Penthouse roof crackling noise

[surfgeek33]

Doesn't the PH top come with a lifetime warranty? Link to PH info. Just my 2 cents.
http://www.sportsmobile.com/1_penthouse-top.html


Ray

[daveb]

Definitely worth a shot but I THINK it’s for leaking or structural failures.

[Ford_6L_E350]

In the pictures, your penthouse is not centered on the van roof. It looks like the rubber gasket is overhanging the rain gutters. I don't know if it will hurt anything, but I always make sure the penthouse is on the van roof, not on or over the rain gutters.

Also, your top is painted to match the van, not gelcoat. It may or may not have been clear coated, but the paint is not in good condition. Maybe a Line-X type coating may be a good idea.

Mike

[ShortMocha]

Yes the roof is needing some serious maintinence. We will look into line-x.
Now we are just waiting for that rain storm...just to check for the leaks. Not sure if there is any.
Maybe we will take it through a car wash

The rubber around the roof is not aligned we know. We think that the previous owners must of not known this( parents bought it for their young daughter an boyfriend so who knows what they did).
It kinda looks like the fiber glass has been 'trained' to go outward because when we close it, it can never go in right. It looks slightly uneven/warped out of shape...then again the kids told us they have closed it it way they figured they shouldn't and 'learned' from their mistakes...hmmm.
So we are finally getting use to the feel and all the goods and bads. Being second owners has it's goods and bads. More goods though

We also think there was a flood... yup a flood. The bottom part of the wood in the cabinents are warped. the bottom of cabinents about 1" from the bottom are warped. Hubby said he might take it apart and put in new wood in certains areas.

Okay..enough mumbling.. night!

[bluedog225]

Consider using BlackJack Ultra Roof 1000. (there are similar products at Home Despot and Lowes-ask for a white elastomeric roof paint) It's a bright white, energy star rated, highly reflective, high emissivity (emits a lot of heat), elastomeric (rubbery) roof paint. It will help keep the interior cool. I think that's why the mini coopers have white roofs. It will also span and seal small cracks. It is not a structural repair. You can review it on the energy star website under "cool roofs."

Your penthouse roof can be manhandled into the correct position. Mine comes down off the side if parked in an angle. I just pull it over and into place. I don't think the fiberglass should be permanently deformed.

I think having the roof in the correct position and supported on all sides is important before you walk on it. Otherwise you subject it to all sorts of stresses it was not designed for.

Cracking noises are bad. I hope the engineers out there will correct me but I believe fiberglass is like concrete. but instead of concrete and rebar, it uses resin and glass fiber. The glass can crack and the fiber will keep it together but the structure should be strong enough to prevent defection to a degree that will allow the hardened resin to crack.

If it really is cracking, I would stay off it or consider laying a 1x8x10 board across the top before walking out. It will distribute the load.

Tom

[jage]

Originally Posted by bluedog225

Cracking noises are bad.

Cracking noises are common with SMB PH tops. Whether or not that is bad I'll leave to the peanut gallery, but I think everyone who has stepped on their roof has heard the PH cracking.

[bluedog225]

I suppose the peanut gallery is people like me....

My experience is with boats. Cracking noises would lead to water intrusion and a failure of hull integrity.

Sportsmobiles don't sink....well, the probably sink very nicely but that's a different issue.

Can those who have heard the noise describe it better? Is it a sharp cracking (like a twig breaking) or a subtle sound like the crinkling of reflectix (or plastic) under the fiberglass?

When done right, fiberglass is pretty tough stuff and almost infinitely repairable.

Tom

[Ford_6L_E350]

It is more of a subtle noise, not like the fiberglass is breaking. I think it is the interface between the fiberglass and the wood where the sound starts.

Mike

[Greg In Austin]

....but it is a noise that you would rather not hear....

[daveb]

I won't crawl around on the roof anymore. Sure makes waxing the top difficult.