hHow clean is clean? I have scraped it with a a scraper, wire brushed the residue left sticking to the joint. There is still a thin layer of sticky black residue left from the wire brushing on parts. safe to put the tape back on???? I don't want to have to do this again for a while and I don't want it to leak. If you have stains that are still difficult to remove, like tree sap, try mineral spirits, but with a BIG CAUTION: Do NOT use mineral spirits unless you carefully follow these directions. Mineral spirits is a petroleum distillate, and a rubber roof can react with swelling, deterioration and discoloring.DIRECTIONS: NEVER pour the mineral spirits DIRECTLY ONTO THE ROOF! Always pour a SMALL amount on a soft cloth (less is best) and then use the cloth to scrub out the stain, using only as much as needed and wiping it up with another cloth when the stain is gone. See picture in my restoration post for documentation on what is left at this point on the joint that needs taped.

What tape are you using? If it is Eternabond they recommend cleaning with Acetone. "For EPDM and metal clean with a "hot" (fast evaporating) solvent like - lacquer thinner, acetone, automotive brake parts cleaner, or a commercial EPDM cleaner, or a good, non-residue leaving cleaner."

MY auto body friend just came over with something he uses before painting. after reading the product it is a silicone and oil remover. It seems to have a weak acid base liquid you mix with water to etch the metal for paint adhesion

The product is Eternabond tape.

I do have a couple of cans of non chlorinated brake cleaner from AutoZone around that can be used. It is water Dispersible with a good rinse after it dries. It has all ready been cleaned with Ausem Orange. the stuff will clean oiled motors if you use it that way

I am mostly worried about the sticky residue left from the Eternabond tape

taping roof | Good Sam Community

ScottG
Nomad
Dec 25, 2017
Actually, in the directions for Eternabond it says you can leave residue behind and the new tape will stick just fine to it.
But I certainly respect wanting to do a clean job like you did!
femailyetti
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
I did not see that EternaPrime when I looked at the site in the past. I will have to order a quart as I am going to be removing all the old tape before I am truly done with this project. It takes for ever to get that tape off and the residue removed. I really don't want it coming loose because I was in hurry to finish something.
TechWriter
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
femailyetti wrote:
I am mostly worried about the sticky residue left from the Eternabond tape

Use EternaPrime spray before taping.
Jim
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
Excellent job. That looks great and should give you decades of water proofing.
femailyetti
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
Well I stuck down after every thing dried. its about 80 degree or so here where I live so the heat helps the tape flow also. Here are the pictures of the final project. how many of you can stand on you roof in sandals right now. lol

this is the drivers side

this is the passanger side
ScottG
Nomad
Dec 24, 2017
I used Mineral Spirits just as Eternabond and Dicor suggest. No harm what so ever to the rubber membrane if you just apply it to a cloth and rub. Does a great job and takes off residue fast. I've never seen any hint of the rubber having issues with it.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Dec 24, 2017
I use denatured alcohol and can be bought in one gallon cans at Home Depot, Lowes, or any hardware store. It cleans good, evaporates quickly, and is a mild enough solvent that it does not harm paint surfaces.
Jim
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
My self leveling was so thick and strong that I couldn't hardly dent it with the plastic tools I used for safety (so as to not gouge the roofing material). So...I shrugged and put the tape right over it, making sure I had some roofing the tape could stick to.

And 12 years later, 90% of the Ebond tape was still stuck down over the self leveling stuff. I did have a couple edges here and there lift so you do need to climb up there and check every year. And then put more tape over the part that's lifting.

Remember, you can't see the top of the roof so no big deal. But I always tried to make it look good for a future buyer. As it turned out, he thought it looked fine.
femailyetti
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
I plan on putting the tape down where the old tape was, There was some self leveling sealant of some kind aroundd the roof rack brackets.
Sould I tape them or just reaply some self leving selant around them like before? My next step is to remove all the old craking and falling off self leveling sealant and applly new.
Jim
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
Fine job you did there.

Just slap the Ebond over that and call it good. Roller it down. Sounds like you followed Ebonds instructions about removing the old as best you could. No sense going crazy. If you can only get 15 years out of it that's still pretty good isn't it?

One of the things I did when an edge somehow detached and started peeling off was just put another piece of Ebond over the top or under the loosened portion. That extended the covered portion of the roofing material to an area that hadn't had tape on it before.

I'd put it on so the new stuck down tape edge was either upwind of the old tape, or up slope...if you get my meaning. But these are ideas to use only if your newly applied tape wants to lift off the roof too soon.

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