Westy - Crack in Roof

[Mark S]

Was standing atop my cab earlier (it is designed to take this load) spraying the dirt off and rather stupidly leant forward with too much weight through one foot on the main roof. It crumpled down briefly and a small crack appeared close to the skylight, which I have covered temporarily with silicone mastic.

Does anyone have any ideas for a better DIY job - specialised repair kit etc?

Another related question: does anyone know where I can get a complete new roof fitted? It's nearly 29 years old and has got some cracks in other places also, so I might need to take the hint.

Many thanks.

[a1winchester]

You could try Milliput - really easy to mix and use. http://www.milliput.com/about.html

[Plasticman]

well as above or there are ways to repair glass but a bit tedious, and please there should be a sticky on here someplace about the use of silicone sealants etc
mm

[Oldiebut goodie]

You are as bad as me - I shudder every time I see a post about it having been applied to a van!

That superfine Milliput in white looks nice stuff but I use Plastic Padding gel coat repair like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-paddi ... SwGWNUYfMD for fibreglass - it works on boats so should be good for van roofs also. If you have cracked more than just the gel coat though you may need a more substantial repair. You need to keep it dry also as water will wick along the glass fibres if they have been exposed necessitating a more major repair. I would gouge out the crack slightly to enable sufficient filler to be applied as it is impossible to force it into a hairline crack.

Of course you will have adhesion problems if you have applied silicone to it. Nasty stuff!

[New Kentish Campers]

Depending how bad it is, then it might not be a bad idea to lay some fibre glass matting on the inside so as to stop the roof flexing in hot weather and breaking your new exterior repair. Shame to have to redo it all over again

[horizontal kipper]

Before you repair it drill a very small hole right at the end of the crack. This will stop any possible crazing under the repair.