Roof leak on 97 Patriot

[Robert Mielenz]

I have had the roof sealed, but it still leaks. The repair station is now leaning toward the fiberglass is leaking and not any seal or gasket. Has anyone discovered that the fiberglass on top is leaking and not a screw hole or seam? There is no apparent damage to the top. It only seems to leak after hours of rain. Thanks for any suggestions. But mostly, has anyone found the fiberglass defective,  Thanks

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Robert,
There has to be an entry point. I'm assuming the repair shop is thinking the water is coming through a hairline crack, which I would find hard to believe. What are they proposing to do to fix it? With all the through roof mountings, I'd make sure all were well sealed with Dicor, including the front and rear cap seams.  Areas with a high propensity to leak include A/C mounts and the clearance lights. Also pay attention to where cables from the antenna or satellite cables enter as they can be hard to seal initially and can be subject to flexing.
Where is the water showing up inside the coach? Does it leak when driving, parked or both? That should give you an idea of the area to concentrate on.
Steve

[Robert Mielenz]

Thanks for the reply. They feel they have exhausted the normal leaks locations and now feel that the hairline cracks are the problem. I have replaced all the clearance lights, a/c gaskets etc. They propose to spray an acrylic coat.(similar to a bed liner, but different they tell me). I inquired about the wiring beneath the solar panels, they say they removed and inspected and resealed this area. I am inclined to think it is the seal around the solar wiring, but they say no. It is my understanding that the acrylic spray is really more of an UV protection and not good as a sealant.  Any thoughts. Bob

[Karl Welhart]

Robert,

This the same problem I had with my 2002 Patriot.  IMHO, the start was the hole in the roof for the wires to the solar panel.  This was the source of many years of water damage to the fiberglass roof itself.  Upon close inspection, after a internal pressure test, the roof damage size was massiveness under the solar panels and behind the front A/C unit. 

I used an material like a rubber roof that was spread with two coats over the entire roof.  This was the first time in many years my leak was not noticed inside the coach.  The big question of whether this was caused by the wire hole for the solar panels or because of a defective fiberglass roof can be debated forever.  The important part is getting it fixed as soon as possible.

Good luck,

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Robert,
Do a search for Roof Coatings here on the forum and you'll get some good info. This thread may help.  http://beaveramb.org/forum/index.php/topic,4059.0.html

My "knee jerk" reaction is that a sleant applied with a brush would be thicker and more durable than a spray on coating, but I have no data to back that view up.

BTW, what is the product they plan to use?
Steve

[Robert Mielenz]

It is a two part  Arma 101/103  poly urethane.  web site  armacoatings.com  We are going to try a leak test at the circle cracks using a vacuum or suction cup.  If they don't leak back through the roof, then they are not the problem.  If they do I'm going to apply it with a brush as suggested. good and thick. 

[Gerald Farris]

Robert,
It sounds like your coach has hail damage to the roof. If it is not too bad, a thick rubberized coating is almost always a successful repair if the roof is prepped (cleaned) properly and the coating material is applied by manufacturer's instructions.

Gerald

[Robert Mielenz]

After investigating the roof area near the leak, it is evident that the stress cracks are allowing water to enter during heavy downpours. The fix appears to be treating the roof with polyurethane base and top coats. Three layers of protection.  Not cheap, but necessary to prevent  water damage to the coach.  Thanks for all your input. Bob M.

[Bryan Beamon]

Robert our 97 Patriot had to have the entire roof replaced by Beaver at the old Safari plant in Harrisburg due to hair line cracks that were almost undetectable. Recoating the roof should solve your problem. Our roof was replaced in 1998 and at the time current materials were not available.

[Fred Brooks]

           Hi Robert,
    Where inside the coach is the water showing up? Fred

[Robert Mielenz]

Stains appear around the overhead speakers, vents, and near the 110v kitchen light.

[Fred Brooks]

        Robert,
   I believe you stated that the air conditioner mounting gaskets were changed, not sure if your coach has "condensation" drain hoses connected to the air conditioners. Some techs do not route these hoses thru a second gasket and just cut a slot thru the gasket that they change. You can remove the inside cover and inspect how the hoses were run and sealed. Another way to isolate a suspect location is to put a piece of plastic over the area and carefully tape it off. Put your lawn sprinkler up on the roof and let it rain for a while. Chasing water leaks can be frustrating seeing they seek there own level, I have found leaks 30 feet away from where they show up inside. Good luck and keep up the good fight. Regards, Fred