Total Eternabond Failure!
In October I Eternabonded one roof seam down over to the side rain gutter, and also the roof/front cap junction. Two days layer I covered the roof and put my trailer to bed for the winter. Yesterday I opened it up, and found a total failure of the side seam job!
Meaning the entire side tape - or at least 90% of it, is completely unstuck; not a trace of adhesion. Interestingly, it still seems to be well-stuck (but I didn't test it very hard) to the metallic rain gutter, even though I only overlapped that by about 1/4 inch or so.
The roof/front gap job looks ok though - at least it is not 100% unstuck. I'll look at this one more carefully tomorrow.
Extremely discouraged. Eternabond is supposed to be THE BEST, the recommended solution to roof maintenance. What could have happened?
On the day I did the job, it was cool, mid-40s, and cloudy (within their recommended temperature range). There was a slight layer of frost on the roof, which I rubbed off with rags. Then I cleaned the roof with acetone. At least 4 times, with fresh acetone and clean rags each time. I made a dam above the job with towels to absorb any water that might drip down to my work from the peaked middle of the roof. I am confident that the roof was completely dry.
While I did clean it at least 4 times with acetone, as we know these roofs exude a chalky substance as they age, and how do I know when to stop cleaning? After 4 times it was looking clean but certainly not like new.
I rubbed hard with a roller - about as hard as I could while balancing on a ladder - and also with my fist pressing down onto a washcloth. I rubbed more than I thought I needed to.
When I finished the job, it looked good. Well adhered and I doubt I could have peeled it off without destroying the underlying roof membrane.
What could have happened? All opinions appreciated. And I'll call Eternabond for help but I'm not going to make them take the blame if it is something I did wrong. But I thought I was following all instructions and felt good about the job back in October.
What a mess. I'll probably have to remove it all, and start over with Proflex. My confidence in Eternabond at this point is shattered.
Meaning the entire side tape - or at least 90% of it, is completely unstuck; not a trace of adhesion. Interestingly, it still seems to be well-stuck (but I didn't test it very hard) to the metallic rain gutter, even though I only overlapped that by about 1/4 inch or so.
The roof/front gap job looks ok though - at least it is not 100% unstuck. I'll look at this one more carefully tomorrow.
Extremely discouraged. Eternabond is supposed to be THE BEST, the recommended solution to roof maintenance. What could have happened?
On the day I did the job, it was cool, mid-40s, and cloudy (within their recommended temperature range). There was a slight layer of frost on the roof, which I rubbed off with rags. Then I cleaned the roof with acetone. At least 4 times, with fresh acetone and clean rags each time. I made a dam above the job with towels to absorb any water that might drip down to my work from the peaked middle of the roof. I am confident that the roof was completely dry.
While I did clean it at least 4 times with acetone, as we know these roofs exude a chalky substance as they age, and how do I know when to stop cleaning? After 4 times it was looking clean but certainly not like new.
I rubbed hard with a roller - about as hard as I could while balancing on a ladder - and also with my fist pressing down onto a washcloth. I rubbed more than I thought I needed to.
When I finished the job, it looked good. Well adhered and I doubt I could have peeled it off without destroying the underlying roof membrane.
What could have happened? All opinions appreciated. And I'll call Eternabond for help but I'm not going to make them take the blame if it is something I did wrong. But I thought I was following all instructions and felt good about the job back in October.
What a mess. I'll probably have to remove it all, and start over with Proflex. My confidence in Eternabond at this point is shattered.
