the final word on roof proofing
Discussion
Like my last post about thee TP (easily disconnected, thanks Shnozz) there have also been loads and loads of posts about proofing the roof with Renovo or Thompson's water seal. ( another candidate for an FAQ?)
I wanted to know if anyone coudl tell me why I would want to do this? Mine's out in all weathers and gets soaked through, then it dries out on a hot drive, or in a stiff breeze. All seems to take care of itself naturally. In fact, I reckon that if I proofed it, the water would run more freely into the car!
Proofing seems to stain the interior after heavy doses, water doesn't. Am I unwittingly knackering something (will the headlining suddenly peel off, or something go soft and chewy?), or can we just let nature take it's course?
Obviously, proofing 'looks' better on the outside, but I'm not fussed about that.
Anyone?
I wanted to know if anyone coudl tell me why I would want to do this? Mine's out in all weathers and gets soaked through, then it dries out on a hot drive, or in a stiff breeze. All seems to take care of itself naturally. In fact, I reckon that if I proofed it, the water would run more freely into the car!
Proofing seems to stain the interior after heavy doses, water doesn't. Am I unwittingly knackering something (will the headlining suddenly peel off, or something go soft and chewy?), or can we just let nature take it's course?
Obviously, proofing 'looks' better on the outside, but I'm not fussed about that.
Anyone?
IF your hood needs proofing you, ll know about it..!
Generally, if the interior fabric of the hood is damp after rain, it needs proofing. Thompsons water seal is the cheapest option here, but a little smelly. I did about 8 coats on mine last year, and it happily survives the heaviest of downpours without any water ingres (although decent seals help!).
Renovo and fabsil are similar products... the former also do a hood colouring agent... which I have for "next time"
Generally, if the interior fabric of the hood is damp after rain, it needs proofing. Thompsons water seal is the cheapest option here, but a little smelly. I did about 8 coats on mine last year, and it happily survives the heaviest of downpours without any water ingres (although decent seals help!).
Renovo and fabsil are similar products... the former also do a hood colouring agent... which I have for "next time"
that's kind of my point.
the headlining isn't damp, but then it's a pvc sheet and won't let water through anyway. Will it eventually come unstucjk and peel off?
the rear section is sopping wet after heavy rain, but so what? It dries out very quickly. Why should I wory about an iddy bit of water?
the headlining isn't damp, but then it's a pvc sheet and won't let water through anyway. Will it eventually come unstucjk and peel off?
the rear section is sopping wet after heavy rain, but so what? It dries out very quickly. Why should I wory about an iddy bit of water?
walsingham said:So here's the question... what happens to the water once the rear section of the hood's sopping wet? Does the remaining rain that falls onto it discover that it can't soak in and therefore just runs off, or does the rain continue to soak in once the fabric's saturated and, if so, where does it then go?
the rear section is sopping wet after heavy rain, but so what? It dries out very quickly. Why should I wory about an iddy bit of water?
I Thompson'ed mine, despite not having water ingress problems, as I'd heard that was the most common cause of wet carpets etc. I did the roof panels simply to keep the whole roof uniform.
I suspect that it would also make it easier to remove anything else that found its way onto your roof e.g. bird$hit or the tears of a Boxster driver.
Craig
Seeing as you live near the SEA, do you end up with 'Salty Deposits' (cue podie) on your roof..?
Its just that my roof had quite a lot of white streaks through driving back from Austec in the rain a couple of weeks ago and all the road salt mixed with the water...
I use Thompson on my roof, after a wet sponge down (cue podie) all the salt streaks have gone...
Seeing as you live near the SEA, do you end up with 'Salty Deposits' (cue podie) on your roof..?
Its just that my roof had quite a lot of white streaks through driving back from Austec in the rain a couple of weeks ago and all the road salt mixed with the water...
I use Thompson on my roof, after a wet sponge down (cue podie) all the salt streaks have gone...
It would appear that there is no final word on waterproofing! 
Maybe your roof is touch dry shortly after rain, but that's just the surface. I've been helping a friend repair the stitching around the rear window on his car (I'm a bit clever with a needle, but don't tell anyone!); there are 4 layers of material here and it just because it's touch dry on the outside doesn't mean the inner layers are dry. The stitching itself has failed at the corners, where there are stress raisers, and the original stitching appears to be constructed of some sort of natural fibre. This car is I think 11 years old and I suspect that the stitching has weakened as a result of repeated soakings. You can pull it to pieces with a fingernail.
