Resealing Windows Before Subfloor

[brightond]

Like many on the forum we discovered that the bus windows are taking on water during heavy rain. This is partly because some of the seals have been broken from me removing the windows while taking the side panels down and partly because the bus is currently very unlevel.

My thought is that before I lay the subflloor I should pull each window and scrape all the existing sealant off, clean the contact areas real good with mineral spirits and then apply new sealer.

Does this sound like a good technique? Am I missing any important steps?
Lastly, what do people recommend for sealing? I've been reading older posts that touch on this but saw some warnings about using products that will make removing the windows later on an impossible task.

How would something like this work?

Thanks!

[brightond]

I forgot to mention the gasket that goes around the window as well




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[Greatestrr]

100% silicone will work thats what i used. Its much cheaper and has a 25 year warranty. Or you could look at something like osi which is a poly caulk. It took 12 tubes to do my 22 windows

[brightond]

Originally Posted by Greatestrr

100% silicone will work thats what i used. Its much cheaper and has a 25 year warranty. Or you could look at something like osi which is a poly caulk. It took 12 tubes to do my 22 windows

Thanks for that. [emoji106]


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[Greatestrr]

Oh i also used that foam weather strip thats sticky on one side i put that around first then laid a bead of silicone all around then put the window back in. Also i really built up the bottom with silicone. On my bus the water would roll off the drip edge above the window. Land right on the sill and come in so i built it up on the bottom. Think i finally got it after much water came in on my finished floor and walls. I will probably have to replace some of the walls cause water damage. So make sure your windows are leak free, before proceeding. Just a word of caution

[chev49]

I would ash can those windows and put some real rv windows in, and also skin the areas that u dont want a window in. is easy work.

[brightond]

Originally Posted by chev49

I would ash can those windows and put some real rv windows in, and also skin the areas that u dont want a window in. is easy work.

How much would you budget I'd need to pay for windows?

[brightond]

Originally Posted by Greatestrr

Oh i also used that foam weather strip thats sticky on one side i put that around first then laid a bead of silicone all around then put the window back in. Also i really built up the bottom with silicone. On my bus the water would roll off the drip edge above the window. Land right on the sill and come in so i built it up on the bottom. Think i finally got it after much water came in on my finished floor and walls. I will probably have to replace some of the walls cause water damage. So make sure your windows are leak free, before proceeding. Just a word of caution

Thanks! That's good info. Curious what you think you spent on materials to seal the windows.

[chev49]

Originally Posted by brightond

How much would you budget I'd need to pay for windows?

The rv window costs will vary according to where u get them. for example, a trailer repair place, maybe a wrecking yard, or like I do... from craigslist of people who are making flat bed trailers out of older rvs. Just dont use the really old ones. there are many nice window sets available that way, and often the windows are the same pattern from one rv to another brand. On my thomas re, I got over 30 windows so not only did i have multiple sizes for my needs, but my brother used some of the left over ones for the travel trailer he built. I dont think i paid anything for them, but got from several trailers and rvs. I also got sinks, showers bath tubs, cabinets and the like.

[Tango]

If you can access an RV wrecking yard you may be able to find some quality, double pane windows on the cheap. Just a thought.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Tango

If you can access an RV wrecking yard you may be able to find some quality, double pane windows on the cheap. Just a thought.

...or an RV Dealer Lot ...late at night.

[EastCoastCB]

If you're not SET on keeping the school bus windows do what I and others have done, and eliminate them with steel sheets and rv windows as mentioned.
Still gotta panel mine back in, but my factory windows weren't even salvageable so rv windows were always the plan.
Keeping the bus windows on my shorty since there are less of them to have to seal up, and its more a daily driver/weekend cruiser.

[Greatestrr]

With the silicone and foam weather strip, I'd say right around $100. I looked at r.v windows even thought of putting regular house windows in. It was way more than $100.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Greatestrr

With the silicone and foam weather strip, I'd say right around $100. I looked at r.v windows even thought of putting regular house windows in. It was way more than $100.

Sure- you can seal up the leaky windows for LESS than $100. Or you can totally build it so that you have screened, insulated windows strategically placed where you like them, and better insulation.
Some folks build weekend campers, some folks build their own motorhomes.
Depends on how one wants to use their bus, and how much work they're willing to put it.

[brightond]

Thanks for the input.

Unfortunately, it's not in the budget (money or time) to hunt down RV windows and have the whole bus skinned. I am though planning on doing the interior build so I can access the windows by removing a panel. Let me know if you have any advice on that plan

[Greatestrr]

ECCB your exactly right and i agree. I wish i had the money to do that. Last night it rained real real hard. I have 3 or 4 windows that still have minor leaks. No idea where the water is coming from. I'm considering adding onto the drip edge to make it bigger. During light rain i get zero water so for the heavy blowing rain i need a bigger drip edge to get the water further away from the window. How it is now the water rolls off the drip edge right onto the window during hard rain. Otherwise I'd have to totally caulk them shut. I plan on being in warm weather so don't like the idea of caulking them shut.

[Tango]

General rule is "all school bus windows leak". That said, re-sealing them will help a bunch. The original sealant dries up, shrinks, cracks and lets water in. The best material for sealing them is an OEM grade automotive urethane Seal Sealer. A little pricey but then so is the floor and everything inside. Next best will probably be the 100% silicones.

But be aware that there is still the probability that you'll get some leakage around any glass that moves, especially in a driving rain at highway speed. The only real solution to that is to permanently seal the glass closed.

[tobeamiss]

In my opinion, Henrys 212 is the best stuff. It's clear and tougher than tough. AMOF I used it to seal/fill the small holes left behind on the floor from removing the seats. I have a bunch of small nickel size plugs that formed with the 212 and I trip over them all the time lol! 10 months down the road and they're still solid and would be pretty hard to remove. So if it's 100% silicone you're looking for, this is the stuff.

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[Yellowbus1984]

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[tobeamiss]

Did you do the windows yet?

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