In your experience, what works the best for removing silicone caulk?

Hiya, My unit is a 1987 Okanagan with petrified caulk. I have started going around and redoing all of the seams. I have used something available at a local Plastics shop called "Contractor's Solvent". The stuff is amazing. It expands the silicone and the stuff comes out of seams all by itself. It will remove the RV caulks as well. Get yourself some of the plastic bondo scrapers and other plastic implements of destruction. Home Depot has cool disposable silicone tools as well.It may take some experimenting to get the right tools, but the solvent works great for the initial work. Albeit, I have had to use a little help with a heat gun in places. Final cleanup is elbow grease and perhaps some acetone.

I like THIS stuff...it stays in place better (gel) and is safe on most surfaces.

nano wrote:In your experience, what works the best for removing silicone caulk?A 2013 rig shouldn't have silicone caulking on it anywhere unless it's been added after the fact by yourself or someone else. Removing it successfully is one of several reasons silicone caulking shouldn't be used on the exterior of any recreational vehicle, the stuff is darned near impossible to get rid of and tougher still to get proper caulk to stick the surface that previously had silicone applied to it. :M

SoundGuy wrote:nano wrote:In your experience, what works the best for removing silicone caulk?A 2013 rig shouldn't have silicone caulking on it anywhere unless it's been added after the fact by yourself or someone else. Removing it successfully is one of several reasons silicone caulking shouldn't be used on the exterior of any recreational vehicle, the stuff is darned near impossible to get rid of and tougher still to get proper caulk to stick the surface that previously had silicone applied to it. :MThat's why you have to use a solvent designed for silicone. Silicone leaves behind a residue that has to be cleaned off before any new caulking can be applied.Agree that a 2013 RV shouldn't have any silicone.

Removing silicone caulk | Good Sam Community

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2015
a one edge razor blade ,
Wet_Coast
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
Hiya, My unit is a 1987 Okanagan with petrified caulk. I have started going around and redoing all of the seams. I have used something available at a local Plastics shop called "Contractor's Solvent".

The stuff is amazing. It expands the silicone and the stuff comes out of seams all by itself. It will remove the RV caulks as well. Get yourself some of the plastic bondo scrapers and other plastic implements of destruction. Home Depot has cool disposable silicone tools as well.

It may take some experimenting to get the right tools, but the solvent works great for the initial work. Albeit, I have had to use a little help with a heat gun in places. Final cleanup is elbow grease and perhaps some acetone.
SH
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
I like THIS stuff...it stays in place better (gel) and is safe on most surfaces.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
nano wrote:
In your experience, what works the best for removing silicone caulk?

A 2013 rig shouldn't have silicone caulking on it anywhere unless it's been added after the fact by yourself or someone else. Removing it successfully is one of several reasons silicone caulking shouldn't be used on the exterior of any recreational vehicle, the stuff is darned near impossible to get rid of and tougher still to get proper caulk to stick the surface that previously had silicone applied to it. :M
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 28, 2015
SoundGuy wrote:
nano wrote:
In your experience, what works the best for removing silicone caulk?

A 2013 rig shouldn't have silicone caulking on it anywhere unless it's been added after the fact by yourself or someone else. Removing it successfully is one of several reasons silicone caulking shouldn't be used on the exterior of any recreational vehicle, the stuff is darned near impossible to get rid of and tougher still to get proper caulk to stick the surface that previously had silicone applied to it. :M

That's why you have to use a solvent designed for silicone. Silicone leaves behind a residue that has to be cleaned off before any new caulking can be applied.

Agree that a 2013 RV shouldn't have any silicone.
TakingThe5th
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
I just installed a new Maxxfan and the instructions specifically called for unpaintable silicone caulk. My previous fan recommended Dicor-like caulk. Hmmmmm
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
TakingThe5th wrote:
I just installed a new Maxxfan and the instructions specifically called for unpaintable silicone caulk. My previous fan recommended Dicor-like caulk. Hmmmmm

Curious. :h I wouldn't ever let silicone caulk near my camper, particularly when products like Dicor lap sealant designed specifically for the purpose are so readily available and have a proven track record.
benb21601
Explorer
Apr 29, 2015
mineral spirits. available at walmart. will dissolve it and not hurt the fiberglass. can take a little elbow grease tho.
Traveler_II
Explorer
Apr 29, 2015
Just wondering why you are removing the silicone? Ours has clear silicone on all the exterior seams and it’s holding up great.
QFamCA
Explorer
Apr 29, 2015
My TT is brand new and silicone caulking on exterior seams as well. I'm pretty sure its silicone caulk as divot is used on roof and I assume lap sealant around storage doors etc. However silicone used on exterior seams around lights etc.

However the exterior seems and door trim already have the silicone shrinking where there is gaps. Should I remove this since gaps have already formed and caulk again with silicone or should I use another sealant. Sorry don't mean to hijack the thread but it goes with the OPs question.