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Topic: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD (Read 18 times) previous topic - next topic
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Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Yahoo Message Number: 104767
Hello, We are pricing out exterior paint jobs on  The Daizy but before we take it in we want to reseal the roof.

We read about the 4" Eternabond tape on one of the forum messages.

Where do we get that?
 More importantly, what is on the original roof and how do we get it off?

Thanks.  You all have been such an enormous help.

Cathi
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104774
wrote: "We read about the 4" Eternabond tape on one of the forum messages.
Where do we get that?"

Here's one source:
 http://www.bestmaterials.com/detail.aspx?ID=11341

You might want to look at the Eternabond website (www.eternabond.com) and read about the material and get any additional equipment (like the heavy roller) and information on surface prep before ordering from Best Materials.
 "More importantly, what is on the original roof and how do we get it off?"
 I don't know what LD sealed the roof seams with on the model year of the one you have, but, if the roof seams are in reasonably "good" condition, you may not have to completely remove the old sealant. Just be sure to follow the instructions for prepping the surfaces thoroughly before applying the Eternabond.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104788
"what is on the original roof and how do we get it off?"
 Your 1984 LD was originally sealed with Parlastic liquid sealant, which has a working life of about ten years. It may have been resealed by a subsequent owner. In any case, it's probably overdue for resealing, and Eternabond is the best way to do it.
 Eternabond has two advantages. First, you don't need to scrape off the old sealant. Just clean the area thoroughly with acetone. The four-inch-wide Eternabond tape covers up your old, bad seam and overlaps an inch or more onto the roof on either side, bonding directly to the roof.
 And the stuff really does live up to its name: once it's applied, you should never need to reseal, so taking it off won't be necessary. (For the record, it can be done, and it's no more work than scraping off old Parlastic--a pain, but doable. A hair dryer or heat gun helps a lot.)
 "The claim is that once the tape is peeled away, it heats up quickly and you cannot make a mistake because the Eternabond cannot be removed."
 I'm not sure what you're talking about here--I couldn't find any references to it on the Eternabond site. If you can point me to the URL where you read this, I'll take a look. For the record, Eternabond tape does not heat up. It just sticks where you put it, so you do need to be sure you put it in the right place. But when you're taping a straight seam, that's hardly difficult. :-)
 Here are Eternabond's installation instructions for RV roofs. As you'll see, there's nothing complicated about the four-step process: clean roof, peel off backing film, apply tape, rub down.

http://www.eternabond.com/install/onestep.htm>

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104790
We are interested in having our 22 ft FL repainted some day. Please keep us posted on what sort of prices you come up with on your rig, if you don't mind. John in the ol 85'
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104814
Hi Andy, Here is the site where the paragraph entitled "Installation and Operation" mentions that the tape heats up rapidly and becomes aggressive when peeled.  That is what scared me off.
 http://www.khulsey.com/rv_info/review_eternabond_rv_roof-tape.html

After reading some of the other posts it seems that this has been done successfully by several people.

thanks for your help.

Cathi
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104815
Hi John, So far we have had the following estimates:

In Modesto California: $15,000.00 for the complete prep and paint and buff all the chrome.  Guaranteed to look like it just came from the factory.

In Modesto California: $2000.00 for the complete prep and paint.  2-color job.

In Waterford Ca: $7000.00 to clean and prep the entire rig including cleaning and resealing the roof.
Another $2000.00 to paint.

In Mesa Arizona $3000.00 for clean, prep and paint.

In Michigan $200.00 per linear foot to paint in 2 color.  Includes clean all old grouting out and sand and paint.

It is scary to make a decision.
 Our LD has been sitting in the desert for 20 years and is badly faded and all the grouting needs to be removed and redone.  The decal striping will be difficult to remove - it is really stuck on.  I don't know by what method the shop removes it.
 The higher price quotes looked it over carefully and said it would be many labor hours to prep it.
 The others looked at photos and we explained the amount of sun damage, but they stuck by their quotes.
 Will keep you advised.  First we'll have the floors done inside.  Other than that, the sink, stove, fridge and microwave have never been used and the furniture inside is barely used.  Go figure.??

