Re-caulking exterior of RV

[Retire-]

Who has re-caulked their RV? What brand of caulk did you use? Are you happy with the results? Let me know for when ours needs to be re-caulked. Trying to be pro-active instead of reactive. Thanks in advance for any and all replies. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

[pconroy]

Dicor once and Geocel once.


Yeah, the problem isn't the caulk's fault, it's the person doing the application.




It's like that old saying "Tis a poor carpenter who blames his tools."

[Danno]

Dicor for the roof, Sikaflex everywhere else. Do not use silicone on a travel trailer.

[Jagiven]

For the roof I went with Eternabond - awesome stuff, just do not stretch it.

For the walls I use ISO Quad, very sticky stuff. Use painters tape to make nice clean lines, and lots of very soapy water for the finger to work it.

[CAG]

And don't use the self leveling sikaflex on windows and areas where it will have a chance to "run". That is what self leveling is and it will not stay on vertical surfaces.

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by Danno

Dicor for the roof, Sikaflex everywhere else. Do not use silicone on a travel trailer.

Why shouldn't we use silicone? I used 100% silicone 5 years ago and it is holding up just fine.

Cheers

[CAG]

This is the main reason that I was told not to use it. You can NEVER get anything else to stick to the place you applied it and is hell to get off.

https://www.roadworkplay.com/recaulk...ng-our-camper/

[Sundancer330]

On the roof use Dicor and or Eternabond tape on any seams, sidewalls Jayco said they use OSI QUAD Sealant which you can buy at Home Depot/Menards/Lowes in many colors, great sealant that lasts many years.

[Sundancer330]

Originally Posted by CAG

This is the main reason that I was told not to use it. You can NEVER get anything else to stick to the place you applied it and is hell to get off.

https://www.roadworkplay.com/recaulk...ng-our-camper/

Also silicone will not stick to silicone, so if it pulls loose its a nightmare to reseal.

[Vicr]

RV Pro Flex. The custom coach shop which did $14,000 of warranty water leak work to my coach highly recommended it and the is the sealant he successfully used to rebuild my large slide. It cleans up easily with Naptha which will not harm my clearcoated paint. I also use Sikaflex on areas that aren't on the full body paint.

[Merrick]

RV Pro Flex for me too

[hainey]

hi..dicor on the roof..it is self leveling & easy to use..clean up the old sealant & dicor will work good..not to use on the windows,just your roof..it is one of the best sealing..i use it alot..i am from nova scotia ,& we have bad winters..thanks..alan

[GHen]

Every couple of months I check everywhere for areas that need caulk, sometimes every month. A water leak can ruin a floor in a few days. I believe it’s one of the most important maintenance items that needs attention all the time, even when the rv is not in use. Right up there with keeping the batteries charges.

[Boatfixx]

I've noticed a number of you mention, "Sikaflex". Which part number are you using? There are several. Thank you.

Also, I noticed some use silicone. Again there are various grades of silicone sealants and adhesives. You can buy cheap $4.00 tubes and you can buy $15.00 tubes, and there is a great difference. Which ones are you using?

My 08' Jayco Melbourne is all caulked with a high grade silicone, and the reason they use it is because it has a very high adhesion rate, and because the two part urethane paint job adheres to it like crazy. Basecoat/clearcoat and two part transportation grade paints have a high adhesion rate to high grade silicone adhesives.
Mine is from Arizona and its just starting to show some slight edge degradation after 10 years. That's pretty darn good life.

I know the EPDM RV rubber roof membranes are another issue, and from may past experience with one, the Dicor products served me well for over 17 years on a BigFoot 3000 series camper who's life was in the moderate weather of the Pacific Northwest. I only had to re-caulk once in those 17 years.

[Bucket2]

Imy MH had been done and they used silicone and it attracted dust really bad

[izzyshouz]

Can Eternabond tape be applied over previously dicored seems?? Specifically where the front and rear metal siding meets the rubber roof? It would seem much easier to do that, assuming I clean the area very well?

[Jagiven]

Yep, I was lazy, bought a roll of 6" wide eternabond tape and went right over all my Decor sealant. I just washed everything good first. It's a little lumpy looking. No one sees it but me.

[Marmot]

Geocel ProFlex crystal clear sealant. Apply, then smooth with a finger dipped in detergent and water. Lasts for years. I recommend taping on both sides of the area to be sealed with blue painters tape. Remove the tape right after smoothing with your finger. Note that this is not for the rubber roof. For that use Dicor Self Leveling Caulk.

[Marmot]

Right, the roof should be checked every couple months. Seal cracked caulk with Dicor Self Leveling caulk or EternaBond

[Rdubya44]

Or one of my personal favorites: Caulk and paint shows what a carpenter you ain't! ��