Getting the window restitched is a pain and not cheap, doing your own repair (as we've been doing) is far from easy unless you don't care what it looks like. It's all a bit like hard work when you can mitigate the risk for the price of £6 of Thompsons and a few half hour sessions of peace and quiet in the garage with the Radio 4 Comedy slot.
Maybe your roof is touch dry shortly after rain, but that's just the surface. I've been helping a friend repair the stitching around the rear window on his car (I'm a bit clever with a needle, but don't tell anyone!); there are 4 layers of material here and it just because it's touch dry on the outside doesn't mean the inner layers are dry. The stitching itself has failed at the corners, where there are stress raisers, and the original stitching appears to be constructed of some sort of natural fibre. This car is I think 11 years old and I suspect that the stitching has weakened as a result of repeated soakings. You can pull it to pieces with a fingernail.
Getting the window restitched is a pain and not cheap, doing your own repair (as we've been doing) is far from easy unless you don't care what it looks like. It's all a bit like hard work when you can mitigate the risk for the price of £6 of Thompsons and a few half hour sessions of peace and quiet in the garage with the Radio 4 Comedy slot.
I personally use Fabsil on my roof. Have only had to use it once at the beginning of the winter and water still beads off. But I do also use a Leven cover religiously.
But my take on is that although the roof never leaked, application of Fabsil or Thompsons has to help preserve its look. Lets face it the roofs are not cheap to replace, so if I can spend a couple of quid and an hour of my time to keep my car looking great then it is money well spent.
But my take on is that although the roof never leaked, application of Fabsil or Thompsons has to help preserve its look. Lets face it the roofs are not cheap to replace, so if I can spend a couple of quid and an hour of my time to keep my car looking great then it is money well spent.
bridgdav said:
Craig
Seeing as you live near the SEA, do you end up with 'Salty Deposits' (cue podie) on your roof..?
Its just that my roof had quite a lot of white streaks through driving back from Austec in the rain a couple of weeks ago and all the road salt mixed with the water...
I use Thompson on my roof, after a wet sponge down (cue podie) all the salt streaks have gone...
When I first got my car, it rained the next day very heavily, I had water pouring in down the middle, the sides and the inside of the rear was very damp. After a few coats of Thompsons no leaks at all! Even in NE horizontal rain, with 4 inches of snow on top. Great. Sounds as if yours is proofed pretty well.
walsingham said:
that's kind of my point.
the headlining isn't damp, but then it's a pvc sheet and won't let water through anyway. Will it eventually come unstucjk and peel off?
the rear section is sopping wet after heavy rain, but so what? It dries out very quickly. Why should I wory about an iddy bit of water?
I had similar thoughts when i first got mine - 'its a bit wet - never mind...' but then the reality of a damp car kicked in:
- condensation on the inside when the temperature changes
- smelly & rotting carpets
- any steel interior parts start to rust
- last but not least - wet ar$e in the driving seat!
so I gave the hood four coats of thompsons and have been dry as a bone ever since (cue podie)
well worth the effort IMHO....
bridgdav said:
been dry as a bone ever since (cue podie)
FWIW I just done a search on how many seperate threads contain 'cue podie'....
19 and counting....
It's all getting out of hand! (fnarr) You lot just expect me to slip one in (fnarr), I'm just not sure how long I can keep it up! (fnarr)
Fair enouugh. The only 'harm' it can do is a bit of staining if I overdo it and a funny smell.
Possible gains are slightly dryer interior and potentially giviong the stitching a longer lease of life. Fair enough for a few quid.
If it helps keep seagull sh*te off, that's a brucey bonus too.
I'll have to wait til spring to do it, don't have a garage.
Thanks everyone. Next 'S ownership for idiots' question shortly.
Possible gains are slightly dryer interior and potentially giviong the stitching a longer lease of life. Fair enough for a few quid.
If it helps keep seagull sh*te off, that's a brucey bonus too.
I'll have to wait til spring to do it, don't have a garage.
Thanks everyone. Next 'S ownership for idiots' question shortly.
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