Rusted Roof - Page 4

sdwindansea · 05-21-2017, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glider

How did you get the tape unstuck from your roof? That adhesive is pretty strong.

The van is about 10 years old and I'm guessing the salt air doesn't help much either. Most of the tape had at least one corner/edge starting to lift up. From there it was a matter of muscling it off (OK more using my weight) while standing on a ladder and trying not to fall off. I'll post a picture later today of the new rust area. I also found several other areas where rust is starting to form.

choochee · 05-22-2017, 10:49 AM

Pntyrmvr -

Finally got some warm temperatures here in Vermont. That said, I've been unable to find any butyl caulk anywhere that is black colored!!! Weird.... Any other products that i might be able to use? 3m 5200? I figured I would go with your approach first versus taking all the furring strips and old butyl tape off and see if that works.... Thanks to you guys

capnkurt · 05-22-2017, 11:47 AM

Don't use 5200. That stuff is very hard to remove, and if you had to work on the top again for any reason you wouldn't be able to separate it from the van without damaging it. I can't help with an alternative, unfortunately. Also, I've used 5200 in the past and it takes a good while to set up and moves around a lot more than you might want before it does cure.

capn

sdwindansea · 07-02-2017, 02:38 PM

I just removed the awning today to get a better look at how bad the roof is. It is pretty bad. All of the rust formed under the protective tape SMB uses between the roof and the penthouse.

I'm going to look into other possible solutions since the tape is obviously short term one, at least close to the beach and salt air. Any suggestions?

On the bright side this forces me to refinish the awning brackets. I got the clamp-on ones several years ago and had them powder coated but they are looking a little rough around the edges.

woodbee · 07-10-2017, 11:38 AM

When I was washing my SMB, I found a rust spot on the rear passenger side roof, under the black protective tape under, the penthouse. I lifted the black protective tape and found a rust spot (not pictured). So I got out the sand paper and started the repair. It was about 1 inch in diameter. While sanding, the center of the rust spot went all the way through to the interior of the van (I was lucky no water had made it inside). I used body putty, metal primer and Fleet White paint to finish the job.
After that I thought I would check the rest of the protective tape under the penthouse. On the front driver side, rear drive side and below the upper brake light I found the same thing, (just not all the way through to the interior). On close inspection of the rust I could see that when the protective tape was applied and trimmed with a knife, the knife cut through the tape, paint, primer and into the metal. (pictured). I just wish I would have found it years earlier. I have had my SMB eight years, so I recommend everyone should check out the black protective tape under there penthouse where the tape was trimmed.

Good Luck,
Woody

sdwindansea · 07-10-2017, 01:54 PM

woodbee - Looks like you were well on your way to having the issue get worse like mine did. Our van is 2 years older than your van. I'm also really close to the coast so I'm sure the constant salt air just exasperated the problem.

Are you just going to apply new tape or go a different route to prevent this problem from happening again? I still have not decided what to do but I'm thinking about looking into Rhinoliner for the roof area.

woodbee · 07-10-2017, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

woodbee - Looks like you were well on your way to having the issue get worse like mine did. Our van is 2 years older than your van. I'm also really close to the coast so I'm sure the constant salt air just exasperated the problem.

Are you just going to apply new tape or go a different route to prevent this problem from happening again? I still have not decided what to do but I'm thinking about looking into Rhinoliner for the roof area.

Like I said, I wish I had caught it sooner but the rust was pretty much hidden under the tape. I don't think it will happen on the rest of it because there was no trimming of the ends. It only rusted where the ends of the tape was trimmed with a knife after it was laid down.
I will be leaving the tape on for now. On the straight runs there is no problem, just where the ends that were shaped with a knife.
I removed as little of the tape that I had to, if there is rub where I did the repairs I will apply Helicopter Tape.
I hope other SMB'rs do check there protective tape.

Woody

sdwindansea · 07-10-2017, 02:38 PM

Thanks Woody. Looks like my problem had a different cause as there is rust along the straight runs as well (and much worse than yours). I'll post back once I figure out something for a solution. Glad you caught yours early, I've had two major rust areas that are complete through the metal.

woodbee · 07-10-2017, 02:43 PM

sdwindansea,

Your welcome, I am sure things will work out, just what its going to cost. I feel the Rhinoliner will work great but what its going to take to patch things up.

Good Luck,
Woody

sdwindansea · 07-27-2017, 06:26 PM

I got the roof fixed, a bunch of metal removal, welding, rain gutter repair, and the self leveling filler in the gutters. They then applied several coats of rhino liner to the roof. This was all done by the same person who did my last repairs. I would highly recommend them if in San Diego. I think this should last a lot longer than 10 years.

I still have to sand and repaint the awning brackets. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that they still attach correctly as the gutter filler is thicker than what it was before, especially since the rhino liner was applied to it and over the lip of the gutter.