Acrylic sheet to replace skylight bubble?

[cannesdo]

I'm selling my Alpenlite 5th wheel. I can't find a replacement skylight bubble for it and the old one is on its last legs so I had the idea to replace it with just a flat sheet of acrylic. That would work, wouldn't it? It's 30x38". How thick would you want the acrylic to be? I'm thinking at least 1/4". And acrylic or polycarbonate?

Thanks much...

[4x4van]

If it were me, and I was installing a flat plate, I wouldn't use screws at all. Holes and screws just create a location for cracks/leaks. I'd simply cut the polycarbonate at least 1-2" larger than the hole, lay down a heavy bead of Dicor, lay the sheet on top, and then add more Dicor around the outside once the initial Dicor dries.

[BarneyS]

Here is where I recently bought mine when I redid my roof. It was very a very nice quality piece of work. Price was not bad either. They had many different sizes and styles.
Barney

[SDcampowneroper]

cannesdo wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Dicor sealant either self leveling or not should work well, depending on your fit should work. You might consider Eternabond tape if you cant get a flat fit.
You mentioned machining the edges, you should be able to do that with a router with a chamfer bit, poly thakes that easy, acrylic would crack.

Great, thanks...I may take it to a machine shop tomorrow. Just a 1/4" wide 1/8" high lip for the caulk would help to get a clean look I think...I got plexiglass. Did some googling. That looks like it can be routed too -- yes?

I may skip the original framing for the bubble. It's so messed up. Doesn't look great. The screws should hold it tight. I think I'll also paint about an inch at the edge the color of the roof to conceal the butyl (?) tape/putty that will go underneath. I may drill new holes near the old ones for the good fit. Drill right through the plexiglass and the roof at the same time to make sure they line up. Thoughts on that?

Plexiglass is Acrylic! Get Lexan Polycarbonate - worth the extra money!

[cannesdo]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Dicor sealant either self leveling or not should work well, depending on your fit should work. You might consider Eternabond tape if you cant get a flat fit.
You mentioned machining the edges, you should be able to do that with a router with a chamfer bit, poly thakes that easy, acrylic would crack.

Great, thanks...I may take it to a machine shop tomorrow. Just a 1/4" wide 1/8" high lip for the caulk would help to get a clean look I think...I got plexiglass. Did some googling. That looks like it can be routed too -- yes?

I may skip the original framing for the bubble. It's so messed up. Doesn't look great. The screws should hold it tight. I think I'll also paint about an inch at the edge the color of the roof to conceal the butyl (?) tape/putty that will go underneath. I may drill new holes near the old ones for the good fit. Drill right through the plexiglass and the roof at the same time to make sure they line up. Thoughts on that?

[SDcampowneroper]

Dicor sealant either self leveling or not should work well, depending on your fit should work. You might consider Eternabond tape if you cant get a flat fit.
You mentioned machining the edges, you should be able to do that with a router with a chamfer bit, poly thakes that easy, acrylic would crack.

[cannesdo]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Polycarbonate, NOT acrylic. Poly will take hail and not haze or yellow with age.

Any idea if either of these work with self-leveling sealant?

[cannesdo]

wildtoad wrote:
What are your plans to dress up the hole on the inside.

There's a blind that you pull shut which is always closed so you won't see it anyway from the inside. But it will allow light to come through.

[cannesdo]

opnspaces wrote:
Will this work? not cheap and a little bit larger. But if the inner dome hides that it's larger I would think it would not matter.
Link
The measurements on the picture don't match the measurements in the description so you might need to reach out to them and ask which is correct.

They also seem to offer a custom skylight creation for $239 if you have to go that route.
Custom

Thanks! Nah, that first one is too narrow... 😞

[cannesdo]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Polycarbonate, NOT acrylic. Poly will take hail and not haze or yellow with age.

Ah -- good! Thanks!

[Bird_Freak]

Have you checked Amazon for the correct skylight? Thats where I got mine.

[garyemunson]

https://www.eztopsworldwide.com/rvskylights.htm

[agesilaus]

wildtoad wrote:
As I recall they had build a frame to raise the sheet off the roof just a bit.

That is the curb and it's purpose is to raise the seal off the roof to prevent water puddling on top of the seal and working it's way thru the seal eventually.

[opnspaces]

Will this work? not cheap and a little bit larger. But if the inner dome hides that it's larger I would think it would not matter.
Link
The measurements on the picture don't match the measurements in the description so you might need to reach out to them and ask which is correct.

They also seem to offer a custom skylight creation for $239 if you have to go that route.
Custom

[WNYBob]

I used butyl tape as the first layer of sealant, then screw it down, and then seal the edges with self leveling sealant!