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04-05-2015, 08:23 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Off the road after 14 years full timing
Posts: 1,101
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Skylight replacement options
A while back I had a leak from my skylight and inspection showed several small cracks, especially at the corners. So I used Eternabond and sealed it back up. A few more rains, and everything held.
Then I moved the coach, and on the next rainstorm I had water leaking in... lots of fit. Luckily, it all went into the shower and down the grey tank. But my guess is that my skylight needs replacement.
Some research shows they do make them but I have not been able to find one in stock. So I was wondering....
What if I used a flat sheet of Lexan, cut to size? It is UV stable, virtually bulletproof, and readily available. There is enough room between a flat skylight and my dome interior decorative panel, so mounting is not a problem. The roof has a 5 degree tilt there so runoff should be OK too.
What do you think, good idea? Bad idea?
== John
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04-05-2015, 10:17 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: N. California
Posts: 861
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John,
I had no problem getting a replacement in 2 days off Amazon. In checking a couple minutes ago, they have them in stock. I found several sources for both the smoke and white replacements. They are called "neo-angle" style. (I presume that is the style you need.)
Also, there seems to be at least two manufacturers of these - Bri-Bus and Icon Direct. You can also order the Icon from their web site. I found my leak a couple days before we were to head out to Q so didn't have time to wait. I also couldn't get a smoke replacement in time, so I put in a white one. I like it better. It makes the bath area much brighter.
Here is a link to the Amason page for the one I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Specialty-Recr...-bus+nsl2810-w
All the best,
Roy
__________________
Roy and Debbie
07 Diplomat 38 PDQ
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04-06-2015, 05:20 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Off the road after 14 years full timing
Posts: 1,101
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Thanks, Roy. I had envisioned a hard time finding a replacement. As soon as the weather dries up I'll measure and order the right size. Good old Amazon... I wonder if there is anything the don't sell?
== John
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04-06-2015, 11:08 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,510
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I have replaced two skylights. 1993 Dynasty (neo-angle) and 2000 Dynasty (rectangular). In both cases, at least at the time I ordered, I could not locate an “inner” skylight. In both cases I used a flat sheet of Lexan (polycarbonate) for the inner. It worked out fine.
DO use the approved sealant. Some sealants cause the polycarbonate to develop small cracks in a very short time. Don’t ask how I know this FOR SURE.
The skylights tend to develop leaks largely because the original design/installation is poor. You simply cannot fasten a thin plastic sheet(s) to your roof using screws and not expect it to develop cracks sooner or later, no matter how closely you space the screws. In both my installations, I welded up two “rings” from 1/8x2 and 3/16x2 aluminum in the shape of the skylight. The thicker one went against the roof, and the two sheets of Lexan were sandwiched between it and the thinner ring. The assembly, with plenty of sealant, was fastened to the roof with approximately the number of screws in the original assembly. It makes for a “bullet-proof” installation that is permanent.
If you do not have welding/fabrication capabilities, at least use fender washers or similar to spread out the force the screws are exerting on the Lexan.
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04-06-2015, 11:21 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Snowbird - Waterford Mi and Citrus Springs Fl.
Posts: 3,609
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The issue is the plastic skylight, and whatever it's fastened to, do not expand and contract at the same rate with changes in temperature. The plastic is usually greatly exaggerated. With this in mind, suggest you just use a few screws to hold the replacement in place, and depend more on the sealant (whatever you decide to use) to hold everything in place.
Further, consider that many/most of the crank up roof vents also have plastic frames, and suffer from the exact same issue....
__________________
1997 37' HR Endeavor, 275hp Cat, Freightliner
03 CR-V Blue Ox, Ready Brake
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