Adding (back)air conditioner
After few years of not having Air conditioner we've decided to put it back. Couple of years ago we had decided not to replace when we rebuilt the roof. Only used once or twice a year and the expense. ...
Forum Discussion
Removing the sealant, both butyl and dicor self leveling caulk. Mostly time and patience, perseverance. Take into consideration that it wont be enjoyable and it wont be over quickly and trudge thru it. The sealant is the chore, the putty or butyl tape not too bad.
Separating the vent was suprisingly more difficult, ours is/was a Fantastic which has plastic flange that I didnt want to crack. Or cut my roof. I had installed mine so it was a bit neater than factory (not as piled up). Laid some towels on roof to protect. I was able to see where screws were and push screwdriver thru to remove.
Slowly going around and around pushing plastic putty knives under till I got perimeter dicor cut, then going round again going deeper to cut the butyl tap, then going round again insert knifes but then slide a THIN small pry bar on top to lever-slowly pry apart but almost not noticeable, insert another putty so it didnt restick, move down a bit, repeat, round & round till it finally started lifting. Spent a good hour just getting separated.
Getting the dicor off EPDM roof, carefully pushing plastic knife cut bulk off, then used thumb to push, roll and pull off. I used acetone primarily when I got it pretty clean, I did use paint thinner as that actually works better but BAD for the EPDM. Tried to confine to sealant area, lots of clean rags lightly dampened with thinner to scrub off sealant then light wipe with acetone. Avoid getting the rubber wet.
If I never see the back side of a sealed app on my roof as long as I live I will not be unhappy. Its a chore on the rubber roofs. Single most reason that reinstalling AC was made with great reluctance and only reason I almost decided not to. But its done. If only 10% of the project its still by far the real chore in my opinion.
On a fiberglass, painted aluminum or plastic roofs after cutting off bulk you could just wash with paint thinner (acetone will remove paint, dissolve plastics not sure but I wouldn't use on fiberglass or gel). Paint thinner is fairly mild solvent but not on EPDM, can cause it to soften & swell. All that said I might have spent another hour maybe 1 1/2 cleaning. But as you might glean...I hate it, my rant. Course because the AC uses a gasket and not sealed cleaning more critical verses reapplying a sealed fixture.
Cant tell you how glad Thats done...if it took another 2 weeks to reinstall the AC, still Im on the downhill side IMO, the rest is gravy.
Separating the vent was suprisingly more difficult, ours is/was a Fantastic which has plastic flange that I didnt want to crack. Or cut my roof. I had installed mine so it was a bit neater than factory (not as piled up). Laid some towels on roof to protect. I was able to see where screws were and push screwdriver thru to remove.
Slowly going around and around pushing plastic putty knives under till I got perimeter dicor cut, then going round again going deeper to cut the butyl tap, then going round again insert knifes but then slide a THIN small pry bar on top to lever-slowly pry apart but almost not noticeable, insert another putty so it didnt restick, move down a bit, repeat, round & round till it finally started lifting. Spent a good hour just getting separated.
Getting the dicor off EPDM roof, carefully pushing plastic knife cut bulk off, then used thumb to push, roll and pull off. I used acetone primarily when I got it pretty clean, I did use paint thinner as that actually works better but BAD for the EPDM. Tried to confine to sealant area, lots of clean rags lightly dampened with thinner to scrub off sealant then light wipe with acetone. Avoid getting the rubber wet.
If I never see the back side of a sealed app on my roof as long as I live I will not be unhappy. Its a chore on the rubber roofs. Single most reason that reinstalling AC was made with great reluctance and only reason I almost decided not to. But its done. If only 10% of the project its still by far the real chore in my opinion.
On a fiberglass, painted aluminum or plastic roofs after cutting off bulk you could just wash with paint thinner (acetone will remove paint, dissolve plastics not sure but I wouldn't use on fiberglass or gel). Paint thinner is fairly mild solvent but not on EPDM, can cause it to soften & swell. All that said I might have spent another hour maybe 1 1/2 cleaning. But as you might glean...I hate it, my rant. Course because the AC uses a gasket and not sealed cleaning more critical verses reapplying a sealed fixture.
Cant tell you how glad Thats done...if it took another 2 weeks to reinstall the AC, still Im on the downhill side IMO, the rest is gravy.
