Leaking Shower Skylight

[Griffin379]

We have the double dome probably sealed originally. We don't think it is completely sealed at this time. Alos reason for Dicor and Eternabond.

[dfuelman]

Originally Posted by Griffin379

We have the double dome probably sealed originally. We don't think it is completely sealed at this time. Alos reason for Dicor and Eternabond.

You look like you have done everything possible to prevent a new leak except replace your dome covers. Please look at them VERY closely. They are over 20 years old and sun baked. They were the best available at the time, but have been cooking in the sun a very long time. I would urge you to consider replacing them while you have come this far. Your gonna spend about $550 but I know you will be much happier when you are done. The finished repair, with two new domes will likely out live the RV. The material they use now is far superior to what was used 20 years ago.

My intent is not to preach on this, I just don't like to do things twice and I don't think anyone else does either. Just my 2cents guys.

[Griffin379]

dfuelman, I appreciate your comments. What is the supplier for the domes you suggest. I'm willing to get the information. Leaks are not fun.

[deandec]

FWIW, I am waiting until summer here in CA where it does not rain.

I resealed the inner dome where it meets the wood inside the shower, and patched a broken area on the exterior dome with Eternabond.

After two very healthy rainstorms, no leaks inside. Still have the surround removed from the dome hatch.

[dfuelman]

Eztopsworldwide.com. Very nice people to deal with. I purchased a 5” bronze outer dome and a 3” white inner dome for privacy. They don’t make an opaque like original. You will be amazed how much this setup reduces the heat that comes through the sunlight you have now. The only real difference I see in your install and mine is I did not put any eturnabond under the dome. Don’t believe that will effect anything long run.

[dfuelman]

Originally Posted by deandec

FWIW, I am waiting until summer here in CA where it does not rain.

I resealed the inner dome where it meets the wood inside the shower, and patched a broken area on the exterior dome with Eternabond.

After two very healthy rainstorms, no leaks inside. Still have the surround removed from the dome hatch.

In hindsight, I should run a bead of silicone around mine inside as well. Just in case water or condensation should get on the inside, it won’t run down behind the wood.

[2-Nickels]

When doing some roof maintenance on our CC I reached out to the guys at Premier. They told me to use Acrylr SM5504 rather than Dicor. That is the sealant CC used when building the coaches.

[deandec]

Originally Posted by dfuelman

In hindsight, I should run a bead of silicone around mine inside as well. Just in case water or condensation should get on the inside, it won’t run down behind the wood.

The water from inside the outer bubble was running down the inner dome bubble and then through its seal and down the hole side of the wood. Fortunately not behind the wood.

I was lucky that I have some minor wood staining but no damage.



You can see that my inner dome bubble is not as big as the roof top opening so the seal leak is more in front of the roof wood.

Also the roof wood extends to the flush edge of the vertical opening, perhaps keeping the leaking seal water inside the shower?

In my case I think the inner dome seal is the most important of the two domes. And that bubble needs to be smaller than the roof hole.

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by Griffin379

In May of 2020 I posted om this thread of using Eternabond on a leak and it stopped the leak. While traveling along Gulf Coast last week shower skylight started leaking from an all day rain. I put on some more tape and it still leaked.

So I got to FL and my son and I did what dfuelman did. Took out the molding inside and found rotten plywood. Took out a section on each side and replaced with 1x4. The molding on the curb side was completely rotten so I have to recover.

We reused the original dome. There didn't appear to be any cracks and the 2 pieces seemed to be fused together. Probably not air tight. Took a long time to clean off the tape an also clean the butyl tape from the top of coach. It had been used to seat the dome. Also discovered a second set of screw holes so this was second dome.

We covered the wood with Eternabond, put a strip of butyl tape over the screw holes and then set the dome down on the butyl tape. We used new screws to attach the dome. The screws actually screw into the insulation behind the plywood. Drilled new holes if the screws didn't appear to grab. Then we covered the screws with Dicor and put a bead of Dicor around the lip of the dome.I am waiting a couple of days before putting down a strip of Eternabond covering the screws and edge of the dome.

I have attached some pictures to show some of the steps and condition. I am not sold that we found the source of the leak. We found a couple of hairline cracks in the fiberglass near the skylight. I am going to do something to cover them. I'm told you can repair but they will most likely come back.

Man, you did a lot of work. To not spend an extra 2 to $300 and replace the dome !!!!

[dfuelman]

Originally Posted by deandec

The water from inside the outer bubble was running down the inner dome bubble and then through its seal and down the hole side of the wood. Fortunately not behind the wood.

I was lucky that I have some minor wood staining but no damage.

Attachment 321502

You can see that my inner dome bubble is not as big as the roof top opening so the seal leak is more in front of the roof wood.

Also the roof wood extends to the flush edge of the vertical opening, perhaps keeping the leaking seal water inside the shower?

In my case I think the inner dome seal is the most important of the two domes. And that bubble needs to be smaller than the roof hole.

Mine has some minor water damage behind the fabric cover that I can see. It had a thin bead of silicone around the top but I don't know if the Prior owner did that or the factory. At some point I will pull the trim boards down and try to save the vinyl and replace the wood but it's kinda low on my list of things to do. I mine was leaking (almost certain at this point) through the spider cracks in the outer dome and through more cracks I could not see in the opaque inner dome. Prior owner had applied spray on sealer to the outer dome with little, to no help, but the coach was kept under cover so damage was kept to a minimum.

[dfuelman]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Man, you did a lot of work. To not spend an extra 2 to $300 and replace the dome !!!!

He's thinking about it, give him time. It's actually two domes at $235 a piece to replace (approx)

We don't pressure each other on here, we just offer our best advise and let them decide.

[Griffin379]

As a follow up, I have sent my size information to EZ Top. Also I cleaned the dome one more time while doing the measurements looking for any cracks. As I mentioned in post this is the second dome as there is a second row of screw holes around the opening. I have also found a couple of hairline cracks in the fiberglass near the dome. I am going to cover them for now and determine a better final solution. I'm concerned they may be a source of leaks.

[deandec]

Griffen379

On the chance we have the same shower setup (5 years apart) below are the domes I will likely order for summer installation.

Exterior Dome Current: 28w x 33.5L .. Bubble: 25w x 30.5L

Replacement Exterior Dome : 28w x 33L Bubble: 25 x 30

Although shorter in length the new dome flange will cover the old screw holes after filling with adhesive.


Inner Dome Current: Size unk Bubble: 22w x 28w

Replacement Dome: 25w x 31L Bubble: 22w x 28w

Hole in Roof: 23 3/8 W x 29 5/8 L

Exterior bubble will rise 5" and inner bubble will rise 3".

All from EZ Tops per dfuelman's recommendation. They are the only ones I could find that come close to a direct replacement for our dual domes.

I will first remove and measure the inner dome before ordering the new ones.

[Griffin379]

Another follow up. I'm in Ormond Beach, FL and it has rained all day. Shower leaks. So I guess it is a new dome and inner liner. My dome is 34 X 28 inches and the flat area around the dome is 3 inches wide. Back to the drawing board.