Awning Screws goes through gutter?

[Eric D]

Hi,

Bought a 2000 Seaview 8310 and I noticed when recaulking it that it seems the awning (factory installed) screws go right through the gutter, where the water drips from the roof. At the front I also noticed water intrusion over the passenger window and under near the floor and was wondering if it came from there.

I resealed the unit entirely and noticed several areas where the caulking was bad.

These screws through the gutter leave me puzzled, why would they install it this way and possibly make another place where water could infriltrate??

Is it because that's the only area where there is some solid behind the fiberglass?

Terrible design is that's what it is.

Thanks
Eric

[Capt. Flipper]

Eric,
You have found one of the dumber designs on National and many other coaches. Not sure if the mounting bracket is National or A&E design but it is stupid. As you have found, the mounting screw goes right thru the gutter area and into the coach wall. The bracket and screw also blocks water flow when debris accumulates and forms a dam for the water at the screw. Now the screw is under water and gravity and thermal siphon action takes over and pulls water from this mini-lake right into the wall. BIG PROBLEM!

The quick and dirty solution is to remove the screw(s), fill the holes with Dicor 501 roof sealant (do not use silicone), coat the screw with Dicor and reinstall. Has been working for me for 5 years. The right way to fix is get the screws out of the gutter area but that requires a bracket redesign and probably some custom work.

[Eric D]

Thanks for the reply. I can't believe it's factory installed that way.

Anyhow, I did the same steps as you described but instead of DICOR I used SIKAFLEX 291 marine caulking, designed to provide a permanent seal under water.

From what I have been told by a local shop that repairs RV (best reputation around here), this caulking is superior to dicor on Fiberglass. It's important to mention this as Sikaflex 291 will melt the rubber roof material.

For fiberglass though, it is extremely efficient. I sealed the perimeter of the roof, as well as front and rear caps. All vents, etc., I used transparent ProFlexRV in a can. I also sealed left and right front windows with transparent ProFlex RV caulking, and did the side modlings as well.

All that needs to be done now are the rest of the windows, but with the awning over them it seems water rarely gets to them.

Eric