How to repair a hole in a camper van roof
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- How To repair a hole in a camper van roof using mastic sealing strip and UVPVC Plastic
My aim is to give you campervan conversion ideas on how to convert a van into a camper and to help inspire you to build your own tiny home on wheels
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Here's the company that Rebekah got the PVC plastic panels from (1220 x 4440 mm 2.5mm)
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My Amazon Store
Where you will find everything that I have used in my van builds. Plus more great van life essentials.
www.amazon.co.uk/shop/melsvanworld
Mastic Sealing Strip available from Amazon & eBay links for your convenience
eBay
ebay.us/vqpLsF
Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00J0X6M6O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00J0X6M6O&linkCode=as2&tag=melsvanworld-21&linkId=dcf766c058b5cc1c02de3eecd5c9aad1
link to Becky's Channel A Q U A - R O S E ruclips.net/video/Gu3wGplQZaw/видео.html
Great video mate. Nice idea moulding the PVC to the profile of the roof. 👍🏼😃
Cheers buddy 👍😊👍
Sir Gregg has spoken...... Behold his teachings
@@bobbyfischer6786 Greg would have taken the entire roof panel off and made himself a new one
@Yoz Travels I’m just using what we had to hand at the time I’ll probably change it to something like a sheet of ally come summer but for now it should be ok 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld Something about being a primitive man. Well done Mel. What just came to mind was some thin lead 🤔, then again I might just be a primitive woman. It's a great job, and right now it works. 👌
oooooh ace bab....ive made 'THE BIG LIST' for my van renovation and decided a few days ago after being up on my roof(again) that im shifting my wood burner, as im gunna re-arrange the interior, and decided to used a piece of board to fill the hole and then fibre glass, over it , rub dwn n paint...but then your vid pops up and thats a great job with plastic...so think i'll be doing that...cheers Mel !!!
You’re absolutely welcome thank you for the positive message and good luck with your renovation 👍😊👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld ah thanks....been waiting a yr to begin due to money, so plans as soon as lil warmer !! :)
@@BigVanSmallWorld oh mel...what mil is that plastic..as i want to be able to mold it like that ? also where do ya buy it from ? prob daft Q's but ive never bought any plastic sheet or anything like that before !
@@feralfreebirds hi i put a link in the shower video to the company Rebecca and her dad got the plastic from I think it was 3mm upvc 👍😊👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld ah thanks MEL ur a star bab ! :)
Mr and Mrs does it again 😉👍
Fine job Mel
Thank you 😊
i like how you keep things simple mel. thats the reason i started watching your channel .
Thank you buddy that’s really appreciated 👍😊👍
Nicely done. Really enjoyed the video.
Thank you 😊
Nice job with the moulded plastic sheet Mel.
Thank you 👍😊👍
Well that worked out really nicely. I wondered how it would be possible to fill that gap but that is a really good job. Enjoyed that. Cheers Mel and Rebecca
Thank you for your positive message really appreciated 👍
Great Job mel nice one
Thank you really appreciated the positive encouragement
Brilliant job mate 👍
Thank you I appreciate your positive feedback 👍
Was going to say bloody brilliant Mel but thought better 😅. I love your tips n tricks, what a fab job.
OK now for the good news, I finally got my smart charger in 😊 + the fuse panel + the deisel heater running, OMG it's fantastic to be warm whilst I build away, in fact it felt like a sauna. Thanks for all you put out.
I hope to help feed the cat soon. Keep them coming, as always you are a natural. 👍😜.
Ps now for getting some lights 😁.
Stay safe, stay the same 👍
Thank you I’m so pleased you’re getting so much done well done 👍
I liked that plastic panel idea I'll remember that.
But that rust and lack of care is exactly why i did all my own windows and roof vents. Some people can't be trusted.
Thank you 😊
Yeah, it’s a punch in the gut when you specifically ask them to clean off the van after they cut - and they still don’t do it!
Great fix
Thank you 😊
Genius Mel! plus you'll get a extra mile a gallon without that poking through the roof ha! Safe warm, stay safe......
Thank you buddy hope you’re staying safe too 👍😊👍
Mel mastic should go between Van roof and underside of the plastic. If you cut the mastic flush with the plastic you could have used Sikaflex to seal the edges.
he done under and over you can see in the video .
Thank you my work here is done 👍😂👍
Sikaflex and mastic don’t mix 🤦♂️
They don't mix? How come? Why not? In other videos I saw them mixing it
as a young bloke i filled some large holes mate ! But i will leave them stories till you come here to Sydney ,,,,,
Rob NSW Australia
Haha 😆 👍👍
Its a quick fix but not sure i would have done it like that. I probably would have used some aluminium body mesh as its easy to bend and form it the the roof shape inside the van then laid some fibreglass mat on the top side and poured some resin over to make a permanent strong waterproof seal. Then paint over it in a few months with some white hammarite when the weather is better.
