Roof Sealing

[Squibby]

Hi, I have cleaned the roof on my van and the fiberglass has lost the lacker/sealant finnish, Has anyone had to reseal/relacker their fiberglass roof in the past and which products did you use. I have had a good look through old posts but most of the fiberglass restorating mentioned requires the use of some sort of abrasive, my roof is clean and smoothe just requires that finnishing layer.

Help please as there are some very expensive products out there and I just want one that works without the trial and error process.

Thanks.

Squibby.

 

[chris p bacon]

It is (just about) possible to put on a new gelcoat - I assume that is what you are refering to, Gelcoat is pretty much bullet proof so I very much doubt that there is anything wrong with the old one that a good polish with a cutting compound such as Tcut wont cure. It would be a lot of work though.
Assuming that the glass matting is not visible I would leave well alone unless having a shiney roof is very important to you, if you absolutely must have a shiney roof or if the matting is showing then paint it with "Flocoat" this is a fibreglass resin compound which is similar to the original gelcoat but much easier to apply, you just mix it (flocoat + 1% -2% catalyst) and paint it on with a small roller ONE COAT ONLY! there is a wax which floats to the surface and will not allow a second coat to adhere until its worn/weathered off so put it on fairly thickly as you cannot go back over it.

 

[Squibby]

The problem I have is that the original protective layer has worn off over the years (since 1998) and I was concerned that the surface now may well absorb some water over the winter even if very little (not sure if this will happen, but I know from my canoe days that the fiber glass can de-laminate with prolonged exposure to the eliments, as my canoe did due to being stored on the garage roof when not in use. I wanted to sort it before the van roof starts crazing when it starts to look like a cracked egg shell. I want to prevent this from happening if I can rather that have even more work at a later date.

Squibby.

 

[Squibby]

For info for anyone else with a tatty fibreglass roofed van, my dad has had a word with a mate of his, he works as a chanddler for one of the boat hire companies on the Norflok Broads, He has promissed my dad that the way go with this is to use Bonda 15 Year white paint, only comes in 1 Ltr tins that I can find, £24 ish without post and packing is the cheapest I have found on the net from cfsnet.co.uk.

He swares by the stuff as his workshop use it all the time on the hire fleet of boats they maintain to keep them looking ship shape.

I'm just waiting for my order to come through, should be there before I get back into the UK, still away at work untill the 16th, then the real work begins sorting out my self build convesion.

Squibby.

 

[Squibby]

It's me again got the price wrong. Price: £25.73 (Excluding VAT at 20%) is the correct price, still need to add P&P also.

Squibby.