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 Topic: Cleaning skylights
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10/12/2017 at 11:15am
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Autotrail Comanche
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Morning has any one got any idea how to clean double skinned skylights are mine really grotty between the 2 skins,secondly how do you get them off I’m thinking just undo the screws at the end of the arms.
Tony
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If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out
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10/12/2017 at 6:06pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Are you referring to the large rectangular clear skylight with twin gas struts or the square 40 x 40 skykights with 2 fixing points?
They both have double skins apart from the fact that square ones can be separated but the big rectangular one can't as it's bonded together identical to that of the acrylic windows.
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10/12/2017 at 9:02pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Yes, they are the 40 x 40 cms. skylights. Although the screen is slightly different to mine they should come off in much the same way.
On the photo there should be 4 screws at each corner that secures the internal panel which goes around the perimeter of the aperture. Undo and remove the 4 screws which will release the internal panel. The next procedure is to get a ladder and look at the skylight on the roof. There should be 4 self tapping screws which fix into the 2 handles below which you need to unscrew and remove. Both the upper and lower skylight will lift off which you can then clean and re-assemble in the reverse order. If they are filthy like mine were, what I did was obtain a large plastic tub, a soft paint brush, an old toothbrush (to reach the nooks and crannies) and some washing powder which is cheaper to use and cleans them thoroughly and come up just like new again. Boil a kettle full of water and mix with cold to make a warm mixture and add the washing powder. I had to do 3 skylights in total which I had to wash twice so you can get an idea just how dirty they really were but remember to rinse thoroughly afterwards in clear cold water to wash away any surplus washing powder and to avoid any powdery film left on the screen.
You may want to remove any built algea around the perimeter of the aperture as well whilst you have the skylights removed.
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13/12/2017 at 1:24pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Quote: Originally posted by DARKLORD on 10/12/2017
Morning has any one got any idea how to clean double skinned skylights are mine really grotty between the 2 skins,secondly how do you get them off I’m thinking just undo the screws at the end of the arms.
Tony
The arms are spring loaded which is why they lock into the open and closed positions so if you dismantle the handles, the springs will probably eject and most likely have to replace the whole skylight and they don't come cheap.
The method I explained in my previous post is the ONLY way you can remove the two upper screens and even if you decide to replace the complete skylight you will still have to split the screens before a new one can be installed plus it will require scraping off the old waterproof sealant first and replacing with fresh before installation.
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14/12/2017 at 7:32am
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Autotrail Comanche
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Thanks
When then weather picks up I will give it a go ,
Progress report to follow
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15/12/2017 at 4:15pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Yes, it's one of those jobs that you have to undertake on a dry sunny day unless of course the motorhome is kept under cover but the task is easier than it sounds. The time consuming part is actually getting the skylight screens cleaned but it's more convenient if you are outside the home then you can just dunk em' in the bath and clean them a bit quicker. My caravan is in storage so it becomes more of a daunting task but once they have been thoroughly cleaned they won't want doing again for another few years.
Good luck and report back if you have any problems.
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23/12/2017 at 3:06pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Autotrail Comanche
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UPDATE...Skylights clean and gleaming
Tools required a set of torx screwdrivers a ladder of steps and a cleaning agent I used traffic film remover also a glamorous assistant.
First push skylight open then undo the 4 screws at the end of the arms then pull the arms away from the’re mountings.
Then get a ladder and remove the skylight from the roof.
Place on a flat surface and remove the torx screws (T25)that hold the handles to the skins the handles will come away and you can then separate the 2 halves and clean .
Then it’s just a matter of reassembley .
Sorry no pictures but photobucket won’t let me post them.
Tony
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If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out
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