Roof Feedback June 02, 2023, 08:57:05 pm In February we finally found our LD 20 minutes from us - they were the second owners and they only put 15,000 miles on it from 2008-2020. It sat for three years under an RV carport as the owner had health problems, the adult kids sold it to us on his behalf. Sadly, it had a rat problem in the engine area only which was hard to find a mechanic to work with us on it and with our own legwork of sourcing a replacement heater evaporative blower housing part (due to being chewed)at pick-in-pull. It is back on the road and runs excellent and it just reach 200,000 miles last week. The paint shines like it is new and we have had lots of compliments on it. This is all due to the meticulous care of the original owner who was Gus Weber. I have read many of his old posts in this forum and learned a lot about our LD and what he went through with this 1998 MB. I will post photos of the roof and I plan to do it myself and I have also spent hours reading the posts. My preferred plan of attack would be a good washing of the seams and not to have to remove the original sealant. I wanted to post some photos to get feedback from the experts in this group prior to ordering eternabond. 1 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #1 – June 02, 2023, 09:47:22 pm Start here: The Lazy Daze Companion: EternabondI personally would take the sealant off of the side and front seams, reseal with a narrow strip of sealant, and follow with eternabond. Rich 3 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #2 – June 02, 2023, 10:48:08 pm I see the photos didn't load right. It isn't green. I will try and take more photos tomorrow.
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #3 – June 02, 2023, 10:58:00 pm "I see the photos didn't load right. It isn't green." Maybe not but I've seen those that were green!If you were to take a vibratory tool with a nice sharp knife blade you could skim the old top portion of the original seam and then apply a 4" wide strip of Eternabond, once and done. 1 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #4 – June 03, 2023, 02:50:47 am Gus Weber’s old rig, that’s a blast from the past.We met him and his wife at the Grand Caravan in 2006.Probably not many left here remember him.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #5 – June 03, 2023, 12:03:13 pm So, I see little black dots of rubbery stuff that is easily removed. It is in the photos. Also around the A/C it doesn't appear to have much sealant there at all - is that normal? When I was crawling on the front portion over the cab I heard a little board creaking like when you walk on a wooden floor. Is that normal?I know this roof has never been exposed to the elements except when the previous owners were using it. Otherwise it sat in the heated garage at Gus's or it was under the RV open sided carport. I want to seal it and keep it under a cover to keep the tree sap off it until we take it on our next adventure.
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #6 – June 03, 2023, 12:19:42 pm The photos show a roof in serious need of resealing .I would use a vibratory tool with a sharp blade to remove the old sealant and then reseal after a good cleaning with soap and water followed by a solvent wipe.The A/C uses a waterproof foam gasket under the A/C to provide a seal..Larry
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #7 – June 03, 2023, 12:27:41 pm Quote from: Larry W - June 03, 2023, 12:19:42 pmThe photos show a roof in serious need of resealing .I would use a vibratory tool with a sharp blade to remove the old sealant and then reseal after a good cleaning with soap and water followed by a solvent wipe.The A/C uses a waterproof foam gasket under the A/C to provide a seal..LarryReseal with the 5200 or dicor self leveling or the loctite? then eternabond after the sealing? How far down do I go, is it possible to do it manually -understandably that will take many man hours. I just don't want to go down too far if I go buy that tool.
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #8 – June 03, 2023, 01:19:11 pm Hi Joansie; Welcome to the group! Your Avatar is a bit sideways. My '99 is just a year newer than your '98, so we probably have the same sealant. I have a vibratory tool, and maybe I just don't have the knack of using it right, but I've had more success using a heat gun and putty knife scraper to remove the most of the sealant. The residue that remains is flatter and cleaner. I just wipe over that. I used polyurethane https://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-PL-Marine-10-fl-oz-Fast-Cure-Adhesive-Sealant-2016891/206156418?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D24-024_004_ADHESIVES-BI-LOCTITE_17690-NA-SMART-NA-NA-MK780432200-NA-NBR-17690-NA-NA-FY23_Adhesives&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D24-024_004_ADHESIVES-BI-LOCTITE_17690-NA-SMART-NA-NA-MK780432200-NA-NBR-17690-NA-NA-FY23_Adhesives-71700000110458304-58700008395165179-92700076433138579&gclid=CjwKCAjwyeujBhA5EiwA5WD7_SqejTNAU7fN3lmeFUEv_G-Wu9SeW733x_3c_o7_vi7v5S79OUJM_xoCOgUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds to touch up the sealing surface and make it not so bumpy. If I found rusty screw heads, I replaced them with stainless truss head screws for a smoother profile. (150 pcs)#8×1-1/2" Phillips Truss Head Wood Screws Stainless Steel 410 Quick... Then I covered with Eternabond. 2" on the sides. 4" across the front. I did experience some lifting of the front edge of the Eternabond (air pressure I think), So I warmed it up to soften the tape, cleaned under it with alcohol, put some 5200 under and put a brick over it. (yes I remembered to remove the bricks before I drove away) I think minor creaking of the roof may be ok, but maybe the front escape hatch sealing should be checked carefully. Larry's method with penetration of an awl from underneath may reveal some need for repair. Certainly mine needed a reseal along with the roof seams. I'm still resealing some parts of my roof for the first time (long story). Not that I'm old also or anything, but I remember Gus Weber and his travels/comments. RonB 3 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #9 – June 03, 2023, 01:29:18 pm As mentioned above, start with the article in the Companion. It is excellent.I suggest snapping a chalk line off to the side of the seam along the side of the coach to help you keep going straight when applying the tape. Take your time with both prep / cleaning and applying the Eternabond. Having two people -- one on the roof and one on a ladder -- is helpful as well. A job well done will give you peace of mind and will last for years and years. 1 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #10 – June 03, 2023, 01:36:06 pm Quote from: RonB - June 03, 2023, 01:19:11 pm"Your Avatar is a bit sideways. "I can't fix the sideways problem and I am having trouble replying using the quote. I'm not tech savvy.
