howdy fellow nomads, after being caught in cyclonic type weather whilst visiting our family ,we discovered the next day that apparently there was a small leak in the roof of our pop top. My son in law sealed it all up with marine grade sikaflex and also done the pop top base of the surround and replaced the metal screws with stainless steel ones. has anyone pleeeeeese got any ideas as to how to get rid of the watermarks on the inside of the ceiling. the roof or any part of the van does not leak at all now as i have proved it by using a high pressure washer on the roof and pop top surround and not a drop ventured inside the van. please i hope some one has some idea, we have tried sugar soap (diluted) but marks are still there

cheers
crocodile a.k.a. dave

You could try one of those non chlorine or caustic based cleaner . I've used that Orange Power Multi Purpose cleaner . Works well on removing marks off the annex and van body and removes mould from the ceiling . Never gone with all the crap that goes on about if I use this or that I will be saving the planet only to find out it doesn't work , but this one seems to work for me While you may have sealed the leak a word of caution , the roof cavity is lined with insulation which will still be wet and may re-stain the visible surface or set up a mould spore growth through the lining.

I'm with you on the Orange Power stuff Wombat.   You can use it on pretty well everything AND if doesn't stink like a lot of cleaners do.  I use it all the time.

howdy wombat, thanks so much for your reply it was much appreciated. will give the orange power stuff a shot at another reply to my query was using a chux magic eraser. thanks to them for their reply too. I have a mobile caravan chap who does servicing and all sorts of repair work on vans and rang him just b4 and he gave me a fone number to ring this chap who apparently uses some type of special pain to mask over the water stains. maybe used van yards have him to mask over water marks etc. will let you both know how i get on.  take care and happy miles

cheers crocodile
a.k.a Dave.

For water marks on plaster we used a product which I think was called 'White Knight Water Mark Remover ?' Got it at Bunnings. Should work the same on the caravan roof.

could you not just use a mild detergent and warm water if the roof is of a non absorbent material you dont say the year of the van so it may well be plywood with a laminate overlay!

If the ceiling was laminated it wouldn't show water marks. It seems it may be an absorbent material, or even a veneer similar to that used on the walls and cupboards. I have severe water marks all around my van windows from the previous owners' time and some experienced during my travels. I've sealed all external window and door frames with marine sikaflex, but movement has reopened up a few gaps. I've resealed, and all seems ok now. I can't see anything would remove water marks off veneer. It would just add more water marks. Painting over or relining is the only thing I'd reckon. I'm not even going to attempt to remove water marks from veneer.

on the contrary if the ceiling is a 3 ply with either paper or plastic laminate surface then it will be stained! and if that stain has come through and not yet finished it will be hell on wheels to get rid of

-- Edited by dave06 on Thursday 11th of February 2010 09:27:21 AM

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If you are able to repaint then be sure to use an undercoat that stops stains from bleeding though or the stains may reappear. Wattyl paints make three types of sealer used on water stains, all have different solvents depending on what your top coat is.
I once saw an old painter use silver frost over a water stain and when i talked to him about it he told me any spirit based paint will stop water stains from bleeding and so he used that as the undercoat.