endlesstravel wrote:
Sorry to say this, but silicone caulk is bad news for this purpose. It's not really a good sealant, it's really hard to remove and it leaves residue on the material that makes it hard for other stuff to attach to it.
I would get a tube of "silicone be gone" leave it on for twice as long as they recommend. scrub with scotchbrite pad and repeat. Also, a very sharp utility knife or chisel will come in handy.
Then get a roll of EternaBond. Ebay is probably the cheapest place to get it. Clean the area super well, then generously put down the EternaBond tape give it pressure and you'll be all set.
Good instructions on fixing RV roofs with EternaBond at Small Campers Blog Post
I've fixed two seam leaks with it and they're both going 5+ years strong.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out :)
Great advice! Oh yeah, if using Eternabond--after the caulk removal cleanup, hit it with some solvent on a rag, acetone, lacquer thinner, or other solvent that removes the last film of the silicone. Eternabond is the best but will not stick at all to silicone.
FWIW, I rebuilt my TT and sealed the roof to siding joint with three applications of quality elastomeric caulk: siding to frame, roof to frame, and two beads under the edge trim. I still had a couple of leaks. I then applied Eternabond to the joint and have had no leaks, verified by two interior pressure tests.
