Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-15-2015, 05:06 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Timex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
Cleaning Up Caulk

I'm in the process of replacing my roof vent with a Fantastic Fan vent. I'm at the stage where I want to cleanup all the old butyl tape/caulk from around the hole. I've scraped about as much off as I could with a putty knife.

What to you folks recommend?

I see on other threads NOT to use Acetone.

Would Mineral Spirits be ok on the rubber roof?

What about the soap mixture you use in a pressure washer?
__________________
2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
Nights camped 2015 = 23
Nights camped 2016 = 25
Nights camped 2017 = 13
Nights camped 2018 = 3
Timex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 05:22 PM   #2
Cyber Phrenologist
 
Radio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southern Crescent
Posts: 1,806
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timex View Post
Would Mineral Spirits be ok on the rubber roof?
I have spent more than 30 hours on my camper roof this year. More time on it, than in it.

When I replaced my shower skylight bubble somewhere I learned NOT to apply mineral spirits directly to the roof, as in pouring it straight on the roof.

You can pour it onto a rag and dab/rub it on the sealant you wish to remove.
Take some Gatorade up there with you. You are going to be at it (old sealant removal) for quite a while. But yeah, I used mineral spirits to get the old lap seal and butyl tape junk off.

Mostly what takes it off is the mechanical scraping with the putty knife. Between the two you can see I got it looking pretty good.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCF0033.jpg
Views:	155
Size:	494.1 KB
ID:	80061  
__________________
KU4OJ
2008 (or is it 2009?) Rockwood 8280SS - 2022 F-250 7.3L
Lot's of mostly Kenwood radios

Radio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 05:28 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Ford Idaho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
Heat gun, very slow and real easy.

Mineral spirit is ok as long as you do not soak the roof and let it stand.

Use a dampened towel and rub the residual off.
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
Ford Idaho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 06:34 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Timex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
When I was at Lowes today, the only question I asked was, "Where's the acetone"? I had my hand on a can of mineral spirits and thought naw the acetone will do. The more I thought, the more I doubted whether I should use it. So back to Lowes tomorrow for mineral spirits. Radio, I see a can of Goo Gone, was that used?

In the box with the Fantastic Fan is a piece of "foam plastic"(for lack of a better term), the instructions are like the rest of the manuals to the rv(very vague). It looks like it is a cutout of sorts that can be used as a noise dampening gasket. I wouldn't think it could seal out water.

I wonder what it's usefulness is?
__________________
2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
Nights camped 2015 = 23
Nights camped 2016 = 25
Nights camped 2017 = 13
Nights camped 2018 = 3
Timex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 06:39 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Ford Idaho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
Will it fit over the inside vent trim, between the lip and the ceiling?
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
Ford Idaho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 07:21 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Timex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
You know, I thought about that and haven't tried that yet. I got up top yesterday and did the "hard" part for about an hour. With the heat/humidity we've had lately, well, I got whooped! Even thought I was inside my building, it was still hot. Went to work today and just drug around(not as young as I used to be). I'm off tomorrow so I plan to get on that project. But I was wondering if that plastic piece had something to do with vibration dampening. I'll have to see. I'm taking pics as I go.
__________________
2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
Nights camped 2015 = 23
Nights camped 2016 = 25
Nights camped 2017 = 13
Nights camped 2018 = 3
Timex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 07:32 PM   #7
Cyber Phrenologist
 
Radio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southern Crescent
Posts: 1,806
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timex View Post
Radio, I see a can of Goo Gone, was that used?
Fortunately, No. That was in case I accidently got sealant on the new bubble some place it should not have been.
__________________
KU4OJ
2008 (or is it 2009?) Rockwood 8280SS - 2022 F-250 7.3L
Lot's of mostly Kenwood radios

Radio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 07:37 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Timex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Lowes I go.

Tomorrow.
__________________
2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
Nights camped 2015 = 23
Nights camped 2016 = 25
Nights camped 2017 = 13
Nights camped 2018 = 3
Timex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 07:43 PM   #9
Cyber Phrenologist
 
Radio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southern Crescent
Posts: 1,806
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timex View Post
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Lowes I go.

Tomorrow.
Final thoughts...

1. Stay away from acetone.
2. Take a trash bag up there. The old sealant will come off in blobs, put the blobs in the bag so you don't step on one and track a mess all over the roof.
3. Use a "rope and bucket" elevator system. Don't try to climb up there with stuff in your hands.

__________________
KU4OJ
2008 (or is it 2009?) Rockwood 8280SS - 2022 F-250 7.3L
Lot's of mostly Kenwood radios

Radio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2015, 08:01 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Timex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Posts: 1,658
Oh yeah, I've got the big gobs off, just need to clean it up to have a smooth surface so the new seal can seat properly. Use a 5 gallon bucket to bring the tools up and another bucket with a grocery bag in it for the mess.
__________________
2012 Flagstaff V Lite 30 WRLTS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 Mag Hemi 3.72 Rearaxle
Nights camped 2015 = 23
Nights camped 2016 = 25
Nights camped 2017 = 13
Nights camped 2018 = 3
Timex is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
caulk

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:54 AM.