Could have been worse

[Radio]

In fact, much worse.

Was putting some more stuff in the 5'er this afternoon. Rounded up the laundry basket and was putting it in the shower, when I noticed a brown streak running down the shower surround wall, coming out of the surround at one of those screw covers.

"Hmmm, that wasn't there just a few days ago...oh, crap, I've got water coming in somewhere" and then I looked up at the shower skylight. There was enough water in there to create a small eco system. CRAP!

Went rampaging through the garage looking for half a roll of eterna-bond tape. Never found it. Found some good quality clear silicone sealant. Crawled up onto the roof with that.

Found a crack in the exterior bubble of the skylight. The caulk around the skylight stands about 1/4" high, which allows water to pool around the skylight and drain, you guessed it, into the skylight, the water becoming trapped between the inner and outer layers of the skylight. Sealed the crack and ran an extra bead around the existing caulk.

Removed the inside bubble and got quite wet. Dried out everything with a towel. Left the inside bubble off so it can dry out in there and sealed the crack from the inside as well. Then cleaned up the mess in the shower.

And recalled the shower was in A-1 clean shape because I had cleaned it just last weekend. So it hadn't been leaking long. Doesn't appear to be any permanent damage.

I assume the skylight got cracked during one of the hail storms we have had recently. I rather suspect the crack will continue to grow. But for now the damage had been curtailed.

Yeah, things could have been worse. If we hadn't planned this trip I would have no reason to be out there with my head in the shower. And this could have gone on a long, long time.

:rain:

[Andy N1ORK]

Good job Wade! It must have been that mockingbird.

[Radio]

And even worse, with the line of storms coming through right about now...

:rain: :rain: :rain:

[wa8yxm]

The bad news is... Silicon is not, usually, the best caulk.. But if it works, I won't knock it.

Jobs this week:

1: Arrange money to keep the repo man at bay
2: Recover from food poisioning (At least that is what I think it is)
3: Give Baby (The motor home) A bath and was job. The bath is happening, Not so sure about the wax job as I'm still a bit shaky for ladder work

[Radio]

Finally found half a roll of eterna-bond tape left over from waterproofing a mobile MRI machine. It ain't gonna leak now. The test will come in an hour or so. I hear thunder in the distance. The WX is supposed to be a bit bumpy tonight. :hide:

[wa8yxm]

We tested ours for leaks yesterday... With the squirt gun (Wash, today it's wax time)

The bad news is silicon sealants... About the worst choice.

Antenna tape.. Much better choice

Eternabond.. Well, ti's not called "Eterna" for nothing.

There are severl others I'd consider before silicon but only if you got 'em.

GOOP is a good all purpose seal and stick to it stuff

[K3NOQ/Mobile]

Carefully drill a small hole in the end of the crack to arrest its continuing across the skylight. The crack will not continue past the circular hole you just drilled. Finally, just caulk over the hole and the crack, or eterna bond it.

I have used this technique several times. You might consider storing the rig with a heavy piece of cardboard over the skylight to protect it from hail in the future.

// John

[jim]

must be catching. i found a crack in my shower skylight last year. noticed streaks in shower also.
at the time, i didn't have a drill with me so i just used the goop over it. would probably be a good idea now to go up and do it right. don't want it to do the same thing a fantastic fan (?) cover did a couple yrs back. knew abt the crack and ignored it. sure nuf, it went away a couple yrs later. hope it didn't hit someone.

[Rod Johnson]

I catch myself leaving the bathroom vent open all the time. It never rains around here unless I do...

[NN5I]

Just think of the missed opportunity. You could shower without using water from your tank! That's called sustainable living. Or something.

John, K3NOQ, is right. If you didn't stop-drill at the very end of the existing crack to relieve the stress concentration, you should go back up there and do so, else the crack will certainly grow when the plastic heats in daytime and cools at night. A 1/16 or 1/8 drill is about right.

[K3NOQ/Mobile]

You can also use the clear tape that is used to seal a slide topper or RV awning after drilling your small hole.