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Post by kiwidave on Nov 30, 2008 15:54:15 GMT
Hi all, Well this is my first post, so firstly Hi All!! I have just purchased a 1986 Roma-home Demountable and will be spending the winter doing him up for some summer fun ( yes I am one of these sad people that have to name things, he is called Bilbo  ). He just sailed through the first MOT so thats a relief, so it's mostly cleaning up the habitation unit. I have pulled everything out and want to spray a good sealant throughout the interior, can anyone suggest one to use? I also will be doing the exterior, I have some Plastic Padding Gel coat Filler ( has anyone used this, if so any good, it was recommended by a caravan shop.... everyone loves a newbie for selling stuff too ;D ) and then I was going to cut and Polish the rest to try and bring it back to a nice shine, any suggestions would be welcome as it is very oxidized. I have also thought I might spray foam sealant in between the exterior and interior walls before installing the fridge and in the front, can anyone think of a reason that I shouldn't do this? Well I will leave it at this for the moment, I am sure you will all get sick of me before too long with an endless amount of stupid questions.. Cheers Dave |
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Post by Graham on Nov 30, 2008 16:14:32 GMT
Hi Dave
Welcome to you and Bilbo of course ;D, you've come to the right place for answers but I will let someone who is more qualified than me answer your questions, Ant will no doubt be able to help you.
Meanwhile have fun with your new van.
Graham
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Post by barry5933 on Nov 30, 2008 16:33:02 GMT
Hi there,
With regard to the Gelcoat filler, I have used this, many years ago, on the boat. It sets VERY hard (if the formulation is still the same). Therefore, do not excessively overfill the hole/crack or whatever, and knife off the surplus before it finally cures. I didn't and still have the scars to show!
Cutting and polishing glassfibre gelcoats can also be a bit tricky. Some rubbing compounds seem to have chemical ingredients that stain the white gelcoat, and some are so abrasive that they cut through the top layer! I have been told that Romahome bodies have a double gelcoat layer, but I have no first hand knowledge of this. (The Gelcoat is the first coat of resin that is painted into the mould before the structural lay-up is started and it is barely thicker than a coat of paint. It is more waterproof than the resins used in laying the matting and therefore it is essential not to go through it)
Boat chandlers sell a bewildering array of glass fibre cleaners and polishes, all of which work to an extent, and all of which are expensive!
Best advice is to start in a place out of sight and where it will not matter too much if things don't go quite 100% right. Practice makes perfect and builds confidence.
All the best.
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Post by kiwidave on Nov 30, 2008 19:29:55 GMT
Hi Graham and Barry,
Thanks very much for the useful info on the Gelcoat, I will be sure to try and not get some matching scars of my own. Any idea of a good spray on sealent that I could use to spray the inside of the unit? also what would be the best way to remove the wall coverings inside?
Thanks all
Dave
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Post by lunnie on Nov 30, 2008 21:27:26 GMT
For the outside body, G10 and then 3M finishing glaze, these are the products recommended by Ant to myself, and they work brilliantly, expensive at the start, but not in the long run, as you may clean the van, many, many times, so really cost effective.
Welcome Bilbo most of us have named our Romahomes, my is called 'Freda' which stands for Freedom.
Joan
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Post by ant on Dec 1, 2008 8:47:00 GMT
Hi Dave.
Expanding foam is a good product for insulation but be careful not to over do it, it expands far more than you think and if you arn't careful you'll get foam everywhere and if it can't get out the body will become slightly deformed where the foam has pushed it out. I once used some to give a rear end shunt repair a bit more strength, having done the repair i sprayed some foam in behind it, the next morning the rear of the body had an obvious bow in it.
As for polish and shine, as Joan has said, I use Farecla G10 for cutting, always use it wet and you won't cut too much. for the final shine any cream silicone based wax does it for me. If in doubt phone Romahome they sell the stuff they use.
Plastic padding gel coat filler works well, you can actually add a small amount of paint to it to colour it a bit as its very white. I always warm it up so its almost like a paint and then brush it in ( don't take too long as warmed up it sets quite quickly).
With sound gel coat and insulation there's no need to seal the interior, any damp is more likely to be condensation rather than body leaks ( apart from the rear step area which can get wet from light,door or roof light leaks).
Good luck
Ant
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Post by kiwidave on Dec 1, 2008 19:14:51 GMT
Hi Ant and Joan. Thanks both for the info, I will do as you suggest and mix some paint with the gelcoat. I rang the guys at Romahome and they tell me that the paint to get a match can be bought from Halfords and is part of the car paint section number F16 so I will get some and give it a go. Then I guess it's just hours of polishing  I think that I will use the expanding foam for the inside ( front of the front seats and in the rear cubbord by the back door ) but I will try not to be too heavey handed!! Thanks all for the great help so far Cheers Dave |
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Post by kiwidave on Dec 2, 2008 22:02:03 GMT
Hi All, Just a quick question, what is the best way to remove and reseal the windows? am I best to get this done by someone who really knows what they are doing or is it easy enough that I can have a go at it myself? also what would you use to reseal them with? cheers, sorry for all the questions:) Dave
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Post by ant on Dec 3, 2008 8:18:54 GMT
Hi Dave.
An 86 demountable may have fixed non opening windows, if that is the case, the windows are very expensive to replace as they have to be made to the pattern of the existing window. So I would get on to your local mobile windscreens company and ask them to come and take them out and replace the rubber ( ordinary "Clayton right"rubber). Just be sure to mention the rarity and cost of the window!
If the widow is an opening one the job is easily a DIY one. Just remove the white insert around the inside and you'll see how the rubber is fitted, although I have to say you gain very little by removing it unless you're going to relpace it .
Ant
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Post by kiwidave on Dec 6, 2008 15:06:47 GMT
Hi Ant, Just a quickie:) I have just gone out to cut the paint work on Bilbo and I have noticed that at sometime he has had a part of him repainted which is flaking, am I best to sand this back and then use the Gelcoat and paint mix to tuch up, then cut this or what would you suggest?
Cheers
Dave
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Post by ant on Dec 8, 2008 8:55:54 GMT
Hi dave.
I'd cut the whole thing back and see what it looks like before getting into any major surgery, the flaking paint is probably where the painter was trying to lose the join and paint got onto some unprepared areas. I'd cut it back before getting the sand paper out as you may open a whole new can of worms!
Ant
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).
I think that I will use the expanding foam for the inside ( front of the front seats and in the rear cubbord by the back door ) but I will try not to be too heavey handed!!