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Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

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Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby cormie » Mon Sep 11, 2017 5:21 pm

Hey folks,
I've a luton body van from Alloy Bodies Manchester and there's a bit of water getting in just above where the Luton shelf starts. I've tried fill it in with tec7 but it's still getting in somewhere. Has anyone got any advice on how to identify the exact problem area (as I've covered quite a lot of the area on the roof) and what would be good to use to seal it up?

Any feedback would be great :)
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby richgold » Tue Sep 12, 2017 9:31 pm

Using some smoke tablets in the back of the van and looking on the outside for where smoke escapes is a good way of finding leaks.
Or a small disco smoke machine if you can borrow one from somewhere.
If its a crack or split in the Fibre glass then I'd be using fibre glass and resin to fix it.
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby cormie » Tue Sep 12, 2017 11:07 pm

That's a great idea, I wonder will it work :) Now are these the type of smoke tablets you see at Halloween that you light on fire and make coloured smoke go everywhere? Will it destroy the interior I wonder?

If you mean something else, if there's any chance you could link me that would be brilliant :)
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby richgold » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:32 pm

http://www.screwfix.com/p/arctic-produc ... Gwodxf8K7A
They are for use inside houses to check flues so wont harm a thing.

Light a few on a plate in the van, shut the doors and watch the roof.
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby cormie » Wed Sep 13, 2017 11:14 pm

Brilliant, thanks a lot for that!
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby Beaker » Thu Sep 14, 2017 6:38 pm

THe smoke pellet trick might work, and it's certainly worth a try, but my gut feeling is that the smoke will be poiuring out of the door and window seals long before it finds it's way out of the roof. But certainly try it first.

If it does not work, you can try flourescent spray crack detector, like the stuff used on welding joins and after grinding things like crankshafts. You spray it on, wipe or rinse it off then shine a UV light on it. Any cracks will be immediately obvious.

I've seen this used on fibreglass dingies - hit a rock and the hull starts to leak water. You patch the damage but the leak continues. The problem is that an impact can easily cause long hairline cracks that are all but invisible. Water gets in through the crack and works its way by capilliary action through the fibre matting until it finds a crack or scuff on the inside it get out through.

This may be what has happened to your roof - something has hit the roof, cracked it and the water is getting in, then finding a weak spot to get out. Don't be suprised if the ingress point is a few feet away from where it is coming out.

If you do find a crack, try this stuff to seal it:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Captain-Tolley ... B003T6EJ9A

It is made for marine applications so is perfectly suited to fibreglass and works wonders.
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby cormie » Sun Sep 24, 2017 7:43 am

Thanks a lot for the advice. Will see how I get on :)
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby Goldensiren1 » Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:31 pm

Hey, I know this a few years on, was just wondering how you got on and which method you tried? Thanks
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Re: Leak on fibreglass roof (Alloy Bodies Manchester Luton)

Postby cormie » Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:40 pm

I did try the smoke pellet idea and it didn't really work, but the leak was still there. I got it sealed up a bit better with a fiberglass kit. There's still a small leak, but it's nothing like it was before :)
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