|
|
07-03-2019, 05:29 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 43
|
Roof sealant question
I'll be replacing my rooftop solar panels soon-ish. What is the best sealant to permanently plug the old mounting screw holes? Butyl will remain tacky, yes? Should I used something like Dicor 501LSW-1 Lap Sealant instead?
Suggestions much appreciated.
__________________
2004 EB50 SMB 4x4 V-10. Buckstop front and rear bumpers, Pro Comp 7069 wheels, Cooper ST Maxx rubbers, and a Line-x roof
|
|
|
07-04-2019, 07:27 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento Delta, CA
Posts: 1,024
|
I would be helpful to know if your roof is metal or fiberglass.
Mine is fiberglass. In 2005 I used E6800 to seal the holes around the stainless steel machine screws in my roof which hold the Thule rails and and they have not leaked. I used the same product at the same time to glue down the actual rail to the roof.
https://www.amazon.com/UV6800-260011...gateway&sr=8-9
You could also use some of the "bondo" products made by Evercoat.
There is an excellent West Marine product called Marine RX which I would not hesitate to use.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...4-oz--13967450
If your roof is sheet metal, if it were me, I would probably pop down the headliner and gently weld the holes closed. But welding sheet metal requires a level of proficiency which I only kind of have, so it would requires practice on a piece of scrap the same thickness to make sure that I didn't just blow the holes bigger.
The leading edge of my top where it meets the metal van roof leaks. Sportsmobile was going to fix it under warranty but I live in CA and had it installed in TX and although I likely could have had it repaired in Fresno, the three hour drive and the complications were such that I never got it done. I will likely use some left over butyl "rope" which I used to replace a broken side window on the van to seal the leading edge by unbolting the front of the roof, raising it, and dropping the roof down into a "bed" of that butyl. Butyl is uncured rubber, so it never hardens. You asked about it.
Personally, I would not use it to seal holes in the roof.
__________________
2002 E350 ext.; 160K; 7.3L; 4R100 (w/4x4 deep pan & filter); 4x4 conv. w/2007 F250/F350 coil frnt axle (oppos. dual Bilstein press. shocks cured DW) diff chg from 3.55 to 3.73 (bad!); BW1356 t.c. (bad!); LT265/70R17/E Michelin LTX M/S2; Engel MT60 Combi Fridge-Freezer; 4 BP 380J pv panels; Auragen 5kw AC gen. in top alt. position; Webasto Dual-Top; Voyager top. 1995 5.8L EB Bronco, bone stock.
|
|
|
07-04-2019, 09:52 AM
|
#3
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 43
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by E350
I would be helpful to know if your roof is metal or fiberglass.
Mine is fiberglass. In 2005 I used E6800 to seal the holes around the stainless steel machine screws in my roof which hold the Thule rails and and they have not leaked. I used the same product at the same time to glue down the actual rail to the roof.
https://www.amazon.com/UV6800-260011...gateway&sr=8-9
You could also use some of the "bondo" products made by Evercoat.
There is an excellent West Marine product called Marine RX which I would not hesitate to use.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...4-oz--13967450
If your roof is sheet metal, if it were me, I would probably pop down the headliner and gently weld the holes closed. But welding sheet metal requires a level of proficiency which I only kind of have, so it would requires practice on a piece of scrap the same thickness to make sure that I didn't just blow the holes bigger.
The leading edge of my top where it meets the metal van roof leaks. Sportsmobile was going to fix it under warranty but I live in CA and had it installed in TX and although I likely could have had it repaired in Fresno, the three hour drive and the complications were such that I never got it done. I will likely use some left over butyl "rope" which I used to replace a broken side window on the van to seal the leading edge by unbolting the front of the roof, raising it, and dropping the roof down into a "bed" of that butyl. Butyl is uncured rubber, so it never hardens. You asked about it.
Personally, I would not use it to seal holes in the roof.
|
Fiberglass roof. That E6800 sounds like good stuff, thanks.
|
|
|
07-04-2019, 01:30 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento Delta, CA
Posts: 1,024
|
Hmmm... If I wanted to permanently positively seal those holes, I would use the West Marine "Marine Rx" epoxy putty. It will dry white. I would get to the underside and fair/feather a little around the hole from the inside too.
__________________
2002 E350 ext.; 160K; 7.3L; 4R100 (w/4x4 deep pan & filter); 4x4 conv. w/2007 F250/F350 coil frnt axle (oppos. dual Bilstein press. shocks cured DW) diff chg from 3.55 to 3.73 (bad!); BW1356 t.c. (bad!); LT265/70R17/E Michelin LTX M/S2; Engel MT60 Combi Fridge-Freezer; 4 BP 380J pv panels; Auragen 5kw AC gen. in top alt. position; Webasto Dual-Top; Voyager top. 1995 5.8L EB Bronco, bone stock.
|
|
|
07-07-2019, 07:59 PM
|
#5
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 43
|
Thank you for the suggestion!
__________________
2004 EB50 SMB 4x4 V-10. Buckstop front and rear bumpers, Pro Comp 7069 wheels, Cooper ST Maxx rubbers, and a Line-x roof
|
|
|
07-14-2019, 01:49 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 323
|
Order some PARR. It is a sealant that comes in a tube. It can be used on metal or fiberglass. I use it on my van and 1976 Airstream to seal seams and laps. If you are filling a hole, run a bolt through it with PARR generously applied to the surfaces. It takes several hours to dry but is fully cured in a week. Once cured it is bonded to the surfaces and is difficult to remove. Some of my patches are 12 years old and show no sign of breaking down.
|
|
|
10-05-2019, 10:05 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,490
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by E350
Hmmm... If I wanted to permanently positively seal those holes, I would use the West Marine "Marine Rx" epoxy putty. It will dry white. I would get to the underside and fair/feather a little around the hole from the inside too.
|
Thanks for this, I recently found that one of cracks had been caused by to long of a screw attaching the canvas, had popped a chip out and created a small hole. While small the amount of water that came through was amazing. I used the Marine TX epoxy and all things are good.
-greg
__________________
-greg
__________________________________________________ ______________
"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
|
|
|
10-19-2019, 09:32 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: PNW or maybe Baja Sur
Posts: 381
|
You could also use Marine-Tex (same thing referenced above?)....Works quite well, is white, feathers nicely, and less expensive in small quantities...Available a lot of places...2oz is plenty for holes...
__________________
Pac NW and warmer places
1995 E250 EB 5.8 2WD on to a new owner
2006 E350 EB Elect Top 2WD
|
|
|
10-20-2019, 08:01 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
|
If the roof is fiberglass, why not just use fiberglass? Cheap and effective.
|
|
|
10-20-2019, 08:21 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: PNW or maybe Baja Sur
Posts: 381
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty
If the roof is fiberglass, why not just use fiberglass? Cheap and effective.
|
Certainly could; filling holes one would use chop strand, maybe white tint, and resin,,,with some sanding...Personally, I don't like sanding fiberglass. If there were cracks/fractures, different story. On the other hand, if you have the materials....Maybe one could use a non glass filler/thickener material with the resin to get away from the glass?
__________________
Pac NW and warmer places
1995 E250 EB 5.8 2WD on to a new owner
2006 E350 EB Elect Top 2WD
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|