesn't need to be perfect. Of course it's supposed to rain later today, further complicating matters.

9 Replies

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  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2013
    If you can visit a local roofing distributor, they can set you up with the proper EPDM adhesives and sealants.
    One suggestion on the repair: If possible. wrap the interior frame of the skylight opening from over the top of the frame and down flush with the ceiling. I used conventional. self adhesive window wrap to seal the window and vent openings like this. It will direct any leaking on the inside of the frame down to the interior instead of into the roof cavity. It's easy and it's cheap.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Aug 26, 2013
    Hi bobbyg123,

    I would sure treat the area with wood restorer prior to putting in the plywood patch. Wood rot doesn't stop unless the moisture is 100% gone. So the wood restorer deals with that problem.
  • bobbyg123's avatar
    bobbyg123
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2013
    The area is pretty small, the roof is in tact, and I've got a 12"x6" piece of plywood ready to install. My hope is that it'll be dry enough to adhere to both the underlayment (the remaining layers of plywood that are in decent condition, and the EPDM roof. If Gorilla glue, or whatever I select, does the job, I don't think it'll be a big problem. The rot hasn't extended to the gutter, and there's no sign of delamination yet.

    If nothing else, I found the problem early enough where the damage didn't eat all the way through to the cabin. I've got it fairly dry now, and I can assure you that this cover will be installed correctly and sealed water tight.
  • brulaz's avatar
    brulaz
    Explorer
    Aug 25, 2013
    Definitely replace all the bad wood. But for 12x6" couldn't you just use eternabond to cover the new wood?
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Aug 25, 2013
    Good news is you have a small area to repair. Some of us get to repair the whole frame and everything attached. :B

    I would suggest you do it just like Plan A, peel off the rotten stuff and replace. Try to get some diluted bleach-water into the area to kill off any rot and fungus. If you have small areas to treat, Rot Doctor is a good product. For anything larger than a few inches, I'd cut it out and replace.
  • bobbyg123's avatar
    bobbyg123
    Explorer
    Aug 25, 2013
    So frustrating. The cheap plastic used on the skylight itself was the cause of this. It cracked, and water has been slowly leaking in undetected.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Aug 25, 2013
    Hi,

    You may be able to use wood restorer to "freeze" the rot. It will be important to have good access to the area. It is a serious problem that will get worse over time.
  • bobbyg123's avatar
    bobbyg123
    Explorer
    Aug 25, 2013
    The majority of the screws will bite, but I'd like to "patch" the rotted area now while I can. We're talking about a pretty small area. I'm considering just digging out the rotting wood, and sliding a new piece of plywood in there cut to fit the area. Not a great fix, but with things sealed up, it'll buy me some time to figure out what to do long term.
  • romore's avatar
    romore
    Explorer II
    Aug 25, 2013
    Address it now before it spreads. The best (and most expensive way) is to peel the roof back and replace the damaged framework. You might get away with replacing the vent, it may have a cracked frame if somebody got overzealous with a screw gun. If there is enough holding wood left, use longer screws and re seal the replacement with putty tape and lots of silicone. The new one should have a metal frame, the cheapies are plastic. If the screws don't bite it is going to be major.

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