Sealing roof vents, skylights,etc.

[clspds]

Our unit is 4 years old this month. I check the caulking regularly. All of the sealant around the roof openings looks good and there is no evidence of leaks. I have not touched the sealant since new. Should these openings be resealed every so often? Or should I wait until they show evidence of deterioration? I know that you can have water intrusion even when all seams look good. What do you guys do?
Thanks

Paul

[clspds]

Our unit is 4 years old this month. I check the caulking regularly. All of the sealant around the roof openings looks good and there is no evidence of leaks. I have not touched the sealant since new. Should these openings be resealed every so often? Or should I wait until they show evidence of deterioration? I know that you can have water intrusion even when all seams look good. What do you guys do?
Thanks

Paul

[rockintom]

Cloud,

It ol' SirKnowItAll here! I've thought the same thing as you. I check it all very closly. Seems like I can always find a small spot or area that needs to be trimmed out and resealed, but nothing major or anything that I would consider to needing to be an all out RESEAL job. I know Virg ('05 model) went to a dealer he trades with and told them he wanted them to RESEAL the roof and etc. They inspected and just did touch up as nec. and didn't need to do it all.

You keep your rig so clean, waxed and etc. (do need to get your bride to vacuum a bit more though! ) I would guess that the inspection you do on a regular basis is good enough. Another words, don't think there is a time frame that comes when you say ok, today I'm tearing it all out and rechalk.

Maybe someone knows more than SirKnowitall! Chime in - we be listening!

[headinsouth]

Well I think It's time to remove all the old caulk and reseal everything.. I have a feeling water can get into these things from the most unusual places.. and they aren't really all that hard to fix if water does get in. Besides you are retired and need something to do anyway.. Tom is right, I think I can hear a vacumm now!

[Travelor]

Paul, just did mine yesterday. One area had separated and I should have cut the old caulk out before resealing but did not so I have to go back later. The rest were just cracks which I resealed as a precausion.

Actually it was in pretty good shape. I think our unit is the same age as yours.

[Workshop]

Paul,

I don't know what the answer is for everyone, for me it has been removing and replacing as I go. With my unit 7 yrs old, the third owner and not having a caulking history with the unit, decided to remove and replace at least once___well almost.

Had to replace the vent over the shower after getting the unit. It had a metal body and was badly rusted and was staining the surrounding area. One of the things I notices was the height of the caulk, it had created a dam so to speak that traped water aiding in the failure of the vent body. When the vent was removed, notices the caulk had small slits in the surface. Would suspect caused by air bubbles when the sealant dried? Don't know if they went all the way through. Once the vent was lifted off, the glass was rust stained under the lip of the vent but short of entering the opening.

The area was wet sanded, compounded and lightly waxed before installing the new vent. I find
GooGone and Mineral Sprits does a good job removing Dicor's lap sealant.

Found the same slit and height condition on the waste vents also. Removed and resealed. All other Dicor seals looked good aroung the TV and satalite antennas. The forward vent is scheduled to have the dome changed soon and will replace the sealant because of it's height when other issues with the unit slows down.

Started out with the intent to replace all the Dicor sealant....now just clean and inspect the antennas, Cargo rack and other areas on the roof. When I first started replacing the sealant on the seams on the roof where the sections join, found them to be in good condition and areas where I had thought the sealant was separting from the roof surface once it was cut back...wasn't the case. Ended up cutting back those areas lightly if needed and resealing over the area. But used caution not to build the areas up to the point that water could't drain off. Hard to determine that.

Really like the look of the Eternabond tape that is applied over those seams on Tom's unit. Would guess it's being used on current models. Would have a lot of Dicor to remove to do that project.

One area that has caused my unit water damage in the past and will have to be revisited is the area between the entry door and the sofa/dinette slide. In this area, the roof has a seam, there's the awning/gutter trim, the awning is attached and a short wall. I view this as one of the major areas of concern on my unit as well as the gutter/awning trim.

Replacing all the silicone sealing on the unit as time permits. Those that looks good are last to do but all being done. Figure as 7-8 years and its time. The prior owner sealed everything pretty good and in some cases over sealed but have areas where the sealant is lifting on one edge. Believe this to be the reason why when repairing the problem of the wall and floor not being connected, it was dry inside. The caulk had done it's job, just one caulk job to late.

Dealing with two old water damage areas currently on the large slide. Keeping these things dry inside is an ongoing thing. Can only say that we all approach this differently and learn from doing and others experiences. I remove and replace and touch up as required depending on the location that needs attention.

Don't know is I answered your question or just vented about caulking and should just 'seal it' for now.

[ChiefJohn]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Actually it was in pretty good shape. I think our unit is the same age as yours. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Just like you "Chief" ('Travelor') You be careful up on that roof, one thing Chiefs' can't do is 'fly'!!

[MakinSmoke]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">just vented about caulking and should just 'seal it' for now </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Chris, everytime I read your stuff, I am more and more amazed. I am so glad you are a part of this forum.

Saturday I needed propane and when I pulled the tanks, I washed them with Simple Green and cleaned them up really good. I puffed my chest out for two days. And, here you have inspected, stripped, cleaned and recaulked half of your unit!!!! I stand at attention and salute you.

[clspds]

Can new Dicor lap sealant be applied over the old after cleaning?

[MakinSmoke]

When I was chasing a leak from the installation of the satellite receiver, they told me it would be just fine to do so.

But when I found where I thought the leak was, I actually trimmed a small area out. I can tell you that the new bonded very nicely with the old.

[rockintom]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MakinSmoke:
Chris, everytime I read your stuff, I am more and more amazed. I am so glad you are a part of this forum. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Virg,

You ought to go to Chris and Debra's home and have them do one of their special luncheons! Outstanding. Then get the grand tour of their gorgeous home, Workhorse's workshop, Debra's greenhouse, and the "Beast's" mansion! Then you'd truly be AMAZED! And to top that off, they are wonderful folks! Chris...are you blushing yet?

[Workshop]

Virg,

You should be PROUD! We used to call that preventive maintenance. You had a service that needed to be preformed....and you cleaned and inspected an associated area while you were there. Think of how much we don't think of that area until a tank is empty or it doesn't transfer. Everytime we work in an area, we should look around and 'see what's in the area'.

For me it works and for me I have a project list that doesn't end! Had to change out a tank last week, the pig tails were so hard I thought they would break. A sticker indicated they were mfg'ed in '04. Spent the last of my CW gift card $ from Christmas today. Thought it funny you mentioned propane. By the way...haven't installed them yet or 'cleaned' the area. The sofa/dinette slide is still under plastic...so that project is one for the future.

By the way, half the unit might be stripped and caulked but it wasn't in two days. Find it easier to do like areas togehter. Like all the compartment doors/frames for ovious reasons. As much of the trim as I have off the main slide it wouldn't be hard to get it off the list also. Hardest part is removing the prior sealant, mostly those applied with a broom!

Paul,

As Virg stated I haven't had any problem applying Dicor over Dicor. As with anything clean well before applying and I always use Alcohol and not 20/20 as the last step before appling.

Tom,



Chris

[clspds]

Chris,

You said the magic numbers. OK Tom, have at it.

Thanks guys for your replys.

Paul

[Travelor]

Paul, the lap cealant with adhere to the old if it is clean. I use "crude cutter" and it gets mildew and the dirt.

Chief John tells me I cannot fly. So I guess I won't be up to help you out.

Bill Cramer