Resealing roof January 02, 2021, 05:04:02 pm The roof on my 26’ RB needed to be resealed. When I was up there to install the Maxx fan and reseal the escape vent I noticed the seams are cracked and there are rusted screws where there has been some water damage that also needs to be addressed. I used an oscillator with the scraping tool to remove as much of the old sealant as possible. I used a drill with a wire wheel to clean around the screws and acetone to dissolve the rest of the sealant. I find it really helps to use a bottle with a pointed nozzle for the acetone to squirt on just what I need and keep the acetone from evaporating while I worked. Once all clean I removed and replaced any rusted screws, but I first squirted some sealant into the holes before replacing the screws. I also used Alumbond epoxy to cover any holes in the aluminum. Next, I used tubes of 3M 5200 Marine sealant (I would use the fast cure stuff if I had to do it again) to cover around and on top of the screws and also to cover the seams. I didn't try to level out the sealant, but one maybe could if using a silicone spatula or parchment paper, the stuff is very sticky.After waiting for the sealant to cure, I ran 4” wide strips of eternabond tape on top of the sealant on the seams all the way around and used a brayer roller to get good adhesion.I also stripped the sealant around the two antennas, cleaned with acetone and replaced all the screws and resealed with dicor lap self-leveling sealant. While up there, I decided to reseal all of the roof rack anchors as well, and the seal around the refrigerator vent.This took me several days to do. It’s not difficult when using power tools, it’s just labor intensive and dirty work. For anyone who wants to know:My roof is about 2” thick.The original seam screws are #8, 1.5 hex. The one's I replaced, I used #10, 1.5 pan head screwsThe original screws in the antennas are #8, 1” hex screws. I replaced these with #8, 1” pan head screws.The original screws for the rack anchors were #8, 1” hex screws. I replaced them with #8, 1” pan head screws because I didn't want to drill out the anchor holes for larger screws. 11 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #1 – January 03, 2021, 12:08:24 am Nice job and a lot of hand work. I'm curious: Will you smooth out the sealant before you put the EternaBond over it?Chris 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #2 – January 03, 2021, 02:47:10 am Quote from: SoCal-girl - January 02, 2021, 05:04:02 pmThis took me several days to do. It’s not difficult when using power tools, it’s just labor intensive and dirty work.Labor intensive is a good description.Through cleaning job, the best I have seen. With the 5200 and Eternabond, the roof should be sealed for life.I like the acetone in a squirt bottle.With older rigs, the maintenance projects seem to never end.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #3 – January 03, 2021, 08:29:30 am Nice work. Any reason why you used 3M 5200 Marine sealant instead of Dicor self leveling? I am guessing you feel the 3M 5200 Marine sealant is a better sealant over the long term?Ron 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #4 – January 03, 2021, 10:05:11 am I would encourage the use of MEK over Acetone. It works and smells better. It's not available in CA.MEK is a liquid solvent used in surface coatings, adhesives, printing inks, chemical intermediates, magnetic tapes and lube oil dewaxing agents. MEK also is used as an extraction medium for fats, oils, waxes and resins. It is a highly efficient and versatile solvent for surface coatings. Because of its effectiveness as a solvent, MEK is especially valuable in formulating high solids coatings, which help to reduce emissions from coating operations. MEK is a natural component of many foods, including apple juice, beans, chicken, honey and a variety of cheeses. Synonyms for MEK are 2-butanone, ethyl methyl ketone, and methyl acetone. 2 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #5 – January 03, 2021, 01:28:58 pm Quote from: Sarz272000 - January 03, 2021, 08:29:30 amNice work. Any reason why you used 3M 5200 Marine sealant instead of Dicor self leveling? I am guessing you feel the 3M 5200 Marine sealant is a better sealant over the long term?While Dicor is a good sealant, 3M's 5200 and 5200 Fast Cure are superior sealants with exceptionally long lives and performance.In this application, either Dicor or 5200 would be adequate since Eternabond tape will be applied over the seam but for the ultimate seal, go with the 5200. It's what I use when resealing roofs.BTW, 3M 5200 Fast Cure has a 24 hour cure, the 5200 will take about a week to cure, staying sticky for one or two days before skimming over. I use only the Fast Cure unless a black sealant is needed. 3M's black is only available in the standard 7-day cure version.I use Dicor primarily to over coat old sealant, such as around the roof vents and antennas. In these situations, the sealant that actually does the sealing is in between the base of the vent and antennas and cannot be replace with removing the vent or antenna..Unless already leaking, it best and least likely to cause damage if the old, external sealant is just over coated, the squeezed-out sealant, by the vents, can be removed and replaced, if desired.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #6 – January 03, 2021, 05:15:54 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - January 03, 2021, 12:08:24 amNice job and a lot of hand work. I'm curious: Will you smooth out the sealant before you put the EternaBond over it?ChrisThanks, ChrisThe 5200 is somewhat self leveling. The stuff is super sticking and not easy to smooth out. I figure it's best to leave it alone once down. However, I will use a brayer roller on the eternabond tape and that will help flatten out the sealant some. 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #7 – January 03, 2021, 05:19:56 pm Quote from: Sarz272000 - January 03, 2021, 08:29:30 amNice work. Any reason why you used 3M 5200 Marine sealant instead of Dicor self leveling? I am guessing you feel the 3M 5200 Marine sealant is a better sealant over the long term?RonThanks, RonDicor lap sealant is used for stuff that might be replaced at some point, and probably does not last as long. The 5200 is a stronger sealant and adhesive that is more of a permanent sealant. 3 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #8 – January 03, 2021, 11:41:00 pm Quote The original seam screws are #8, 1.5 hex. The one's I replaced I used #10, 1.5 pan head screwsThe original screws in the antennas are #8, 1" hex screws. I replaced these with #8, 1" pan head screws. Did you replace all the screws on the roof? Please consider posting pictures of the finished project. And nice work. 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #9 – January 04, 2021, 12:09:52 am Quote from: Ed & Margee - January 03, 2021, 11:41:00 pmDid you replace all the screws on the roof? Please consider posting pictures of the finished project. And nice work. "Once all clean I removed and replaced any rusted screws."From the 1st message.Chris 1 Likes
Re: Resealing roof Reply #10 – January 04, 2021, 09:43:14 am Thanks for sharing; this task is in my near future. I am grateful I have a nice out of the weather parked in my husband's shop to do this. Nonetheless, my balance is shitty thanks to MS, so my least favorite tasks are roof-related! Or anything that's out of my reach from the ground! Lol 3 Likes
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Topic: Resealing roof (Read 535 times)
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