Yes you could be rite on the money there I may revisit it in the summer months 👍
It’s a job for summer. We did this quick fix due to the bad snow we had and the rain that was looming. Needed to get it in the dry and it will be re-done in the summer - woop woop! 🚐💚👍🏻
How clever! Thank you so much for this helpful video 😊
You are so welcome!🤓
Well done you two it looks great !! Robbie U K
Thank you buddy 👍
Those iron fileings the previous worker left 😲 Good job Mel 👍
Thank you 😊
Mel since you used indoor plastic i would spray some light colored paint on the plastic outside to protect from sun. Keep it out of sun it should last a long time. Some plastics rot fast exposed to the sun. Cheers
That’s really nice of you to say thank you 😊
It’s exterior UPVC cladding that we used. Already suitable for UV rays 👍🏻🚐☀️
Great video. Just found your channel. 😷👍
that’s really kind of you to say thank you for taking the time to comment really appreciated 👍🤓👍
Nice one Mel. Sprinkle finely ground salt onto the mastic to keep it white.
Thank you 😊
Totally genius idea looks well good bud :) that’s terrible what they did :(
Shame Rebecca didn’t have the one like yours as that’s super smart and warm :)
Your always brilliant bud :) shame they don’t make a plastic see through bubble to fit on a roof :) hope your keeping warm and safe bud :) 🤗😊
Thank you buddy yes I’m all good hope you are ok too 👍😊👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld yes buddy I’m ok despite the rain non stop :(
Still need to work on the van :(
🤗😊
cracking job
Thank you 😊
Fall out remover , easily removed swarf. Red Seven is really good
Oh thank you so so much I remember something we used when I was an apprentice fitter and I’m sure it started with red just couldn’t for the life of me remember the rest thank you you rock 👍👍👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld Autosmart, they also do just fall out remover (cheaper) just doesn’t show the fallout in Red , so not as user friendly 👍🏻
Great job mel, the other way to do it was to go to a scrappers find a sprinter/grafter and cut that section of roof out of it only a inch or so bigger, then stick that over the hole, may be tricky though in lockdown 🙄
That’s brilliant idea thank you 😊
Hi Mel, nice job , good idea , I know this is not going to help now , but would one of those port hole windows fitted in that hole, maybe not as easy as your job, loving the vids keep them coming stay safe and warm x
Thank you that’s really great idea Tracey 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld I thought that too would make an interesting feature
You might try making a patch of matching boards cut to fit the hole and apply quick drying glue to the edge of the patch. Then use a stick wider than the patch with string through the center of the patch and hold the patch in place by twisting the string with a small stick. Fill the resulting circular seam with wood putty and stain to match other surfaces. This is a old dry-wall patching trick.
One last thought you have to cut off the string.
Brilliant idea
I loved everything you said right up to the final bit "we'll simply put a piece of wood ? .. plywood ? .. cladding ? over the hole .." UG!! That looks TERRIBLE! and you know it. Please keep up the professional standards and get rid of that board, and fit cladding wood planks. BTW, how do you think air pressure will effect the plastic plug / Mastic strips sealer ?
Thank you and yes I know it looks terrible but once finished it will be fine you won’t notice it 👍😊👍
I wanted to fit plywood for the sake of getting it sealed and dry in the bad weather. Those few days we had snow coming and needed to get it done.
Once it’s spring I will remove it and put in cladding properly. It’s a job for better weather 💚🚐☀️
@@BigVanSmallWorld I apologise for being short and arrogant, been having a bad week. .. sorry.
I'm crying, l was reading the live chat 😂😂, have a nice weekend 😃🍷🍺😃
Thank you and you 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld 😊
Never thought I'd find someone so skilled with mastic strips! You may be uniquely qualified in this field Mel :P
The trouble is with getting holes professionally cut is the time it takes to do a good job. It's not always the fault of the professionals either, they have to pay their employees by the hour and stay competitive. While it's easy to cut a hole and slap some silicon around it in an hour you'd be hard pressed to do the same work + drying time for 2 coats of paint + a proper cleanup. And lets be honest, if you got a quote for £120 and a quote for £180 for the same job which would you pick?
_Without knowing the shop / their work_
You can always get the holes cut professionally. Just ensure you do the prep work so you never have to worry about it leaking / rusting.
That’s a fare comment I’ll go along with you on that 👍
This was done by a self-employed professional who had two days to install so it wasn’t a case of them rushing. They came out and quoted for the job, so knew what it would entail. It was an expensive price, so I hadn’t chosen a cheap installer either. It just wasn’t installed as well as it could have been; end of.
