Professional Motorhome Roof Cleaning
Over the last couple of days I have been trying to restore the roof of my Bailey motorhome to its former glory but its very had work and I can only reach so far. I appreciate that I can get up on the roof but with my issues with knees and hips I don't think that is the sensible thing to do. The roof needs a deep clean and seal. Just wondering if anyone has got a professional in to do the job, either on a motorhome or a caravan, and what the likely cost has been? I suppose one should ask how long lasting the finish was?
David
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Over the last couple of days I have been trying to restore the roof of my Bailey motorhome to its former glory but its very had work and I can only reach so far. I appreciate that I can get up on the roof but with my issues with knees and hips I don't think
that is the sensible thing to do. The roof needs a deep clean and seal. Just wondering if anyone has got a professional in to do the job, either on a motorhome or a caravan, and what the likely cost has been? I suppose one should ask how long lasting the finish
was?David
Write your comments here...
Over the last couple of days I have been trying to restore the roof of my Bailey motorhome to its former glory but its very had work and I can only reach so far. I appreciate that I can get up on the roof but with my issues with knees and hips I don't think
that is the sensible thing to do. The roof needs a deep clean and seal. Just wondering if anyone has got a professional in to do the job, either on a motorhome or a caravan, and what the likely cost has been? I suppose one should ask how long lasting the finish
was?David
David, Our MH was sealed by these people:
http://paintsealdirect.com/authorised-dealers/
The coating appears to work well, you can certainly tell the couple of bits that they have missed! I know ours was done from new, but they must do a clean and seal.
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Tourershine has had good reports on the various MH forums.
However a google of Mobile Motorhome Cleaners will bring up a few more.
No experience myself as I can still just manage off a ladder....only just!!!
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I have seen roof cleaners at work at the shows and they seem to do a good job. Sorry I cannot remember how much they charge. Think there is a show this weekend but the next best one is 22/25 Sept on the Lincoln showground. You might find out by going to the shows web pages and looking at who the exhibitors are. Lincoln show details >here<
peedee
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I am not sure a pressure washer is the right thing. It might well clean the roof but as you say it could also do untold damage.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
David
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I would think you could take it to a car valeter and ask them, David? On our nearest one the almost entirely East European and very hard working young men are equipped with long stepladders and I'm sure would do a thorough job without having to resport to a pressure washer. What would it cost? Well a full external wash and polish, and an internal valet (acceptable) can cost as little as £12 here! It may be more, if you want it sealing, but if you supply the product you want, I'm sure the guys in our local place would be more than happy to do it for a small extra fee.
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I am not sure a pressure washer is the right thing. It might well clean the roof but as you say it could also do untold damage.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
David
Depends on what level of power they set it at. The one I have is adjustable right down to hardly any jet force at all to one which you wouldn't even use on you tyres.
peedee
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Apart from the visual, pride, and possible resale value related effects of having a clean roof, is there any other benefit, as in 45 years I have not cleaned the roof of my house and that I and others can actually see?
Neither of these would I want somebody actually up there on it and using anything on it aggressive enough to remove the grime.
Our Hymer caravan is now 8.5 years old and its roof has never been cleaned, though a boat roofed caravan was, as doing so with that one was easy and you could see it.
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David, plan your next trip to the Dordogne and go to Sarlat, on the main road is a large shopping centre, garage etc, also several car wash bays one of which has ramps on both sides of the bay to enable MH roof washing. Long way to go I know
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The ones I watched cleaning a green caravan roof at the Peterborough show just used the jet wash as a means of wetting and rinsing the roof. The main work was done by the application of a detergent and brushing this all over the roof and then rinsing off.
I was impressed with the result and I would love to know what the detergent was.peedee
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Peedee, mine's not bad (i clean it a couple times a year) bit yours looks very swish.
i can see the roof of my van from an upstairs window and its easy to see when it needs doing.
pine straw, sap, saharan dust, general grime can all build form long trips away and, like yours, we have a fair bit of 'furniture' up there, which can trap muck and also make cleaning a bit more awkward.
a thorough wetting is a good start and most of the cr*p can be swilled off with a normal hose....
what treatment do you apply (to the roof
) after cleaning?0 -
The ones I watched cleaning a green caravan roof at the Peterborough show just used the jet wash as a means of wetting and rinsing the roof. The main work was done by the application of a detergent and brushing this all over the roof and then rinsing off.
I was impressed with the result and I would love to know what the detergent was.peedee
Write your comments here...using a jet wash on the roof, indeed anywhere on a motorhome or a caravan is a very bad idea, even for just wetting it. The water under power pressure can get forced passed rubber seals, and worse can displace sealant around cable
entries and joints, meaning a long term leak, let alone short term water in the van. Keep pressure washers away from them. Mine had to be repaired after someone at the dealers pressure washed it !0 -
At the Western Motorhome Show there was a "professional" cleaning company working on a moho roof. They were using a commercial pressure washer. Frankly if there was not a damp problem before they started there may well have been afterwards; it was brutal. Do be careful in your choice DK.
Write your comments here...Ditto ! Something like Fenwicks Caravan cleaner, followed by their bobby dazzler, put on with a long handled soft broom, from steady step ladders, held by the missus, (telling me ive missed a bit !) Keeps ours reasonably clean if not spotless.
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I'm impressed peedee. I did mine about a week ago but it did not look as good as that
. Different material I think.i have the AutoGlym polish that Peedee mentions, it looks like rain this aft, but ill be up there shortly and give this a try....
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have a great time...
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Its hard work BB even with Autoglym.
peede
I can vouch for that!!! From this
picture you can just about see how far I got!!!David
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That's a very clear roof DK, no SP? Ours is a trip hazard jungle
. or plenty of handholds, depending on your viewpoint.
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first things first, roof needed a wash, so managed to get this done before the rain came in....used some One Chem Exterior Cleaner which i was given by a sales rep (along with a boxfull of their other products) and it worked well.
when all dry, will try the Autoglym resin polish..to try and replicate Peedee's glowing work....
bit crowded on our roof, too.....five rooflights (cab, lounge, kitchen, washroom and bedroom, satellite dish, solar panel and two chimneys (SOG and Tec Tower oven).....
still plenty to keep clean though......
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went up again this morning and went over the whole roof with the Autoglym.....went on ok, not too bad to polish off, do a smallish section at a time...
just need to be aware that all Ducato based vans slope gently down at the front (hence the need for levellers on 'level' ground) with a shiny roof and yen year old trainers with nice smooth soles...
roof looks good though, should help prevent too much crud sticking to it....
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went up again this morning and went over the whole roof with the Autoglym.....went on ok, not too bad to polish off, do a smallish section at a time...
just need to be aware that all Ducato based vans slope gently down at the front (hence the need for levellers on 'level' ground) with a shiny roof and yen year old trainers with nice smooth soles...
roof looks good though, should help prevent too much crud sticking to it....
Write your comments here...give it a good coat of wax now BB to seal it, Polish will only clean but not protect apparently.
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