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #11 – June 03, 2023, 04:07:02 pm I want to see if I am on the right track also what do I do about the screws. I saw the reply about replacing the rusty I can’t even tell because the glue is all around the screws. Please be patient with me I am a visual learner so since I can’t see photos or videos of this process I am having trouble understanding.
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #12 – June 03, 2023, 09:01:17 pm One thing I never figured out is if Eternabond would stick to Dicor. I decided that it wouldn't so I used a layer of 5200 on the seams and screw heads and smoothed it out before it set up, which you don't have much time. I know for a fact that Eternabond will stick to 5200 after it has set up. The most important thing is everything MUST be clean. Use the Dicor on roof vents or other penetrations that won't be taped with Eternabond.Prep,prep,and prep and take your time. A helper on the long runs of Eternabond is nice.Jon 2 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #13 – June 05, 2023, 12:00:49 pm The roof seals are 25 years old. Here is a list of what to do for the simplest job.1 Scrub the roof and seams clean with soap and water and then rinse well. Let dry completely. Next, wipe the seams with a clean cloth and solvent, such as acetone or lacquer thinner.2 Cover the seam and screw heads with a layer of 3M 5200 Fast Cure or the polyurethane sealant of your choice. Smooth with a putty knife and let cure.3 Snap a chalk line along the outer edge where the 4" Eternabond tape will be placed. A helper is helpful for rolling the tape out and removing the backing to expose the adhesive. The tape can be applied from the roof or from a tall ladder. Use a roller to flatten the tape and to work out any bubbles. Bubbles can have a small hole poke into a bubble to release the air.If you really want to go cheap, forget the tape and cover the cleaned seams and screw holes with a thick layer of Dicor, it's an old rig and this may be enough to get it through the rest of its days.After the roof is done, now the end caps and window frames need to be resealed too.Isn't owning a motorhome fun?Larry 1 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #14 – June 05, 2023, 12:32:47 pm Thanks Larry!We did the windows after we found a pool of water in the back window frame the first week it wasn't under the RV carport. We did the endcaps following the companion's instructions as well. I do know I have to deal with that wooden step after the roof and sealing the back wooden area behind the bumper, but it hasn't shown any signs of dry rot, just the flaking off asphalt seal. But, I am following "an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure". Back to the roof: I did wash and scrub it well and I have used the multi-tool to take off the top layer of sealant on the passenger side (the easiest). I couldn't get it all off perfectly and I hope that is not a big deal. I will use the acetone and clean it followed with the denatured alcohol and then will follow your advice and put the 5200 around the screws and the seams. I will let it cure per the instructions of the 5200 and I had already ordered the tape so I will put the tape down. When I see the LD's still going from the 80's I think with proper care and maintenance this one can also continue it's use like Gus said in one of his 873 old posts commercial E350's were used 250,000 - 300,000 mile before being replaced. Maybe we will set a new record. However, I do have some concerns about that gasket around the A/C. I will have to find a place to get the done. But as Scarlett says, "I won't worry about that today, I will think about that tomorrow". 1 Likes
Re: Roof Feedback Reply #15 – June 05, 2023, 02:27:13 pm The A/C gasket rarely leaks, unless water is coming in through the A/C vents I would not touch it.The A/C gasket can need tightening, the screws are located under the interior plastic cover.Just cinch the screws or bolts down, do not over-tighten.Larry 2 Likes
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