dicor self leveling lap sealant on slide out roof?

[al7601]

I have a lot of dicor lap sealant and wanted to know if I could use it on my slide out roof? Currently there is eternal bond tape there but it is bubbling. I don't have any eternabond tape but like I said, have plenty of dicor. this is for the seal furthest away from the trailer on the exterior top of the roof.

[drsteve]

LarryJM wrote:
Well my 10+ years and multiple removals of Eternabond tells me that both fallsriver and drsteve are mistaken and haven't actually worked with the product.
Larry

So because you pulled a piece of Eternabond loose, nobody else has worked with it? LOL...

[TurnThePage]

How can water get trapped under it?

I believe the only reason they don't use it "more" in RV manufacturing is because of the time and expense to apply it. Go ahead and look up a couple youtube videos of the typical manufacturing process and you'll see a couple guys racing through the construction process, almost literally running along beside the new unit as they lay down the caulk or lap sealant.

There are manufacturers that do use it.

[falconbrother]

Eternabond tape will fail if water gets trapped under that surface. IMO its a temp fix.

[LarryJM]

Well my 10+ years and multiple removals of Eternabond tells me that both fallsriver and drsteve are mistaken and haven't actually worked with the product. It does take a little longer to remove every trace of Eternabond, but in about 99% of any repairs that is not needed and there are methods to address the removal issues such as:

1. It's not necessary to remove the tape, you can cut the white layer at the say roof item with a flange at the flanges edge to roof line and simple leave that part on the roof and apply new tape ... easy peasy. This is IIRC the preferred method recommended by Eternabond.

OR

2. You can remove 75% of the tape and microsealant by pulling gently until the microsealant stretches (best done in warm weather or use some heat applied to the tape) and then cut the microsealant with a razor blade close to the say roof, etc. You can then either leave the small amount of microsealant left there or it can be removed completely by several means one of which is what I call the "GLOB and pull" technique using a glob of the microsealant and the "GLOBBER", rolling it upon itself and then pulling it loose and the final traces can be removed by rubbing it into a ball or using lacquer thinner sparingly.

I've used both techniques probably more than a dozen times successfully in the last 10+ years. Yes it's harder, but VERY, VERY seldom will you ever need to do this.

Larry

[drsteve]

fallsrider wrote:
For what it's worth, my mobile repair guy does not like Eternabond. I think the reason is that it sticks so well that it is a real pain to remove if you ever have to. I always took that as a demonstration that the tape really works. I have never used it, but I would not hesitate to because someone doesn't like it.

True fact. Eternabond is best used in places you will never want to remove it.

[fallsrider]

For what it's worth, my mobile repair guy does not like Eternabond. I think the reason is that it sticks so well that it is a real pain to remove if you ever have to. I always took that as a demonstration that the tape really works. I have never used it, but I would not hesitate to because someone doesn't like it.

[LarryJM]

keymastr wrote:
These were guys who build them. They had no motive to suggest any product over another since they do not offer their services for hire and do not sell caulking or repair materials of any kind.

Think what you will but if the guys who build them for a living will not use a product perhaps there is a good reason.

I gave you the reason, if a trailer only lasts past it's warranty period then PROFIT is the ONE AND ONLY MOTIVE for any business in the end. They definitely have NO INCENTIVE to use something that will last the longest and be the best available when it's more expensive to begin with.

Take off your "ROSE COLORED GLASSES" and listen to folks with hands on experience like westend, myself and others posting here. It never amazes me when folks will defend total unknowns while dismissing the first hand experiences of thoses on the website they thought enough of to post the information being discussed.:S:h:S

Larry

[westend]

keymastr wrote:
These were guys who build them. They had no motive to suggest any product over another since they do not offer their services for hire and do not sell caulking or repair materials of any kind.

Think what you will but if the guys who build them for a living will not use a product perhaps there is a good reason.