Even when you do your research and do all that you can to ensure a good job - things can still go wrong. It’s life and you have to just be humble and move on. 🙏🏻🚐☀️
@@SACREDTRAVELLER All we can do is live and learn, the van is progressing nicely and you should be proud of what you have accomplished. :)
_I gave the tradesman the benefit of the doubt but clearly this was unfounded.._
On 2nd thought, I would patch ceiling by installing staggered boards 3" to 6" past the edge of the hole with trimmed upper portion of groove for placement with tounged edge of adjacent panel and carpenter's glue. Stuff old hole with insulation.
What a job Mel,, is there any end of your talents👍
Thank you that’s really kind of you 👍
Mel I'm sure you have spare cladding about yah, that could have been used to line that small bit of roof as before, staggered cuts off course. .
Great stff, awaiting next project. 🤔👌
Thank you 😊
Would it not be better to replace the t&g on the roof panel ?
Nope I would have to have taken the lot down
I know it is not your van if it was would you have done it differently ie another sky light or would you have done the same .
@@ernestirvine4263 if it was my van I wouldn’t have put the flue there in the first place I fitted mine on the off side where it’s less likely to get hit by low branches and there’s already a sky light rite next to it 👍
You are doing a great job Mel I am not trying to be negative and I hope to do a van convert myself soon I have leaned by this to plan the build very carefully as sometimes there is no going back if you change your mind .
I love it 😃
Thank you 😊
You two are so likeable!
Thank you buddy that’s really appreciated 👍
Oh, Mel. I was shouting at you to mould the plastic further along on a rib so you would get a continuous contour in the plastic when you put it over the hole. Aside from that, I'm concerned that some plastics revert to their original shape when re-heated, and that roof will get super hot in the summer. To be honest, I'd have used a piece of aluminium instead of plastic. It would be easy to create that contour, and sikaflex would have been a permanent adhesive. I really hope that plastic doesn't cause problems in the future. Fingers crossed for you.
That’s a good point I didn’t think about it getting hot in the summer maybe have to scrap that idea and do it again thank you 😊
If it a problem, Mel. Aluminium with sikaflex and stainless steel pop rivets will be a permanent solution. xx
@@BigVanSmallWorld aThe only way we learn is to explore ideas, have a go, reflect and repair if something better can be done. That's the gift of having a go. Great for now. All things are a learning curve. When we try we always have results. Great job Mel. Rebecca's pad is safe from the elements. After all she is moving in soon. 👍
That’s the beauty of the van build - if things don’t work out, you can always change and do something new. Life is learning and even more so when doing vanlife 🙏🏻💚🚐. Thanks for your comment - we can check it later on in the summer and see what happens 👍🏻☀️
@@debbie62140 Could have a problem with dissimilar metals
omg mell how.long u spending on the van mate u been there ages on it ur one in a million doing it for free
I’m not doing it for free I’m getting fed and watered plus I’m safe 😊👍
He’s being looked after and due to lockdown hasn’t been able to return to his area.
We are all having the make the best of lockdown by using the time to continue work. He’s been a saint working longer than was originally planned 🙏🏻🚐☀️
Good job, would a Extractor fan fit in, its cold lol
Nice one Mel. What type of plastic please? Some of us have more than one hole to fill!🤭
It’s PVC sheet I’ll try to find the company and put a link in the description for you
Hi Mel what thickness was the plastic you used on Rebecca's roof to seal the hole
Hi Mel, see you are using PVC to mould onto roof, could you tell me how many mm thick this is and where you purchased it ? Many thanks
4mm same as the stuff we used on shower 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld cheers pal 👍
Mel stck some white gaffa tape over that mastic to keep it clean
Thank you that’s a great idea 👍
Hi Mel what thickness is the pvc and where did you buy it from?
Thanks!
I think it was 4 mm beck got it from a builders merchant
Sorry to hear you got a 'Sticky Backside' Mel ..... Get Well Soon Mate ;-)
Cheers for that 😂👍
Try Eterna bond tape
Thank you 😊
Done similar with the plastic before by putting it in the oven
That’s a great idea 👍
I thought you were taking out the heater because it was potentially dangerous and not designed for van use, I love your videos but on this occasion I think you should be more honest on why it was taken out rather than say it didn’t heat up enough. A great use of plastic. 👍🏼👍🏼
Ha ha, there were MULTIPLE reasons why it was taken out. 😂😂😂
Let me explain deeper:
1). The flue wasn’t tall enough to allow it to draw - which caused point 2)...
2)...it never got hot due to not drawing so took hours to start a fire.
3). Because it took hours to heat up - it wasn’t a way to heat the van. (Which was why I installed - didn’t originally want gas in my van).
4). If the stove didn’t get hot - there’s no way I could use the oven part or hot plate..
