Delamination and Crack Repair

[jmerritt]

OK I have read a number of posts about delamination and what causes it. My problem is that I have delamination over a window on my 1988 Fleetwood Limited that resulted in a crack over the winter of 2009-2010 of the outside fiberglass. The crack is vertical and is about 20 inches long and runs from the awning rail to the top of the window. I used some Loctite Heavy Duty Power Grab on it last Spring and it held up until this Winter. I suspect that expansion and contraction caused it to fail. What is the best epoxy, resin, etc., to use and how. I have looked into West System G/Flex which is used in Marine applications but thought it best to ask some of the folks on this board what they think.

[RangeCampMan]

Your going to want to get that seal, 3m make a good contact cement, we also use a contact cement in the production of our range camps, it is avalibale at most cabinet shops. If you can get the panel to pull away from the side at all you will want to pull it away and then place some thing along the edge to keep the separation, spray adhesive on both piece as much as possible and then keep separated for 5 -10 minute. remove whatever you had keeping the pieces apart and press the panels together. Once you have the seperation proplem taken care of then you need to take a piece of sandpaper an scuff up the area around the crack. Go to an auto parts store and pickup a can kitty hair this is a fiberglass resin that has strands of fiberglass, this will help to reinforce the cracked area. Follow the directions on the can. Sand smooth and paint to seal and match. Before you do this repair make sure if possible that you know why the piece cracked in the first place, there maybe something else that has caused the problem. I hope all of this made sense, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

[BUB1988]

I also have a major problem with delamination and cracks due to water damage. The big problem I have is that most contact cements eat the foam marerial that makes up the walls. The veneer or lauan is completely rotted out. My RV is a 1988 Fleetwood Southwind Class A and the delamination runs most of the complete coach. The good thing I guess is that I only have a few cracks. I can't seem to find anything that will adhere to the foam and the philon.

[RangeCampMan]

I will check with one of my suppliers Monday morning and see what I can find out for you, most of our trailers have aluminum skins. Most of this suppliers business is Insurance work on damaged RVs, I am sure he can tell me what will work for you.

[whem2fish]

look at a product made by 3 M it is for marine use i got mine at academy sports very easy to work with cant remember name it was a 2 part epoxie
white tube
dave