roof leaking

**rbhtrail** · 12-20-2022, 01:39 PM

Hello All, 2019 2720 roof leak by ac unit. I recently found a leak coming from the plastic wire chase near the ac unit. I opened up the chase to see a wire hole feeding power to the area near the TV antenna end of the TM's interior roof. Does anyone know if there is an elevation drawing showing the view of the ac units housing, supports and flashing to the roof. I removed the interior ac cover ,inspected to find emitting light from voids of silicone on the roof material. It would be helpful to have an assembly drawing that shows how the ac unit is attached... Thanks much for any help getting the documentation.
Is there any such documentation available ?
Thank You all...

Shane826 · 12-21-2022, 08:07 AM

I don’t have a drawing but… On top of the roof there is a riser made from wa wood or PVC board frame topped with a price of TM wall material. This is screwed to the roof and then siliconed. No flashing. The plastic skirt you see under the A/C sits on top of this riser and then the A/C sits on top of that. The skirt should have a bead of lap sealant sealing it to the top of the roof. The A/C is clamped to the riser, sandwiching the skirt in place, by 4 bolts, 1 in each corner of the riser 14”x14” cutout. There is a foam gasket between the A/C and skirt. Trust me you don’t want to remove the riser. If it’s not lined up just right, nothing else will line up correctly.

Note if you’re getting water in that cable channel on the ceiling take a good look at the seam that runs down the center of the roof. Water in the cable channel tends to be a tell-tale of a leaky center seam. Remove the trim, Eternabond tape over the seam, and new trim if you so desire seems to be the best fix going.

Shane826 · 12-21-2022, 10:20 AM

Here’s a few pics of the riser and skirt disassembled.

**rbhtrail** · 12-22-2022, 12:30 PM

Thanks for responding with your thoughts and pictures Shane 826. I've yet to have a real good look at all the penetration seals, most have ,I believe Sikaflex either white or black sealant. When the weather warms up a bit this spring, I'll have a real close look at every inch that's caulked.
I'll certainly report the results to the forum.
Thanks again for your help and have a Happy and safe year going forward.
Bob

**rbhtrail** · 08-28-2024, 12:49 PM

Hello all, Hello Shane826, Thanks for the feedback. I'm still chasing the roof leak. I re caulked the entire ac unit after removing all trim, didn't stop leak.
I then recaulked both sides of the center seam with Sikaflex, washed roof for 20 min with rain pattern from sprinkler, still leaking. Noticed all seals around 2 venting skylights, Ventline with led lights and warped bronze color ,noticed the seals were good but the internal gasket (poor design IMHO)was intact but may need replacing. I'll order 2/$10 each and hope that does it. I read on the Ventline's feedback that the seals have to be replaced more than people like.
Sooo... hoping for the best outcome. I'll let you know what works when I get to the bottom of it.
"We must endeavor to persevere" , The Outlaw Josey Wales 1976
Chief Dan George: Lone Watie
Thanks again.

Wavery · 08-28-2024, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbhtrail

Hello all, Hello Shane826, Thanks for the feedback. I'm still chasing the roof leak. I re caulked the entire ac unit after removing all trim, didn't stop leak.
I then recaulked both sides of the center seam with Sikaflex, washed roof for 20 min with rain pattern from sprinkler, still leaking. Noticed all seals around 2 venting skylights, Ventline with led lights and warped bronze color ,noticed the seals were good but the internal gasket (poor design IMHO)was intact but may need replacing. I'll order 2/$10 each and hope that does it. I read on the Ventline's feedback that the seals have to be replaced more than people like.
Sooo... hoping for the best outcome. I'll let you know what works when I get to the bottom of it.
"We must endeavor to persevere" , The Outlaw Josey Wales 1976
Chief Dan George: Lone Watie
Thanks again.

As Shane posted earlier, Eternabond tape running down the centerline of the entire roof seams to be the best fix. If you haven't used Eternabond before, watch a few youtube videos first. It is essential that the tape lies down straight and flat. Go slow and do about 6-12" at a time. You get one chance at it and if you get off coarse with it, it will wrinkle and look awful.

Whenever I use Eternabond tape, I always snap a chalk-line to keep me from going off coarse. Hope that helps.

BTW...... IMO, Sickaflex sucks.

**rbhtrail** · 10-22-2024, 01:06 PM

Hello all, Success only after removing mechanically all the sealant on the roof. I found delamination of the outer alum. skin from the 1" Styrofoam below it . It was delaminated at the rear of ac, causing running water to travel. I caulked all the exterior penetrations and interior of ac housing as well as changing 2 skylight lens's and gaskets. 6 tubes of Sikaflex $25 bucks per tube. 2 Skylight lens's and gaskets at around $75.
All in $225 and a months labor, testing each penetration in between each application. I have a warranty but did not trust they would spend the time that I ended putting into the fix and testing. Afterall who would.
This was a learning experience in patience. I still think Trailmanor is a good product but like every manufactured thing, every once in a while there's an amount that's not quite perfect.