Community Forums

Lincolnboy2 · 10-02-2013, 07:20 AM

I need input on what type sealant to use on these items...my satellite antenna sealant has a hole in the sealant, the local antenna has some cracks and a couple of the other roof penetrations for the exhaust fans have cracks in them.

Super Dave (Whem2fish) inspected them while he was up replacing my rear A/C fan & capacitor. (Thanks Again Dave!)

I want to get this done before the next rain!

I've been told to use the Dicor Self Leveling Sealant:

Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealant - White - Dicor 501LSW-1 - Roof Maintenance & Repair - Camping World

Thoughts/advice please?

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-02-2013, 07:22 AM

That's what I would use.

Ray,IN · 10-02-2013, 08:44 AM

Me too! Clean the existing sealant with turpentine-dampened rag first. This removes the hardened and dirty surface layer of sealant, leaving a clean surface for an overlay of new sealant. Turpentine is NOT a petroleum product, so it may be used near rubber roofs.
Another option is to use Eternabond.

MSHappyCampers · 10-02-2013, 08:47 AM

Kent, when I needed to do some roof sealing I called Dicor. They told me that the 502LSW flows better than the 501LSW. I bought it and it works great! I resealed all my large openings such as skylights, vents, etc. with 4" Eternabond.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

t55watson · 10-02-2013, 09:00 AM

Dicor 4 sure. Self leveling on the roof but not around windows, it will flow down the wall if used on vertical surfaces.

Ray,IN · 10-02-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t55watson

Dicor 4 sure. Self leveling on the roof but not around windows, it will flow down the wall if used on vertical surfaces.

That is where you use their non-sag sealant.

Lincolnboy2 · 10-02-2013, 10:30 AM

The only place I can find that stuff is at Camping World!

Lincolnboy2 · 10-02-2013, 01:44 PM

Why does the Dicor Lap Sealant have petroleum distillates when the rubber roof manufacturers say 'no petroleum distillates' ??????????

Just found out my answer:

Quote:

Why does your Lap Sealant contain petroleum distillates, yet you tell people not to use products containing petroleum distillates?
The petroleum distillate used in our lap Sealant is used strictly in the curing process. As the material cures, the petroleum distillate evaporates. When we say not to use petroleum distillates on the roof we mean products that sit on the roof (cleaners, conditioners, UV resistors, etc).

No I feel better.

InfinityJim · 10-02-2013, 02:02 PM

Stay away from Dicor, it's just plain junk! Been Re-Sealing RV's for over 20 years and tried just about every brand of sealant out there. Now I can't tell you what we use today as that is our secret, but I will tell you there are good sealants and crap sealants, and most are about the same price - so it's not always the most expensive that's the best. One thing I've learned is the sealants marketed towards RV's are the one's to stay away from. Any sealant company or manufacture of the RV that says it should be Re-Sealed once or twice a year doesn't know what good sealants are.

Now if you're in my area (The Rainy Northwest) you can stop by & I'll hook you up with the good stuff! If you're not you can call me or e-mail me (jim@infinitycoach.com) and I can ship it to you. I just don't like to share all my info over the internet forums.....

I would use roof tape as a semi-permanent solution before I'd ever use Dicor.

Lincolnboy2 · 10-02-2013, 02:12 PM

HOW TO: Prevent RV Roof Leaks (Dicor Maintenance) - YouTube

At the end they say 'over the years, a well taken care of roof will have several layers and spotty patchwork but no leaks inside the rv'

InfinityJim · 10-02-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lincolnboy2

HOW TO: Prevent RV Roof Leaks (Dicor Maintenance) - YouTube

LOL

Thanks for the laugh's! Band-Aid's are great for stopping the blood.... If you want to be up there every couple of months then go for it, if not then strip & re-seal. Get as much of the old off as possible without doing damage, tape out the edges and re-apply. The better the finished product looks, the better chance you've done a good job. Shortcuts only work when time is at an essence..

Gocoffeer · 10-02-2013, 02:24 PM

I use the Dicor lap seal for all of my roof sealing needs. Including the hardware. It does eventually dry out and get a peel going. So I gently cut out the peeling parts and use ISO-alcohol as my cleaner... turpentine was mentioned...but all too often mineral turpentine is added and that is a petroleum product and will soften and eat into the rubber roof material. I let the alcohol evaporate a bit to help dry out any leak that was established.... then on goes the lap seal. It will set up in a few hours and be completely cured in a day or so. Works great.... and if you get a tear on the roof material... EternaBond tape is like magic. It comes in different widths.... and when you apply it... it will be there forever.

Lincolnboy2 · 10-02-2013, 03:18 PM

I wondered about alcohol Gocoffer. Why it wouldn't work just as well. Thanks!

Gocoffeer · 10-03-2013, 06:14 AM

LincolnBoy... I have a MH that was owned by several people in the past and the roof was just never maintained. When I bought the rig I went at the roof first...and have made it a priority. After cleaning ....coating and sealing ...reading and re-reading everything that people offered as advice. I have summed to use Alcohol ( ISO Propyl 90%) as my cleaner for sealing areas and getting leaking locations dried out. The Dicor Lap Seal ...standard part of my maintenance kit along with a 10foot roll of Eterna Bond tape. Every time I go up on the roof to clean.... I inspect.... if I find a tear or even suspect something.... clean and seal