Best Z3 softop cleaner?
- Thread starter JBunker
- Start date
I give it a brush off and hover and a going over with a lint removal roller first to get rid of debrie and dust, then dampen the roof and then add cleaner of your choice, autoglym, Ragtop, Renovo (I used autoglym last but going to try Ragtop next out of curiosity and good reviews) agitate in with a soft bristled brush and hose off untill the water runs of clear and then leave to dry. Once dry optional add a protectant. I used autoglym last time.
JBunker
Newbie
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2022
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- 4
Great thanks! I’ll look at the reviews and choices but I’ll keep autoglym, ragtop and renovo in mind! Let me know how you get on with ragtop and whether it’s worth it over autoglym
A good friend of mine has been retrimming roofs for 30+ years. He works closely with Hartz who are the manufacturers of the Stayfast fabric which is used on our roofs.
The #1 bit of advice he states about how to look after your roof is NEVER use proofer or conditioner on your roof.
The fabric doesn't need it as it will never leak due to it being a sandwich of mohair & an impermeable membrane layer.
But beyond this, the fibres of the fabric NEED to be regularly wetted - otherwise they break down resulting in cracks to the fabric & shrinkage - which results in premature failure of the fabric.
The fabric is designed to absorb water & wick it away, NOT repel it and have it run off. If it's been proof'd and water beads/runs off then the fibres are not being nourished and premature failure is required.
I have always followed his advice on all my soft tops, and never suffered any shrinkage yet.
As an aside, he cites Renovo as the top reason why he's in business retrimming roofs. If these product didn't exist, roofs would rarely need replacing.
Make of that what you will....
The #1 bit of advice he states about how to look after your roof is NEVER use proofer or conditioner on your roof.
The fabric doesn't need it as it will never leak due to it being a sandwich of mohair & an impermeable membrane layer.
But beyond this, the fibres of the fabric NEED to be regularly wetted - otherwise they break down resulting in cracks to the fabric & shrinkage - which results in premature failure of the fabric.
The fabric is designed to absorb water & wick it away, NOT repel it and have it run off. If it's been proof'd and water beads/runs off then the fibres are not being nourished and premature failure is required.
I have always followed his advice on all my soft tops, and never suffered any shrinkage yet.
As an aside, he cites Renovo as the top reason why he's in business retrimming roofs. If these product didn't exist, roofs would rarely need replacing.
Make of that what you will....
I think a lot of these roof treatments are used by second hand car sales guys who want to make the roof look good. I'm sure some are good but I just don't know which. So I just use soapy water with a softish brush.
My cat used to sleep on the roof leaving tons of hair. I'd use one of those sticky rollers for clothes to get that off.
My cat used to sleep on the roof leaving tons of hair. I'd use one of those sticky rollers for clothes to get that off.
That gets the hair off the roof, how do you get the cat off?
Tony.
Tony.
Send the dog up.
This exactly. Cleaners yes, reproofing, no. They don't need it. These snake oil products keep roof firms happy as they need replacing more often.
I'm having a new roof from Jack Smiths in a fortnight, so this has been incredibly useful information to know. Thanks all!