Cathi
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104817
Thanks Andy, My roof guy wants to do the whole roof, stripping out all the old sealant with a heat gun then paint the whole roof, then recaulk it - estimating approx $750.00 to do this.
 After reading the Eternabond messages, I think my hubby and I can do this ourselves - I have alot of patience and will take my time.

A couple more questions:
 Should the corners be overlapped? Mitered? or just work to one end, turn 90 degrees and continue on?
 Also, do you reccommend painting the roof before we put the Eternabond on or after.  What would one use to clean up the roof and give it a nice coat of paint?

Thanks again.  Cathi
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104818
Quote
... Hi Andy, Here is the site where the paragraph entitled "Installation and Operation" mentions that the tape heats up rapidly and becomes aggressive when peeled.  That is what scared me off.
Having applied Eternabond, I can assure you that it does not literally get warm or hot. Perhaps the term "heats up" was just being used to mean "activated."  That page seems to have been written by somebody who has never used it; much of the text is borrowed directly from the Eternabond web site, though not the "heating up" comment. The "kit" has a 37-foot roll, but if you buy directly from sources like Best Materials, you'll get a 50-foot roll.
 http://www.bestmaterials.com/detail.aspx?ID=11341

That page also says that application is a two-person job and that pieces should be cut in advance. I just rolled it out as I went along, peeling off the backing about a foot at a time.  You will need a cheap pair of sacrificial scissors, a Ziplock baggie to hold any bits and leftovers, and a roller for pressing it down.  You don't have to buy the roller that Eternabond sells; I used a little roller designed for installing wallpaper seams.
 In strategizing about the sequence, think about the wind forces on the leading edges. I did the back seam first, then the sides, and finally the front. My front seam's caulk was too wide to be spanned by one 4-inch strip, so I installed two overlapping strips, putting the rear one on first so that the front strip protects its leading edge.
 "My roof guy wants to do the whole roof, stripping out all the old sealant with a heat gun then paint the whole roof, then recaulk it - estimating approx $750.00 to do this ...I think my hubby and I can do this ourselves - I have alot of patience and will take my time. ... Should the corners be overlapped? Mitered? ... Also, do you reccommend painting the roof before we put the Eternabond on or after."
 Yikes, I'd want more than $750 to do all that, but as noted elsewhere it's really not necessary. I overlapped the ends of my strips, just cutting them straight across.  Never even thought about painting, just gave the roof a good scrubbing and it looks great.
 Another recent thread asks about Eternabond shelf life; according to their own web site, it's 5 years.

Joanne in Boston NE-44 1994 TK
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104820
wrote: Here is the site where the paragraph entitled "Installation and Operation" mentions that the tape heats up rapidly and becomes aggressive when peeled.  That is what scared me off.
 "...but extreme caution should be observed as this product heats up and becomes very aggressive by sticking permanently, very quickly to any surface to which it is applied." --- Well, of course Eternabond sticks when and where it's applied; that's the point! ;-)  It's true that "do-overs" are very difficult to accomplish, but careful placement of the tape strips before peeling off the backing and working slowly should prevent missing the mark; drawing guide lines works for me.
 However, I don't know what the "reviewer" is talking about when he says that the product "heats up", *unless* he means that the tape becomes "stretchier" and "stickier" when one is trying to apply it to an RV roof in full hot sun! Well, yes, it would get a bit sticky; so would I! You might want to avoid this potential problem by prepping/applying/rolling the Eternabond in the very early morning before the roof heats up.  Depending on how big an area you're sealing, the project could take a few days to complete.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104822
"Here is the site where the paragraph entitled 'Installation and Operation' mentions that the tape heats up rapidly and becomes aggressive when peeled. That is what scared me off."
 That's pretty bizarre, since as I said, Eternabond does NOT heat up. The same site advises putting the tape in the freezer for half an hour before installing it, which would reduce bonding strength and I'm sure is something the Eternabond company would recommend against. Bottom line: these people don't know what they're talking about.
 The link I posted to the Eternabond installation guide is the *manufacturer's* recommendation, and if you follow those simple instructions you should have no problems.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104823
"Should the corners be overlapped? Mitered?"

