Excess Caulking

[AKRUEBBE]

Anyone ever tried removing the excess caulking that does nothing but attract dirt. If so, what is the best thing to use? My rig is just over 3 months old and look at it.

[Fire_Instructor]

Never tried, as I was always worried that I'd reveal a careless knife cut from the factory that they covered with the Dicor. I've just cleaned it, and added to it. I think that next season. I'll clean the roof, add a little Dicor at the seams, then cover ALL of the seams with Eterna-bond tape. It may be more expensive to do it that way, but I believe that it will provide better protection.

[ALJO]

Use naphtha gas (used in Coleman equipment). For excess putty a pizza cutter or ice cream stick.

[AKRUEBBE]

I'm not referring to the roof, but all the seams they caulk on the side with silicone............around the basement doors, etc.

[RipinSC]

I have used a little mineral spirits on a rag and it cleans up good.

[RipinSC]

WD 40 also works if it is not real bad.

[AKRUEBBE]

I asked a friend of mine and he said to use "Goof Off". He said it actually removes the excess.

[RipinSC]

Try spraying some WD40 on it first and cleaning it with a rag. I don’t think you want to remove it unless you plan to replace all of it.

[hoppers4]

Originally Posted by RipinSC

I have used a little mineral spirits on a rag and it cleans up good.

X2

[Ringneks]

This is what I use, works great and doesn’t discolor the decals.

[JaycoAl]

At four years old, mine doesn't look that bad but if it did I'd leave it be. No point in opening up another can of worms, i.e. a dull finish or removing more than enough, etc.

[jasum]

Al there is a caulk remover I believe Amazon has it.

Haven't done that yet.........but it's also on my list.

[Lake Huron]

I agree with ALJO, Coleman fuel works great. Mineral spirits works, but you have to get the good stuff from a paint store. The mineral spirits you find in most stores out there, Lowes, HD, Ace Hardware, etc., is all a bunch of watered down garbage.
I use Coleman fuel to take off road tar, grease, etc,. off my vehicles. It will not hurt the paint/clearcoat either. Just rewax that area, because it will take wax off.

[hoppers4]

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

Mineral spirits works, but you have to get the good stuff from a paint store.

Very true. You can buy the good stuff at the big box stores but it can't be low VOC. It has to be good mineral spirits and you can probably only get it in a gallon container.

[Bucket2]

Not an easy deal. I've done two motorhomes and with both I ended up removing the trim.
YUK! But it was worth it.. careful scraping and the use of mineral spirits and elbow grease, don't be in a hurry though.

[GraftonGuns]

I have used a heat gun on some that I repaired for customers. And, Mineral spirits for the sticky residue.

[topline89]

The boys that put these things together, need to go back to school to learn how to caulk, I have noticed the B" class job on our 2020 36SSWS, It's terrible, there are many ways to remove the caulking as mentioned here, but be careful if using a knife or razor blade though, I doesn't take much to scratch the surface your trying to work on. Some products will harm the paint so be careful. Once you do get the old caulking removed, here is a method I was taught years ago by a commercial window glazer. Run your bead of silicone as smooth and straight as you can, then once you are done, spray the area and the caulk joint with "Windex" spray a little (windex) on your finger and then run your finger over the caulking, the excess will roll off onto your finger, and will leave you a nice clean professional looking caulk joint, if you have to tool it again be sure to spray again. Once the caulking joint drys, you can respray with the windex to clean the windex residue that may be left behind. Where ever the windex is sprayed over the silicone, it will not stick, so use some forethought, if you have adjoining caulk joints that may come together. Be sure to run all your caulking before spraying.

[Bucket2]

Wow, nice to hear from a pro. You're right no pride with some workers. But it's in all trades.