5). The flue was fitted at the minimum safety allowance for draw and it was super tall already. With the need to add more height to get a draw, it would have been ridiculous and rendered the van unable to be driven at any speed above 40mph. Plus any low bridges and branches would be a disaster. There’s no way I could drive safely with it any taller than it was.
6) All the above reasons made it a waste of space in the van. Every element has to be efficient and viable for van-living. Which was why I had to suck it up and remove it and cut my losses for a more suitable alternative.
Hope this clears up the misunderstanding 👍🏻☀️💚🙏🏻
@@SACREDTRAVELLER thanks for clearing that up 👍🏼👍🏼
Iron detailing stuff will sort out the rusty iron bits (iron fallout?), spray on leave to go pink and rinse off. Don't let it dry!
Maybe you could teach the council ,how to fill in the holes in the roads 🚐👍
I wouldn’t say that was possible 😂👍
As in.... "There's a hole in the ground.... and the Council are looking into it"....
Stuck on with blu tac, no wonder it's leaking 😂 Maybe that's where I went wrong with mine...🤔😂🤦♀️
No Comment 😂😂👍🤣
@@BigVanSmallWorld Aye watch it you 😂🤪
I know you like that stuff but nobody likes a big sticky dirty hole.. Or a sticky backside.
Good save that great way to get round the bumps
Haha thank you that’s brilliant 👍😊👍
I've only just realised you don't mention the cats anymore. What's happened to them and do they still need feeding 😂👍
They are safe and getting plenty of love and food 👍😂👍
good job mel , , where the cats these days mel
Thank you buddy don’t worry there safe 👍
Working on a new finish ☀️👍🏻🚐💚
Good man 😂
Thank you buddy 👍😊👍
".... Rebecca decided to whip it out...."....
Ohhhhhhhh matron!!!!!
😂
the cover panel inside the van over the roof T& G looks naff 🙁
Yes I know working out a different solution
Will re-do when we have better weather 💚🚐☀️
I noticed in a previous video, whoever fitted that flue didn’t dress the edges of the bare metal at all... Wouldn’t it make sense to fit a small roof-lite or something rather than a bit of plastic? 🤷🏻♂️
Thank you but Becky already has one 👍
I used that exact same mastic on my skylight and it still leaks, lol 🤦♀️
I know you did and I can’t wait to come do it properly for you 👍🤦♂️ you didn’t clean all the silicone off probably yes I watched your video 😂👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld Lol Oi cheek bugger. I'm sure I did an awesome job 🤔😂. It took about 10 hours or it feltlike 10, lol. But actually, I didn't video doing the front one where I used that same mastic so ner ner 😛😂
Hahaha love ya 😜
@@BigVanSmallWorld 😁
If your skylight goes over the roof ridges use 5mm plastic sheet to make spacers in the roof ridges first. Bond those on with CT1 Now you got a nice flat surface to mount the skylight.
Clean the skylight with alcohol and lightly sand the plastic frame with fine sandpaper. If you don't do that the mastic will peel away from the skylight and it will leak in a few months. Oh and make sure you use the correct size stainless steel screws to secure the skylight. The wooden frame inside should be varnished first to prevent black mould in a couple of years.
Here's hoping you don't have to eat your words about it not leaking Mel....😂
It will be fine 😜
You could’ve put a vent on the hole to make it look better without the wood
One idea if you want to repurpose the spot is that maxxair fans makes a circular exhaust fan that takes a 7" circular hole.
www.amazon.com/MAXXAIR-00-03810B-00-03812B-MAXXFAN-Exhaust/dp/B07TXX79JL
I've go one of the big 14" ones and then one of the smaller circular fans in my van. Having two fans is a big help!
😎😎
Hay buddy hope all is well with you 👍😊👍
I'm equipping a '93 GMC G20 but minimalistically. Not essential, Not installed. Bed, fridge, stove, microwave, storage, tools, that's it.
Not for living in. For traveling with camping possibilities.
Sound like you got the rite idea safe travels buddy 👍🤓👍
I new u were going to burn it Next time warm it up in a oven or on your wood burner
Hopefully won’t be a next time 👍😊👍
💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤
Because no one will see the top couldn’t you of just got someone to weld a sheet of metal over it? Or is that not possible. Btw I have no knowledge in vans just a random thought
It would
Probably go really rusty if done like that 👍
there's a hole in my ....
Haha 😂
Is this over 18 only 🔞 Mel 😂😂😂
No lol 😂
Next time use a hair dryer to mold the plastic
Can I borrow yours only I don’t have one 👍😂👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld $5-6$ @ re-sale shop like goodwil or SA. 1500 watt output max.
I'm cringing watching you slide that blade towards yourself... That could have gone VERY badly for your face.
@@freedawatermelon oh my goodness me I didn’t even realise that I had done that until now thank you for your concern
Fine job Mel
Thank you again 👍😊👍