Resealing around skylights and vents?

[Roger G]

The sealer is cracking around one of my skylights has cracked and needs redone. Is there any hints or secrets to getting the old sealer off the roof and vent edge? It a EPDM roof and plastic lip on the vent. Worked on it a little today and it comes off the plastic fairly easily but is stretching the roof membrane . Thanks.

[Mr_D]

Our rig is now 12 model years old. All I've had to do is clean the old sealer and put a little more in the cracked areas. The bath skylight is fine but then I spray it (and all the other unpainted plastic on the roof) with 303 at least once a year.

[BFlinn181]

Clean dirt off old caulk and use Dicor Self-Leveling caulk to seal around roof piercings. Don't get any on the skylight itself, only on the surrounding rim.

[Roger G]

Any secrets to getting the old stuff off?

[BFlinn181]

A little heat will soften it,(heat gun or hair dryer) then a putty knife, used gently so you don't cut the EDPM rubber membrane.

[Roger G]

Ah! A heat gun, hadn't thought about that. I get the heat gun out tomorrow.

[Ray,IN]

There is no need to remove the old Dicor, just clean it up with either the Dicor prep stuff or turpentine on a rag. Then do as BFlinn said.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Roger G

Any secrets to getting the old stuff off?

Unless it's REALLY bad you don't need to remove the old. Clean it off good with some mineral spirits being careful not to get too much on the rubber membrane, then just use the Dicor self leveling to reseal.

[PyrateSilly]

It may not be Dicor that he's trying to clean up or off to put more on. It might be silicone or something else. Best be safe and clean it off and start over.
One thing to remember about caulk for an RV/MH - do NOT use silicone ever except maybe in the bathroom. Use the Dicor, 3M4200 or 3M5000. We used a product similar to the 3Ms made by Teakdecking. The 2 3M's and the Teakdecking product you can usually get at marine supply stores. You want something that is flexable after it dries since most of the RV moves while you go down the road and silicone does not. There are a few other problems with silicone on RVs so just do not use it and you will be glad later on.

[GaryKD]

I already did mine with EternaBond. Scrub the area to be clean of dirt. Lay down the EternaBond. Several years now and no problems. The good thing about EternaBond is set it and forget it. They advertise 10 years. I'm 5 years into my use of EternaBond and very pleased.

[MSHappyCampers]

I resealed all the openings on top of our MH. I cleaned the old caulk with Acetone, sealed the large openings with 4" Eternabond and the small openings with Dicor 502LSW self-leveling sealer. Works great!