Overlapped, as Joanne described.
 "do you reccommend painting the roof before we put the Eternabond on or after."
 Personally, I wouldn't paint it at all. It's the roof--who's going to see it? As long as it doesn't leak, I'm satisfied. :-) If you really feel you must paint, I'd be inclined to suggest doing if after  you apply the Eternabond rather than before, on the theory that the tape will adhere better to the original roof than to a newly applied layer of paint. (That's assuming, of course, that you thoroughly clean the areas to which you'll be attaching the Eternabond tape. A powdery, badly oxidized layer of paint wouldn't be the best thing to anchor to.)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104828
The same site advises putting the tape in the freezer for half an hour before installing it,


 You'll notice that the author was told this by a "professional RV service technician" -- and we all know how reliable so-called "expert" advice is! :-)
 I tend to agree with Joan...the author has, apparently, never actually used this product himself.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104829
That's too funny.
 Our inside upholstery is in "like new condition, with the drivers seat just mostly faded from the sun.  The passenger seat however is totally wrecked.  A dog maybe?  But there is absolutely no sign of animal hair.  So who knows?
 Re:  the paint job....
 I just talked with the factory and got a "sight-unseen" quote of $8000.00 for the complete job - pre, sand, paint.  And they want 4-6 weeks - they say the removal of the decal striping is a bear of a project and that's hwere the money goes - the labor.

The Modesto place said a couple of days.

No wonder we can't make up our minds!
 The factory is in Pamona and we are here in Columbia - landlocked because we are working on an old Ranch.

Cathi
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104832
Quote
The factory is in Pamona

 The factory is in Montclair.  It "used" to be in Pomona.  Actually, the physical location of the factory hasn't changed...the boundaries of the two cities were redrawn (I assume), or for some other reason the address got changed from Pomona to Montclair.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104833
Actually, the factory is in Montclair.  It used to be in Pomona until Montclair moved their city limits.  Of course it was in Pomona for so long we tend to think of it being located there.

Dick Home town - Pomona California
LD on Boundary St in San Diego
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104844
If this is yours can I see it? I have not seen the inside of one I live 1 mile from it thanks

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104845
"My roof guy wants to do the whole roof, stripping out all the old sealant with a heat gun then paint the whole roof, then recaulk it - estimating approx $750.00 to do this. After reading the Eternabond messages, I think my hubby and I can do this ourselves."

Cathi, if you are up to doing the Eternabond, you can easily do the painting yourselves as well. I painted my whole rig (a 1979 LD), and the roof was the easiest part. I used a more expensive Marine paint for the rest of the RV, but for the roof, I used white Rustoleum, which you can get at many places, like Lowe's or Home Depot.
 After cleaning the roof real well, I used a roller on a long handle and was able to stand to roll it on, starting at the back of the rig and working to the front, where I then stood on the bunk and reached out of the hatch to finish. My father did the "cutting in" around the edges of the rig from a ladder, and used a brush. I used a nappy roller to give it some texture, to make it less slippery to walk on, and put it on fairly thick. We painted right over the Eternabond tape, which the previous owner had applied. It took about an hour or two to paint. One coat was all it took, since we put it on rather thick. It's holding up really well so far, and is really easy to clean now.
 Have fun. It's a lot of work, but very rewarding, to bring new life to an older rig. :)

Fern
Fern Horst
Formerly owned:
1979 TK - "Dorie" (2007-2012)
2003 MB - "Absaroka" (2012-2019)
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104854
OMG Fern - you painted your whole rig?  How?

Did you remove all the old caulking and redo that too?

What did you use.?

Tell me more!

Cahi
 
Re: Want to re-seal the roof on my 1984 LD
Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 104860
"OMG Fern - you painted your whole rig?  How? Did you remove all the old caulking and redo that too? What did you use.? Tell me more!"
 You can find the whole process in a thread starting with message #95044.
Also, photos of before and after are in the photo section under "1979 Lazy Daze".

If you have any questions after reading all that, I'll be more than happy to try to answer them.

Fern

rvtess wrote:
Fern Horst
Formerly owned:
1979 TK - "Dorie" (2007-2012)
2003 MB - "Absaroka" (2012-2019)