Community Forums

immortl · 12-03-2022, 04:22 PM

Had a dead branch come straight through the skylight over the shower in the RV's bathroom today during a wind storm. Fortunately it was during a lull in the downpour and I was able to buy a plastic tub that fit over it perfectly on the roof and 'secured' it in place with a 40lb sack of gravel. There is enough lip left so I just have to put a cover over it, nothing can leak down the sides. So... now I need to figure out how to replace it.

The interior piece seems simple, a few screws to remove. The outside portion seems straightforward in theory, but I'm not sure how to remove the dicor I think it is? How does one go about removing it so I can get to the screw heads and free up the edges of the outside piece?

Then when I put it the new one back in, any suggestions/recommendations how to make sure I seal it up good? Imagining more dicor? Any specific type? Anything I'm missing or need to be very aware of? And while I'm at it, any recommendations (I need to search still) on something good to clean the roof with? We've been under trees most of the time.

Thanks,
Joe

scotttkd · 12-03-2022, 04:34 PM

Its a pain in the butt but a plastic putty knife and carefully clean off the old dicor and attach the new skylight with fresh dicor. I just had seal replaced on a roof AC and the tech cleaned off the dicor and then used a solvent to clean the rubber roof membrane to get a good seal with the dicor

MSHappyCampers · 12-03-2022, 04:38 PM

You can use a heat gun and paint scraper to remove the old sealant. It looks like you're gonna need to pressure wash that roof! The company that I bought the new skylight from provided the sealant. If you need to provide your own then I would use the Dicor 501LSW self-leveling sealant with the EternaBond 4" tape.

Dutch Star Don · 12-03-2022, 04:41 PM

Use a heat gun, (buy one cheap at Harbor Freight if you don't have one) and heat the old Dicor and then use a putty a knife to scrape it off. Have you checked to see if that skylight is available.....that's typically the biggest challenge.

immortl · 12-03-2022, 05:16 PM

Thanks guys, great suggestions. Tomorrow I will measure the current skylight more closely and seek out a suitable replacement online. Yeah, the roof is going to need a good gentle power washing. Everywhere we've been and where we currently are with it is pretty much under trees. Stuff falls on the roof, I sweep it off but it also remains fairly damp. The fall leaf season is just about over here in the Northeast, should wash it before winter sets in.

On that subject I'll research the dicor, but any thoughts about temps to avoid applying it in? Want to make sure it adheres and cures well. For cleaning the surfaces prior, a light solvent like rubbing alcohol or something else?

Thanks,
Joe

Bobby F · 12-03-2022, 06:52 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYXFwCOT0Iw

(Don't feel limited by their sealant selection. Dicor is great too.)

swduns · 12-03-2022, 07:00 PM

I believe the skylight installation instructions recommended a rubber sealant. I assume it was compatible with the particular plastic the skylight was made from.

I laid down a bead of sealant and set the rim of the skylight in sealant then screwed it down and then put a layer of sealant over the edge/screws.

You might check to see what type of roof you have to ensure the sealant is compatible with the type of roof. e.g. fiberglass, membrane, filon, etc.

My new skylight was two pieces. A inside skylight and a separate outside skylight.

Ray,IN · 12-03-2022, 08:15 PM

Just repurpose your DW's hair dryer instead of buying a heat gun. You don't need high heat, just even low heat to make the old sealant more pliable while using a plastic scraper.
At to buying a replacement, if you cannot buy it through your dealer, try here: skylights
https://www.skylightdepot.com/collec...skylight-domes
https://www.eztopsworldwide.com/rvskylights.htm
https://www.skylightdepot.com/
https://www.icondirect.com/neo-angle-skylights/

Naturally this means buying DW a new hair dryer for a stocking stuffer.

immortl · 12-03-2022, 09:26 PM

Thanks for the links to the skylight sites and to the replacement video. I really appreciate it and there were some links there that I hadn't come across yet. I'm feeling more confident about finding the right size now.

My wife would crucify me if I used her hair dryer. Two Christmases ago I bought her a Dyson Airwrap. It's magical, seriously. Bring it near her hair and the hair wraps around it like magic and it produces all day lasting curls and waves. If you have a spouse with long hair, highly recommend it as a gift for them. Be forewarned though, it's not cheap and is equivalent to a good G Loomis NRX+ rod or almost equivalent to a Shimano Stella spinning reel (I'm redoing my fishing rigs, so that's my current point of reference). You should get at least a years worth of goodwill out of it though and the results are easy and outstanding.

Thanks,
Joe

veraken · 12-04-2022, 06:31 AM

Surebond is a good substitute for butyl tape since it butyl based.

SUREBOND | SB-140 SKYLIGHT & WINDOW BUTYL SEALANT

glwinger · 12-04-2022, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Just repurpose your DW's hair dryer instead of buying a heat gun. You don't need high heat, just even low heat to make the old sealant more pliable while using a plastic scraper.
At to buying a replacement, if you cannot buy it through your dealer, try here: skylights
https://www.skylightdepot.com/collec...skylight-domes
https://www.eztopsworldwide.com/rvskylights.htm
https://www.skylightdepot.com/
https://www.icondirect.com/neo-angle-skylights/

Naturally this means buying DW a new hair dryer for a stocking stuffer.

I agree about the hair dryer. Get one with the flat tip attachment. May take a little longer, but less chance of destroying the roof material.
I also use mine in the workshop for removing labels and drying paint.

immortl · 12-04-2022, 09:29 AM

Yes, I'll use a hair dryer for this. As I've gotten older/wiser I have learned to move slow and methodical with projects like this, thinking things through beforehand and to be patient while working on the project. I find I screw things up less and produce better results.

Alpine36 · 12-04-2022, 09:44 AM

We had a falling tree branch do the exact same thing a couple years ago, a day before a scheduled road trip. I was able to use a peanut grinder with a cut off wheel to remove the remaining jagged edges of skylight, leaving a fairly smooth perimeter. I cut out a piece of scrap plexiglas slightly larger than the skylight opening and set it a bead of clear silicone, trip saved…
The ICON brand replacement worked wonderful, great quality and about twice the thickness as the original. Just take your time, scrape and clean everything very well followed with a final wipe of mineral spirits. I used Surebond sealant to install it with a bead of Dicor around the perimeter and screw holes. No issues.

Dutch Star Don · 12-04-2022, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Just repurpose your DW's hair dryer instead of buying a heat gun. You don't need high heat, just even low heat to make the old sealant more pliable while using a plastic scraper.
At to buying a replacement, if you cannot buy it through your dealer, try here: skylights
https://www.skylightdepot.com/collec...skylight-domes
https://www.eztopsworldwide.com/rvskylights.htm
https://www.skylightdepot.com/
https://www.icondirect.com/neo-angle-skylights/

Naturally this means buying DW a new hair dryer for a stocking stuffer.

Yeah....good luck sneaking out of the house with the wife's hair dryer. Even worse, if you do get out and she sees what you're using it for......grounds for divorce!