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IAJack · 09-18-2018, 07:19 PM

I bought a used TT with several side covers that have dirty and yellowing sealant around them. One example is where they removed the outdoor speakers and placed round metal covers over them, except they did a sloppy job with the sealant and it looks like hell. I want to take these off, clean it all up and reseal it. What sealant should I use, Dicor, dicor tape, clear silicone or something else? Is there a trick to getting a nice even edge?

Old-Biscuit · 09-18-2018, 07:29 PM

NO SILICONE...........
Silicone will NOT even stick to silicone so if it is/has been used scrape it off then use a silicone residue remover and CLEAN the area thoroughly

Then use 'plumbers putty' to make a gasket for covers......tighten the screws and then trim off excess that squeezes out with utility knife

Keep unused and trimmed portions in zip lock bag...air tight for future use

BFlinn181 · 09-18-2018, 07:31 PM

Dicor caulk is good, not the self-leveling type! Any home improvement store has lots of caulk to choose from, don't pick the cheapest and I'd shy away from silicone because it will fail, collect dirt, and be impossible to get anything else to stick where it has been.

Apply the caulk and then wet your finger in a detergent/water mix and smooth out the caulk with your finger.

1bigmess · 09-19-2018, 09:59 AM

NO SILICONE CAULK. If that's what the previous owner used, you've got a bit of a chore ahead of you to remove it.

Dicor lap sealant, there are two kinds: self leveling for horizontal surfaces, and another kind for non-horizontal surfaces. There are other products that are specific to RVs as well, Eternabond is one that comes to mind.

Bfmorgan · 09-19-2018, 11:13 AM

I am not good at caulking. So to get a nice edge I use painters tape and leave the area that I want to caulk exposed. Areas that I don’t want to caulk get taped. Curved edges are taped using multiple short pieces of tape that are applied in an approximation of the curved radius.

Yosemite77 · 09-21-2018, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bfmorgan

I am not good at caulking. So to get a nice edge I use painters tape and leave the area that I want to caulk exposed. Areas that I don’t want to caulk get taped. Curved edges are taped using multiple short pieces of tape that are applied in an approximation of the curved radius.

For good results, keep a bowl of soapy water nearby. After you lay down a bead of caulk, dip your finger in the water and use it to smooth out the bead.

Parks · 09-22-2018, 09:37 AM

Depending on the area I tend to use the backside of the tip of a spoon to get a nice smooth bead as well as it helps to "push" the caulk into the areas need sealing like your wet finger would do. The spoon make for a prettier finished product. I am also a fan of the blue tape to cover areas I don't want to get caulk on.