Eternabond prep and install advice

Spend the money and buy a roller. Eternabond sells one but, you can get the same thing cheaper on Ebay. I like the steel roller, some like the wood roller. They do a good job.

I would probably use two sections for the arch. It will be easier.
Maybe someone has a better idea for the arch area.

Don't stretch it! Just lay it down.

TechWriter wrote:
Don't stretch it! Just lay it down.

This is great advise. Also do the job when the roof is warm. It helps the sealing processand you definately need the roller to insure a good seal.

Warm roof, clean surface, pressure - that's about it!

For final cleanup, use Acetone or Alcohol instead of mineral spirits. ISTR, a poster stated that the Eternabond Preparation product is primarily acetone.

You must use a roller with a good amount of pressure to break the encapsulated adhesive within the tape's matrix. Roll it good, using a small roller with handle.

The tape should roll over that arch. Lay a piece of tape with the plastic backer still on before proceeding and see if it buckles too much. If warm out, I think the top vinyl layer has enough give to make the bend.

Good luck on the taping, Eternabond is a great product.

I also suggest using EternaCaulk along all the tape edges -- it prevents "tenting".

I used the caulk on just some of my tape edges and after 2 years there's no tenting on those sealed edges. However, on the unsealed edges I'm getting some minor tenting.

Use acetone, and the surface must be very clean and dry. I found that applying a little heat helps in getting it to stick.

gbopp wrote:
Spend the money and buy a roller. Eternabond sells one but, you can get the same thing cheaper on Ebay. I like the steel roller, some like the wood roller. They do a good job.

I would probably use two sections for the arch. It will be easier.
Maybe someone has a better idea for the arch area.

2x on getting the roller. There is the mechanical sticking more like duct tape then there is the chemical bonding. It takes a lot of pressure to pop the chemical bonding properties (westend covered that well). We use acetone to clean.

Eternabond typically comes off for two reasons over time. The surface had silicone on it or not enough pressure was used to trigger the chemical bonding.

In direct hot sun in hot weather it will stick to itself fast after you remove the plastic film we found if not carefully. We started it and pulled the plastic film out as we hand pressed it into place then rolled with a lot of pressure.

This is all covered well on Eternabond site. It is not hard but doing a short test strip in a place it is need can be helpful.

IF you have to lap it on the edges of the roof because you run out of a roll we started from the rear so limbs would not find a catch edge.

Just like cutting lumber we did the long runs first to reduce odds of splicing. It is awesome stuff.

look in the paint and wallpaper section of your local hardware store
you will find rollers there
get one with a wood roller or a steel roller, do not get a rubber roller
you need a hard roller one that does not give, you need a hard surface to do the job right
and roll firmly
your hands will be tired, maybe achey, when you are done
if not you did not roll hard enough
eternabond needs good hard firm pressure to make the adhesive seal and bond correctly

Be careful with acetone. It's hot and can burn through the roof material if you're too generous with it. Mineral spirits will work just fine and won't damage the surface. Make sure to clean thoroughly prior to applying the mineral spirits using a cleaner that can remove grease. Oxy clean or the orange stuff from the dollar store work really well for this. Rinse it good after the cleaning to make sure all the soap is off.

As Mr. Wizard suggests, you can you use a small wall paper roller to roll it. I rolling pin might work in your case for the top, but you'll want something small on the sides.