What exactly am I looking for when I “inspect the seams” on a Winnebago fiberglass roof? I’ve had no problems yet, would like to keep it that way.
I’ve re-caulked the seams between the roof and the two end caps (fairly obvious what to do there). I’m not sure what I’m looking for where the “edge goes under the J rail”. Am I looking for a gap or bubble? All looks smooth to me. Anything else need to be done to maintain this 16 year old roof? (It sits outside year round)
Here's what I'm seeing:
Looking from above:
From below:
By front end cap seam:
BTW – has anyone found a Youtube or pictures showing what a separation looks like?
I’ve re-caulked the seams between the roof and the two end caps (fairly obvious what to do there). I’m not sure what I’m looking for where the “edge goes under the J rail”. Am I looking for a gap or bubble? All looks smooth to me. Anything else need to be done to maintain this 16 year old roof? (It sits outside year round)
Here's what I'm seeing:
Looking from above:
From below:
By front end cap seam:
BTW – has anyone found a Youtube or pictures showing what a separation looks like?
The sealant has lost it's bond to the one side. That's why you can push the tooth pick in there, the seam is open and water can get in. My best guess is to clean all the old caulk out and re-caulk or cover the seam with Eternabond.
CVD wrote:
All - thanks for the feedback. A couple more questions:
I’ve read the Winnebago Service tip (thanks emiddleb). I've since washed the roof, then got on a ladder and inspected that seam (pushing for gaps or bubbles) all the way around the coach. I’ve got a gap, but it’s very small and is consistent along both sides of the coach.
At the very bottom of the fiberglass, where it tucks under the awning rail (J bar), I can push in a tooth pick just a little. If I push on the fiberglass, I can create a gap just large enough push the toothpick further in. It’s consistent like this all the way around (no bubbles or larger gaps). Two questions:
1) It looks to me like the factory sealed the fiberglass on the underside only. I’m thinking this small gap on the outside of the fiberglass has been there from day one and is to be expected (see pics below). Correct?
What confuses me is the diagram in that Service Tip, showing sealant on the outside of the fiberglass (inside the awning rail). I have no sealant there (don’t think I ever did).
2) If this gap does indicate a problem and sealant is needed on the outside of the fiberglass, do I clean it out with a toothpick? There isn’t room for a toothbrush or even a popsicle stick.
Thanks,
Cliff
A small gap between the bottom of the fiberglass and the awning rail. A tooth pick only slides in a 1/2":
If I push in on the fiberglass, the toothpick goes in a little further:
All - thanks for the feedback. A couple more questions:
I’ve read the Winnebago Service tip (thanks emiddleb). I've since washed the roof, then got on a ladder and inspected that seam (pushing for gaps or bubbles) all the way around the coach. I’ve got a gap, but it’s very small and is consistent along both sides of the coach.
At the very bottom of the fiberglass, where it tucks under the awning rail (J bar), I can push in a tooth pick just a little. If I push on the fiberglass, I can create a gap just large enough push the toothpick further in. It’s consistent like this all the way around (no bubbles or larger gaps). Two questions:
1) It looks to me like the factory sealed the fiberglass on the underside only. I’m thinking this small gap on the outside of the fiberglass has been there from day one and is to be expected (see pics below). Correct?
What confuses me is the diagram in that Service Tip, showing sealant on the outside of the fiberglass (inside the awning rail). I have no sealant there (don’t think I ever did).
2) If this gap does indicate a problem and sealant is needed on the outside of the fiberglass, do I clean it out with a toothpick? There isn’t room for a toothbrush or even a popsicle stick.
Thanks,
Cliff
A small gap between the bottom of the fiberglass and the awning rail. A tooth pick only slides in a 1/2":
If I push in on the fiberglass, the toothpick goes in a little further:
I’ve read the Winnebago Service tip (thanks emiddleb). I've since washed the roof, then got on a ladder and inspected that seam (pushing for gaps or bubbles) all the way around the coach. I’ve got a gap, but it’s very small and is consistent along both sides of the coach.
At the very bottom of the fiberglass, where it tucks under the awning rail (J bar), I can push in a tooth pick just a little. If I push on the fiberglass, I can create a gap just large enough push the toothpick further in. It’s consistent like this all the way around (no bubbles or larger gaps). Two questions:
1) It looks to me like the factory sealed the fiberglass on the underside only. I’m thinking this small gap on the outside of the fiberglass has been there from day one and is to be expected (see pics below). Correct?
What confuses me is the diagram in that Service Tip, showing sealant on the outside of the fiberglass (inside the awning rail). I have no sealant there (don’t think I ever did).
2) If this gap does indicate a problem and sealant is needed on the outside of the fiberglass, do I clean it out with a toothpick? There isn’t room for a toothbrush or even a popsicle stick.
Thanks,
Cliff
A small gap between the bottom of the fiberglass and the awning rail. A tooth pick only slides in a 1/2":
If I push in on the fiberglass, the toothpick goes in a little further:
