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How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 18:47
by D34dR4bb17
Ok, so the first rain with our new van, and a good time to find any leaks, but I didn't expect this.

Water doesn't look like it's coming through the poptop seal, the canvas is all dry at the bottom. The skylight looks good.

However around the middle of the poptop inside the felt is really wet, and on the sides from top down water is soaking into the canvas.

I checked the roof from outside, and it all looks seamless.

Can the fibreglass develop tiny cracks, or need to be sealed with something??

Weird!

Cheers,
Andrew

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Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 19:16
by itchyfeet
condensation perhaps?
humans give off loads of water in breathing

Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 19:30
by D34dR4bb17
I thought so, but it seems too damp for that. I can't be sure, because I don't know how damp other poptops get to be fair. Plus we haven't been in it today.

I've owned the roof now the rain has stopped, and checked up under the roof from the outside right where the damp is soaking down into the canvas. It's bone dry.

So my next best guess is that the seal on the skylight is going but not enough to drip into van. Instead maybe it's being soaked up by the felt, and then down the ridge to the sides.



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Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 20:01
by itchyfeet
maybe get some pictures up
a picture says 1000 words :ok

Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 20:07
by D34dR4bb17
Here ya go

ImageImage

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Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 20:21
by davidoft1
I wonder if longer screws have been used to fix the canvas and broken through the top, the skylights in a dip with a lip, would take a very lot of water for it to leak I think

Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 20:36
by D34dR4bb17
Maybe, but I've checked outside and there's literally no sign of damage, and the canvas is original. Plus the flock is pretty wet inside. Also, by the top fixing points from the outside it's dry.

We've done a lot cleaning over the last couple of days, as we've just got it, maybe it is just a lot of condensation running off down the canvas.

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Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 22:06
by T25Convert
Easiest way to check is to dry it out, then use a hose or watering can to carefully water the roof in sections.

Check the canvas between soakings, and bingo you'll have the leak located in no time.

Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 10 Aug 2018, 22:17
by D34dR4bb17
That's a great idea.

From what I've been reading the flock is like a giant sponge that absorbs any moisture in the air. So hopefully it's just that.

Now just have to wait for the sun to return!

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Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 15:34
by Mr Bean
Not sure how well the outer shell of you pop top is insulated but a couple of hot bodies :shock: inside the van on a chilly night can generate enough water to show per your image if there was no insulation or a serious gap between the fibreglass and lining. I have often wondered how close the lining on our Liesuredrive high top is to the fibreglass shell as while we can get our pillows well soaked by condensation running down the rear window we have never had any sign of damp in the interior lining.

Not sure how airtight your van is but we did find a water ingress around the battery box on a car by putting a Henry inside with the (vac) hose out of the window and sealed with gaffer tape thus slightly pressurizing the interior. Running a (water) hose round the engine bay presented us with a load of bubbles where the weld had rotted through out of site. Obviously a shock hazard if you got the mains cable wet.

Re: How does this happen?

Posted: 12 Aug 2018, 17:59
by D34dR4bb17
Having spent the weekend cleaning the poptop, Miltoning the flock then cleaning and reproofing the canvas, I'm pretty convinced it's condensation.

Plus I think the canvas wasn't sealed properly where it was soaking in.

Add in all the cleaning, ie moisture, that's been going on in the van.

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