Prepping poptop roof.

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by the 3 crispies, Aug 23, 2017.

  1. If bank holiday is usual then planning on trying to remove rubberised coating on roof over bank holiday, will try heat gun and scrape it off but will cellulose thinners soften it, had a look earlier and was hard to scrape off. was planning on replacing whole aluminium sheet but will just refurb original and cover.
    Which inner seal rubbers are best quality as was going for schofield ones and will I need a tool to fit centre part of this rubber similar to this;
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WINDSCREE...101708&hash=item1c513666dc:g:25UAAOSwD2pXFl1h.
    and will patch bellows where roof support brackets pass through them with
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PVC-Repai...882883?hash=item1a336c4383:g:q2cAAOSwjvJZXpME
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2017
  2. Any pics of the rubbery coating?
    Is it on top of fibreglass?
     
  3. will take pics, roof look original aluminium with black mastic type covvering which I overpainted with rustoleum about 5 years ago, it needs all rivets replacing too
     
  4. Best pic sorry[​IMG]

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  5. Ozziedog

    Ozziedog Supporter

    Is this an Early type Devon roof by any chance ? Where they have an ally sheet riveted on to a subframe and sealed all round with a large gasket? Some peeps have used vinyl sheets instead of liquid rubber or mastic type treatments. The crucial point though is how clean it is as it enters the rubber, the rest is just about sealing the rivets. I also like the Devon fibreglass roof caps and I reckon I'd try one of them if I did it again. I swapped mine over to the later roof and one of the things I did years ago was to try and weigh things in for scrap so I tried to clean it off with a spade, and a hammer and bolster, some chunks came off because it hadn't stuck too well but I surrendered in the end and it went down the tip. I have no idea what was on my roof but I wasn't getting it off and there were layers of it whatever it was. I don't want to say this and put you off too much but it did look a bit like what you have there, some black magic type mastic reinforced with a hessian and fibreglass mesh. When someone on here or maybe the Early site, did a rebuild, he just scrapped the ally and put a new sheet in for about fifteen quid if I remember correctly. I thought then, that's brilliant, so why didn't I do that then? And why didn't I think of that ? DOH! So very very GOOD LUCK with it, if it wasn't prepared too well before it was put on, then it may just fly off.:cool:

    Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,hindsight is twenty twenty :)
     
  6. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    I dont think removing the rubberised coating is a good idea as what lies underneath looks too like raw fibreglass. Or is it the backing of some black headlining vinyl glued on top ?
     
  7. its just ali and they are scratches from paint scraper..... looked at new ali myself but wasnt sure of exact thickness.
     
  8. fifteen pounds for a 8 x 4 sheet where from, been quoted £70+. roof is on 1973 devon
     
  9. Ozziedog

    Ozziedog Supporter


    That`s what I thought it was originally, but I think its some reinforcing with some sort of bitumastic then other stuff painted over it ,I`ll bet no one knows exactly whats on there and how many coats either.;)

    Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,, several attempts I`m guessing :)
     
    art b likes this.
  10. Ozziedog

    Ozziedog Supporter

    I don`t know, it wasn`t me, it was in a thread I read and also it might have been a while ago. My fave with these is strip everything back to just the ally frame, rivet a couple of semi raised braces in and glue a fibreglass top in complete with ribs and ridges then celotex and some sort of liner. Perfect, and work for at least a couple of decades and lighter than the original. What is not to like ;)

    Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,, A neat looking roof them Devons :)
     
    the 3 crispies likes this.
  11. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    I'm sure there have been complete fibreglass Devon flat topped roof caps up on eBay in recent years.
    Might be less work .
     
    the 3 crispies and Ozziedog like this.
  12. Made start at least will sand back noticed few holes where guessing old rivets where and few that were covered in sealer too.[​IMG][​IMG]

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    art b, Coco and paradox like this.
  13. Have stripped back everything, strengthened inside aluminium framework, removed old vent, fitted stainless rivets instead of originals now next job is fitting new seal. Is there an easy/correct way of doing this..
     
    paradox likes this.
  14. [​IMG]

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  15. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Might be too late but a wallpaper steamer is the weapon of choice....
     

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