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Topic: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor (Read 22 times) previous topic - next topic
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Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Yahoo Message Number: 137902
I have a 1994 and it looks like it hasn't been resealed for quite some time. The old caulking is very cracked on the roof. I think I want to remove as much of the old as I can and reseal it. Has anyone done this? Is it possible to reseal only with Eternabond or do you have to apply caulking first? I've used Dicor for smaller sealing jobs before with very good results but never a whole roof. Do you like Dicor or recommend another product? How much would be needed for a 22' model around the whole roof and vents? Likewise if I do seal it with caulking, is Eternabond then redundant? Which Eternabond size would you recommend? Also, any tips and tricks you found helpful to remove the old stuff would be great.

Thanks, Matt

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Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 137908
Quote
I'm sure Larry will chime in but check out his message #134517 for good info. He removes the old bubbled sealer and applies 3M 5200 followed by Eternabond on the seams.

Bob
***
 3M 5200 is a new one for me. Looks like some serious stuff. Possibly easier to deal with than Dicor lap sealant? I wonder how many tubes I'd need for a full reseal of a 22 footer? I guess it would be about 60 feet of material but not sure on the volume used.

Thanks, Matt

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Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 137926
3M 5200 is a permanent adhesive. 5200 is used for things like a boat hull to deck joint that you never want to come apart. It takes 7 days for standard 5200 to cure. You would want a sealant, not an adhesive, for your roof joints. Then the eternabond tape, great stuff for your roof joints. The eternabond may make the sealant an unneeded step. I used 4" eternabond on my last two motorhomes. Love it. Works on leaky horizontal ra
Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 137939
Matt
 If the roof sealant is original and no other coatings have been applied, you should be able to use 4" Eternabond tape on the seams.
If a previous coating was applied you must either strip it to the bare roof or take a chance and cover it with Dicor or other sealant.
I have no experience on re-coatng and cannot comment on it being successful.
 First give the roof seals a good scrubbing with soap, water and stiff brush and then, after drying, wipe with a clean rags and acetone or lacquer thinner. Make sure the front corners are very clean, as dirt tends to build up here. You might want to lightly sand the corners down to clean paint.
If working on the roof or your knees is too hard, use a 8-10" A-frame ladder and work from the side.
 Cut away any sealant that is damaged, has deep cracks or bubbles and then apply a thing coating of 3M 5200 Fast Cure polyurethane over the remaining original sealant. Wear disposable gloves, poly is very messy. Make sure not to get any poly on the roof on either side of the original sealant. Keep clean rags and solvent handy for cleaning the raw poly from tools, hands, etc.

Next apply the Eternabond tape.
I have decided that using 6" wide Eternabond, on the front seam, at the nose, is a better way to cover this extra wide seam. With 4" tape, one or two overlaps are needed. I have seen problems with the lapping tape lifting. If overlapping, be sure to clean the bottom layer of tape with solvent, letting it dry first, then applying the next layer of tape.
 I like this double sealing method, first restoring the integrity of the original seal as well as posssible and then adding the second seal of Eternabond tape.
Unresolved roof leaks WILL lead to frame damage.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 137955
Thank you, Larry and others. I'll try to circle back on it on completion.

Matt

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Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 147039
Matt W wrote, "...I wonder how many tubes I'd need for a full reseal of a 22 footer..."

I'm wondering the same thing as I have no idea how many tubes to buy.

Thank you everyone who has added information over the years as it's been truly helpful!  There was a ton of information and it's taken me a week of reading and rereading posts but now I feel confident enough to tackle resealing the roof of my 22' LD for the first time.

If anyone sees anything i'm missing including the number of tubes of sealant I need to buy please let me know.

Plan:
1. Clean roof with soap/water and let dry.
2. Pull up old sealant with a 5n1 tool and elbow grease.
3. Clean old sealant residue with acetone and let dry.
4. Run a bead of 3M 5200 along all seals and let set.
5. Run EturnaBond over the seams.

Shopping list:

??tubes of 3M 5200 Fast Cure 10oz caulk gun tube.
1 roll of 6x50 EternaBond tape 5n1 tool

Rubber gloves acetone 2" rubber seam roller

Thanks again! Dave & Amanda
Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 147048
"...I wonder how many tubes I'd need for a full reseal of a 22 footer..."

Matt For a one piece roof, on a 22' model, one 50' roll is just enough, if you don't make any mistakes.
If you have an older model (pre-1985) with the multi-piece roof, get an additional roll.
You can tell if it has a multi-piece roof if there are cross seams in the middle of the roof.
 I  suggest buying extra because it is easy to destroy a piece when first  handling it. If the tape accidentally folds over on itself, it is  permanently joined, don't bother trying to separate it.
Carrying a roll of Eternbond for emergency repairs is a good idea. It works on water and holding tanks, as well as the roof and walls.
 One tube of 3M 5200 polyurethane is enough for the job. Stay with the 3M for the roof seam Factory sealed with polyurethane. Dicor is good for other sealng jobs, as well as the 5200.
 I apply a very small amount of the 5200 along the old sealant line if the Factory sealant is in bad shape, other wise, only bubbles, and any spot where the sealant is damage,  gets a light coat of 5200  before applying the Eternabond.
I have not seen many leaks in the roof seams except in the front corners. Most leaks, on older rigs, are in the front cap where it attaches to the side walls or in the front or side windows.  Many times there is little or no indication where the leak is. If your rig has a front window, definitely reseal it.
 Search the achieves for Etenabond, combined with my user name, for several long postings with a lot of details on roof sealing . Find the posting on the front corners of the roof seam and how I cut them open, many times finding dirt and sometimes water.

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
 
Re: Eternabond Only or EB Plus Dicor
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 147064
I would opt for lacquer thinner rather than acetone. Clean all areas with lacquer thinner or eternabond spray cleaner before applying eternabond.
Dale from Downey.