Roof reseal around vents and such?

JVJ · 03-16-2010, 03:07 PM

I would like to replace the caulk sealant around all of the roof vents and assorted other stickey up items on the roof of our NRV Pacifica. I would also like to reseal the seam around the side wall where it meets and joins with the roof. The roof is fiber-glass. Any suggestions as to the best way to proceed? I understand that it can be a tough job removing the old sealant and getting the surface cleaned and preped for the new caulk to be laid down.
I am using the term caulk in more of a generic term, I understand that it is not your standard caulk sealant and that it comes in two different formula, one for self-level and one that lays a bead.
Please sound in if you have any wise words of wisdom or trade secrets that may help me out.
Thanks
Jon

AFChap · 03-16-2010, 03:55 PM

My Winnebago also has a fiberglass roof. It has different type sealants recommended for different areas ...does your owner manual have that, or is it perhaps available somewhere online? DO avoid using silicone based caulks. Around the vents, etc I would recommend cleaning well any area where you think it needs to be repaired. Depending on the condition I might just patch what is there, or totally remove and replace.

Proper cleaning etc is important!! Scub off the dirt. If you removed caulk, get it as clean as you can and then wipe it down witn mineral sprits and let it dry before applying new caulk.

I had a dealership make a real mess on my roof a few years ago when I went in and requested they check all sealant, and repair as needed. They apparently sent two flunkies up on the roof with a box of caulk and just slopped it on top of everything that is up there ...no checking, no cleaning, just slop it on. And they didn't do the side seams that I had actually gone in for ...for that I was thankful! (they later did the side seams at their expense, a very experienced tech who did a pretty good job). A year or so later much of the caulk the flunkies slopped on was pulling loose. I just peeled it off and inspected the original caulk underneath. Most of the original was still in great shape and there was little repair that was needed. I am not very trustful of dealer service depts to do a good job at this point!!

dkhender · 03-16-2010, 04:16 PM

Why not use something like Eternabond? Much easier to work with than caulk.

Chuck 1935 · 03-16-2010, 04:23 PM

ONE WORD......ETERNABOND
www.bestmaterials.com

AFChap · 03-16-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Why not use something like Eternabond? Much easier to work with than caulk.

Eternabond is easy enough to work with after you clean/prep the surface, which you would normally have to do some of to recaulk also. But it is WAY more expensive than caulk. It would be very expensive to do everything at once. I might do it on my roof side seams, but would not go crazy replacing everything on the roof with it ...MIGHT use it on a new vent etc when installing.

Yeah, yeah ...I know you supposedly will have to do Eternabond only once if you do it right the first time ...frankly, the caulk around all the "stuff" on my roof has never been a problem. It's only my roof to side sealant that needs occasional attention.

hoppers4 · 03-16-2010, 08:06 PM

Eternabond is the best choice. Prices of the stuff at your local RV store is through the roof, but 4" wide 50 roll of the stuff can be had here for a buck a foot. eternabond

**Gary RVRoamer** · 03-17-2010, 07:56 AM

I'm a fan of Eternabond and keep a roll on hand, but do not think it is appropriate for every seam on an RV roof. Somethings are just much easier to caulk, e.g. ladder mounts, screw holes for satellite domes or dishes, the typical round base of a OTA antenna, etc.

The Danes Are Coming · 03-17-2010, 08:12 AM

I have replaced the caulking on my glass-fibre roof. Removing the old caulking was a tough job but well worth the effort. I went to Lowes and got a glazing knife and with great care not to damage the glass-fibre roof I successfully removed all the old caulking. I finally cleaned the surface with a 3M solvent leaving the surface completely "as new" before proceeding.

I thought about re-caulking but chose Eternabond. This seems to be the way to go. Looking at the "re-seal" after 1½ years I have no regrets. I would go with Eternabond again.

Chuck 1935 · 03-17-2010, 09:19 AM

Has anyone tried ETRNABOND WEB SEAL on a water tank or holding tank ? The web seal is suppose to bond to the surface to which it's applied.
I also agree that is not for every application ie, ladders etc.

PlayItForwrd · 03-17-2010, 09:55 AM

There was a thread not long ago that mentioned you should only use a certain type of sealant on EPDM rubber roofs, I can't find the thread but I'd like to know the sealant!

FWIW, while that eternabond tape may be great stuff, there's so many places I WOULDN'T be able to use it that it makes no sense (to me) to buy the stuff...

dkhender · 03-18-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlayItForwrd

FWIW, while that eternabond tape may be great stuff, there's so many places I WOULDN'T be able to use it that it makes no sense (to me) to buy the stuff...

Where are the many places you can't use it? I know folks who have used it to install antennas, etc, and the stuff works great! I'm planning to use it when I drill a hole and install my Sirius antenna - the WebSeal Eternabond is recommended for this purpose.

PlayItForwrd · 03-18-2010, 10:39 PM

For vents & antenna's, fine, but what about all of the extreme edge seams, where the front, rear and side edges of the roof material join the walls & caps? Except for on top, you can see all those seams from the ground, I don't want "tape" on them. I want nice, smoothed out caulking...