Forum Discussion

rferoni's avatar
rferoni
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014

Link to butyl tape and butyl putty tape?

Hello all,

Been trying to get advice on putting my TT back together. I've read so much my head is spinning and confused as ever on this butyl putty vs butyl tape thing.

First off, I'll be using it to put all the moldings back on the TT. The corner moldings and gutter moldings and top cross member moldings.

Question...do I use butyl putty or straight butyl tape? Can you tell a difference by looking at the two? It seems this tape goes by both names and you could be buying something that's not what you want.

Does anyone have a link to each type?

Another confusing factor is that I know many on this site prefer the not-putty style butyl, but an rv tech told me to use the putty style.:h:h

Thanks for any help,
Ron
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Sep 08, 2014
    As far as I know it is one in the same. Do not use it where the rubber meets the road. So to speak. If your sealing down the edges of the roofing use lots of Dicor under the moulding. Followed by lots more Dicor over the screw heads.
  • rferoni's avatar
    rferoni
    Explorer
    Sep 08, 2014
    My TT has(had)buytl underneath the gutter moldings. After the roof was folded over the edge they put butyl between the molding and the rubber. Then it was caulked.

    Ron
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Sep 08, 2014
    Butyl tape and putty tape are not the same thing.

    Butyl tape is much more gooey and tacky than putty tape. It will also still be doing its job several years down the road when the putty tape has dried up.
  • Pirate1's avatar
    Pirate1
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2014
    They are not the same and some RV parts joints can't even figure out the difference. I used the stuff that is black rubber like taffey. The white stuff seemed to not work as well and not last as long.
  • mobeewan's avatar
    mobeewan
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2014
    I just bought a roll of each to use when replacing my water heater. I didn't know which was used before and wanted to use the same thing as before so I don't have to worry about residue removal of the old tape.

    The putty tape is like the roll of flexible caulking cord you get at Lowes in the section where the weather stripping is located except it is flat instead of ribbed so it can be pulled apart into strips.

    I have used the putty tape before when replacing a water heater on an older trailer I own. I also used it when installing a fresh water tank fill fitting with door and separate city water fill connection with door on my current TT without any issues.

    As mentioned above butyl tape looks like putty tape but is stickier and gooier.
  • Carb_Cleaner's avatar
    Carb_Cleaner
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2014
    You use putty tape on fiberglass and metal. Butyl tape on rubber. At least, for roofs. I don't see why it'd be different for a wall. I read it on the instructions for a roof-mount vent hood replacement kit from Camco. Chemical composition/compatibility with rubber or ability to flex with temperature changes may have something to do with the difference. I couldn't say. I'm guessing.
    This kit contains butyl tape, because I read it was best. I used this kit to install a vent on a trailer's metal roof about 3 weeks ago. It stuck like poo on rabbit fur.


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