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Boatycall's avatar
Boatycall
Explorer
Feb 24, 2018

A temp too cold to apply Dicor?

I have to put a lot of Dicor down to seal up a solar panel project sometime between now and end of March. Camper is in the garage right now.

I'm keeping the Dicor in the house to stay warm so it flows easier day come I do go out and finish up my project. Is there a temp I shouldn't go below to seal up my solar brackets and screw heads?

Heating the garage would be a last resort just because of the size.
  • When my roof was replaced, they caulked it in near freezing weather.
    It took nearly two weeks to set up hard but it seems to be ok.
  • “Is there a temp I shouldn't go below to seal up my solar brackets and screw heads?“

    Dicor, the manufacturer, says...?
  • Put your glasses on and read the instructions on the tube. It will tell you the best temp range for use.
  • Stickdog, Dicor doesn’t give ANY directions on temperature application on the tube. The only mention of temperature on their website is that it’s fully cured in 30 days at a temperature range of 50°-70°.
    Dicor Lap Sealant is a petroleum based product, so you don’t have to worry about it freezing. The colder the temp, the more flow problems you’ll have and the rougher the finished surface will be. For those reasons I would want it to be above 40°, though you could obviously go lower (especially on a small job). Be sure your surfaces are clean and dry.
  • If it concerns you, why not just pick a travel week where you can head south between storms and put the Dicor on when you arrive in a balmy, sub tropical area? That's what I'd do.

    :)
  • Over last few years I tried several caulks, including $20/tube marine stuff and none of them holds for long.
    The only stuff that works is polyurethane roofing caulk you can buy at HD, but it comes in black only, so its use on TC is limited.
    I put the new technology roof sealer on my house a year ago and the $200/bucket stuff works really well, so in next few weeks I plan to put it on rubber roof on my TC.
  • Mortimer Brewster wrote:
    Stickdog, Dicor doesn’t give ANY directions on temperature application on the tube.


    Just pulled out an older tube of Dicor I had here. The only thing this one says is-

    Dicor Label wrote:
    In cold weather, warm container at room temperature before use.


    From that it would appear temperature doesn't matter, but I would still be concerned about surface condition. I would avoid conditions close to the dew point where there could be surface moisture you aren't aware of. Likewise below freezing for the same reason. But other than that it would seem long as the surface is clean and dry, go for it.
  • Since heating the garage is not a option, I would heat the interior of the camper for 12 hours before applying and 24 after to warm roof room inside. This will help with bonding by having a warmer roof. I would also set up some heat lamps (Bulb and clamp light about $15) several feet away and keep the area warm for 24 hours to allow leveling and initial bonding. With the heat lamps monitor them when you start to determine amount heating. They are radiant heat so air is not heated much but surface will be. 3 to 6 feet is normally good depending air temp. Remember, trying to warm it, not cook it. They do take a bit of time to warm something so monitoring them every hour until you get them figured out. Have used them on new born livestock for year is cold weather. I hang rhen 6 ft above floor pointed down and it keeps it comfy. Just be careful when you start.
  • Why not apply as usual, let it level for a bit, then use a hot air gun for 15 min. That should let it skim. It will eventually cure, but at least it may resist some debris until then.
  • A hot air gun may too warm, but a hair dryer over the area you want to seal prior applying the Dicor may allow it to flow into all the cavities better.