The early spring is the time to inspect your RV to make sure it is in shape for the upcoming camping season. If you park your RV under trees during the winter, you'll also want to check the roof for damage from falling tree limbs and other debris. A falling tree limb can easily break a skylight on the roof. If you have a skylight that is broken or cracked, you should replace it as soon as possible to prevent water from getting inside the RV. Here is how a person with limited RV maintenance skills can replace the skylight on an RV.
You Will Need:
Remove Old Skylight
The first thing you have to do is take out the old skylight and thoroughly clean the area to remove the old sealant and any dirt and debris. To do this, first remove the screws for the old skylight, which will be under the old sealant. Take a scraper and scrape away the old sealant to expose all the screws around the outer edge of the skylight. Remove the screws with your screw gun.
Take your putty knife and slide it under the edge of the skylight to break the seal between the skylight and the roof of the RV. Slide the putty knife under the entire perimeter of the skylight. The skylight will lift right off once the entire seal has been broken with the putty knife.
Clean Roof
Use the putty knife to scrape as much of the old seal off of the roof around the skylight opening as you can. Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands. Pour mineral spirits onto a rag and rub it on the old sealant. You can use a green scrubbing pad to rub and agitate the mineral spirits into the sealant to loosen the material so it is easier to remove. Use a clean rag to wipe up the old sealant and mineral spirits. Let the mineral spirits thoroughly dry before continuing with the repair job.
Install New Skylight
Make sure you buy a replacement skylight that is meant for the make and model of your RV. You can call the RV manufacturer or dealer for the skylight's specifications.
Place a bead of sealant all around the opening for the skylight. Place the bead on top of the screw holes. Set the skylight into the opening and press down on it until the sealant comes up out of the screw holes on the skylight. Screw the skylight onto the roof. The screw holes for the new skylight might not line up exactly with the holes for the old skylight. This is not a problem. Simply use self-drilling screws to make new screw holes.
Take the caulk gun and apply a thick bead of sealant to the cover entire outer edge and the screws to prevent water from leaking. Let the sealant dry before you take the RV out for a drive.
For help with a project like this, contact an RV repair company like Auto-Truck Services Inc.
Share28 April 2016
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