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Topic: Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests (Read 31 times) previous topic - next topic
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Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests
Yahoo Message Number: 145875
What is the recommended way to reseal the LD corner seams? If caulk is used do you use touch up paint so you don't see white "stripes" everywhere? Has anyone had issues with carpenter ants or other pests attacking the wood in the LD? If so, how do you deal with it? We have been looking into purchasing an older LD (probably purchasing out west) but are concerned with how well it would hold up to our climate and conditions of Michigan.
Any thoughts or advice?
Re: Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145879
Here are a couple of photos showing part of the repair process.
Coach repair | Flickr Basically, open up the gap(s) with tapered sticks (shim stock works) , Clean the old sealant out,  flush with acetone of lacquer thinner.
Tape the edges for a clean application.
Drill pilot holes for sheet metal screws, make them slightly bigger than the diameter of the screws.
Apply 3M 5200 Polyurethane-pushing it into the gap with a popsicle stick.
Smooth poly with a gloved, wet finder,  removing any excess squeezed out poly.
Remove sticks holding gap open.
Install #8 stainless steel sheet metal screws, they hold the pieces together while the sealant cures- leave in place.
Remove tape and admire the repaired seam.
 This work fine on the white sections. In the colored sections, if cosmetics are more important than strength, a clear sealant can be used but I have found the 3M 5200 polyurethane to be a superior sealant.
Some have reported good results with Sashco's Big Stretch clear sealant
 For more information, search the archives for postings made by me on the topic, it has been discussed many times.

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: Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145880
Just a couple of comments on 3M 5200 (fast cure) sealant: the stuff does seal very well; I've done the procedure that Larry has outlined, and also have used the 5200 to seal around the windows and anywhere else that needs it.

*From my experiences*, being aware of the following can be helpful:

The little nozzle is very difficult to use, even if the tip is cut to allow a large bead; 5200 is thick, heavy, and does *not* 'flow'.  The pressure needed to force the sealant through the nozzle usually results in bending the opening of the (soft) tube and allowing the goop to come out between the original opening and the nozzle. Now, I don't bother with the nozzle at all.

5200 requires significant 'power' to squeeze out of the tube; lots of fun for old, arthritic and/or otherwise compromised hands!

Be prepared to use the whole tube of sealant in one shot for your sealing jobs; the stuff hardens quickly (pretty much the idea, but the stuff is not choosy as to WHERE it hardens!) after the tube is opened, and keeping any remainder is not an option.

Wear disposable gloves; I use Nitrile, and go through quite a few pairs.

Keep solvent and rags (I use red shop rags or terry cloth) handy for immediate clean ups; the stuff sets up like concrete in short order.

Tape off the work areas, leaving exposed just the area of the seam to be sealed. (Thanks again, Larry, for reminding me to do this when I sealed the rear window! ) I use 'blue tape' because it peels off easily and doesn't permit 'caulk seep'.

As ever, YMMV.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145882
"5200 requires significant 'power' to squeeze out of the tube; lots of fun for old, arthritic and/or otherwise compromised hands!"

Joan
 Squeezing the goo out of the 14-oz tubes, used in a caulking gun, is hard on the hands.
An easier way to use 5200 is to buy it the small, 1-oz tubes. The goo is much easier to squeeze out and 1-oz is enough to do a seam or two, depending on the length of the repair. It is more expensive per ounce but few repairs use the whole or even half a 14-oz tube.
I usually keep a 1-oz tube in the LD, for emergency repairs. Only downside of the 1-oz tubes is lack of local availability unless you have a marine hardware store nearby. The 14-oz tubes are available at HD, Lowes and other hardware stores.
Get the 1-oz tubes online.
 http://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Adhesive-Sealant-White/dp/B003E1ULRE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398192852&sr=8-1&keywords=3m+5200+fast

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: Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145884
"An easier way to use 5200 is to buy it the small, 1-oz tubes" --- I've never seen the 5200 in 'caulking gun' size cartridges; I just get the 3 oz. tube at HD. I picked up another tube yesterday for more 'sealing fun'!  The 3 oz. tube at HD is about the same price as the 1 oz. tube on Amazon, but the tiny tube might be a better buy because I usually end up wasting close to half the 3 oz. tube because I can't get as much done at one time as I did before.

My Mama's words on 'aging' are a bit too colorful to post! ;-)

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
 
Re: Sealing corner seams on LD sides & pests
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145886
Three years ago I had serious separation on the front driver's side corner molding . I pretty much followed Larry's advice on making the repair .  I differed mainly in that I did not use screws to hold the corner piece in place, but rather used a series of braces to hold the piece in place while the 3M 5200 set-up . Here is a description and pictures of the process I used:
 http://www.wxtoad.com/index.php/lazy-daze/end-cap-separation

It has been three years since the repair and it has held up just fine  .

WxToad

Posted by:  cjafolkert@sbcglobal . net cjafolkert@sbcglobal . net Date: Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:47 am ((PDT))

What is the recommended way to reseal the LD corner seams?