It may be that they only use cheaper, conventional sealants when they are building the trailer. To endorse Eternabond tape as a better/adequate sealing solution may raise the question of why they don't use it when manufacturing.

I can only judge the adequacy of the tapes from my own use and application. Here's my story: I rebuilt an older Starcraft with an aluminum roof. I removed the roof edge trim for repair of the wooden top wall plate underneath. When I reinstalled the edge trim, I applied an elastomeric sealant between the roof membrane and the wall framing, between the wall siding and the framing, and underneath the trim edging. I used new screws to attach the edge trim and bought a new plastic screw cover. I had two small leak areas when the roof work was completed. I then applied Eternabond Web Seal and Eternabond Roof Tape over every joint and every through hole on the roof. I test about every other year, pressurizing the interior. I haven't had any leaks since using the tapes.

[Walaby]

keymastr wrote:
These were guys who build them. They had no motive to suggest any product over another since they do not offer their services for hire and do not sell caulking or repair materials of any kind.

Think what you will but if the guys who build them for a living will not use a product perhaps there is a good reason.

Given some of the quality of RVs, Im not sure I'd call the guys who work for the manufacturer 'pros'.

Mike

[drsteve]

keymastr wrote:
I went to a maintenance seminar put on by the manufacturer of my unit and they did not have a very high opinion of Eternabond and would not suggest it be used anywhere. They suggested it could be used as an emergency patch but that the edges often failed to seal and should have a bead of Dicor applied to seal them.

I have never used it myself, just relaying what the pros said.

My new Coachmen uses a strip of Eternabond on the top of the slide out, right where the OP is talking about. Strangely enough, it wasn't stuck down very tightly, and would probably not have stayed put had I not took a roller to it.

Might be why the OP's tape was bubbled...

[keymastr]

These were guys who build them. They had no motive to suggest any product over another since they do not offer their services for hire and do not sell caulking or repair materials of any kind.

Think what you will but if the guys who build them for a living will not use a product perhaps there is a good reason.

[westend]

keymastr wrote:
I went to a maintenance seminar put on by the manufacturer of my unit and they did not have a very high opinion of Eternabond and would not suggest it be used anywhere. They suggested it could be used as an emergency patch but that the edges often failed to seal and should have a bead of Dicor applied to seal them.

I have never used it myself, just relaying what the pros said.

Sure hasn't been my experience. I have Eternabond tapes sealing everything on the roof and it has never leaked or pulled an edge. About the only way an edge can loosen is if there was improper surface prep or the tape wasn't rolled down hard. The adhesive in the Eternabond tapes is in the matrix of the tape.

[GrandpaKip]

keymastr wrote:
I went to a maintenance seminar put on by the manufacturer of my unit and they did not have a very high opinion of Eternabond and would not suggest it be used anywhere. They suggested it could be used as an emergency patch but that the edges often failed to seal and should have a bead of Dicor applied to seal them.

I have never used it myself, just relaying what the pros said.

I'm curious. Did those pros have anything to say about the use of silicone caulk?

To the OP, I would still find out the cause first.

[LarryJM]

keymastr wrote:
I went to a maintenance seminar put on by the manufacturer of my unit and they did not have a very high opinion of Eternabond and would not suggest it be used anywhere. They suggested it could be used as an emergency patch but that the edges often failed to seal and should have a bead of Dicor applied to seal them.

I have never used it myself, just relaying what the pros said.

Then I would say those pros DON'T KNOW JACK. No manufacturer or business that does RV maintenance is going to recommend ETERNABOND since it cuts into their profits for redoing caulking or having a trailer fall apart so they can sell a new one ... THOSE ARE THE REAL FACTS, IMO. FACT IS while the edge of Eternabond tape might lift it's not a common occurance if you apply it properly and it can be almost entirely eliminated with a tiny bit of sealant along the edges and if an edge does lift the only problem is generally cosmetic and doesn't really effect the rest of the tape that is still adhered to the surface.

Larry