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Topic: Slightly Urgent Advice - Sealant Recommendations (Read 1004 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Slightly Urgent Advice
Reply #25 –
Quote from: downgrader  - 
Do you know if the DAP sealant is good to use on seals around the windows and other places as well?

If you are going to the trouble of prepping and taping end caps or windows, use a high-grade polyurethane.
With 40+ years of searching for better products, I keep coming back to the 3M products, mainly 3M 5200 Fast Cure.
3M 4200 and 5200 are often found and they work well too but very long cure times, taking up to a week to fully cure, too much time to accidentally rub or touch the wet sealant. 3M 5200 Fast Cure shims over quickly and cures overnight.

Unfortunately, polyurethane is not available in clear, only black and white. I know this is an issue with some, where a seam to be sealed crosses a colored section.
Every clear sealant I have tried has started to fail within a couple of years so I recommend biting the bullet and using either a white or black polyurethane. Better to be well sealed than to look perfect.

The only place on the coach that I use silicone is for sealing the gaps between the window glass and its rubber seals, a place that commonly leaks on older LDs with the full width, three-piece rear windows.
Amazon.com: Permatex 81730 Flowable Silicone Windshield and Glass Sealer,...

Larry
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
 
Re: Slightly Urgent Advice - Sealant Recommendations
Reply #27 –
Quote from: downgrader  - 
From what I've read on here, the 3M 5200 is the best stuff to use but they don't make a clear version, only various colors.  Is that right?

No high-quality polyurethane adhesive/sealants are presently available, black and white are your choices.
None of the clear sealants I have tried hold up for more than a few years before they start pulling away.
Unfortunately, paint doesn't stick well to polyurethane but if you don't mind touching it up the color sections of a sealed seam periodically, it's an option.
If well masked, a newly sealed seam will have a thin line of either black or white showing, it isn't that objectionable and most of the end cap seams and window frame seals are on white surfaces. While mixed use of both black and white polyurethane is possible, it isn't going to be easy to get shape cutoffs, when changing colors. It's beyond my pay grade to get it right.

Home isolation a great time for those who keeps their LD at home to get these maintenance jobs out of the way, you might learn something, save a bunch of money and not go through the frustration of waiting for months to get an appointment at the local RV shop.
Since you can't go anywhere it will give you another project and there isn't a huge rush to get it done all at once, convenient for large sealing and waxing jobs.
The needed materials can be ordered online.

Larry

Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze