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Topic: Removing Roof Sealant (Read 1079 times) previous topic - next topic

Removing Roof Sealant

I am trying to remove as much of the gray roof sealant as I can on the entire roof. The old stuff is hard, cracked and does not come off easily. I have tried a heat gun but it does not seem to soften much. Any tips?

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #1 –
Will it cut at all or just break?  I've used a razor sharp socket type chisel with a long wooden handle to slice stuff like this within a couple thou of the surface.  Similar to a socket slick but smaller.  Hidden screws buried in it will ruin your day though.  There is a polyurethane release agent reported to work well to release 3M5200.  Now if you were a popular camping supply place you'd just leave it and drizzle on some more Dicor. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #2 –
Pierce,

Are you familiar with Sure Coat Systems? http://www.surecoatsystems.com/residential-photos.asp?albumid=12#slide  They have a product that is supposed to soften for removal all of the old sealant and clean and the patch the roof in preparation for their DIY roof coating.  I used 3M boat soap and a lot of scrubbing with a brush to clean mine last summer and the results were great.  Of course wet sanding with 600-800 grit will work also.  I started that process on the passenger side and on the front bumper and brought the shine back by working up to 3000 grit.  After that it can be maintained with wax or poli-glo or at that point painting or clear coating.

Jerry
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Jerry and Cindy Maddux
1993 U300/36WTBI DD6v92TA
build 4271  "Miss Lou"
1995 suzuki sidekick 4x4 toad
Gulfport, Ms

"Pride of Ownership"

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #3 –
Chuck,

It comes off down to the glass when I dig into it in the thicker areas. The thin areas are rock hard. I may try a long handled sharp scraper as you suggested. Yes, I can see the hidden screws are going to be trouble. Will try the 3M5200 and see if it soften the hard areas.

Jerry,

The coating looks good. I want to get rid of all the old sealer before I put anything new on. From the website, it looks like they covered a lot of the old stuff. Will take a look at their product that is supposed to soften the old coating and prepare the surface. Whoever did ours did a really sloppy job. I have the decal removing down to a slow science and don't want to spend a month working on the roof.

About to mount our solar panels this next week (optimistic) and it will be a lot easier to do the sealant now rather than later.

Thanks guys,

Pierce

 
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Will try the 3M5200 and see if it soften the hard areas.


NO, as he posted, " There is a polyurethane release agent reported to work well to release 3M5200."

You sure don't want to use 5200, that stuff is virtually impossible to remove.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #5 –
Got it quickly Brett. I misread it but when I looked up the 5200, it didn't look like the stuff. May take remedial reading 101. ;D

Thanks

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #6 –
Completely understand.

Just didn't want you or someone else to make a tough job nearly impossible.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #7 –
Pierce, are you trying to remove a coating from the whole roof or just existing caulk around penetrations? 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Chuck Pearson –
Pierce, are you trying to remove a coating from the whole roof or just existing caulk around penetrations? 

No, just around the penetrations.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #9 –
My experience with this prep mtl such as listed in the website is that it doesn't actually remove the existing coatings, just chemically cleans and etches for adhesion of future coat.  The wash runoff can be very difficult to deal with as it can stain everything it touches all the way to the ground.  Highly caustic. 

If you're going to mask off and re-pour a self leveling sealant such as Dicor might consider using a very carefully wielded 4" grinder with sanding disc to remove the hard stuff.  Should be able to get it down to the point where you just start seeing the gelcoat. The flexible stuff can be cut off with a sharp chisel pushed thru it. 

"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #10 –
Am thinking the hardest thing about buying a used MH is following behind someone who didn't have a clue what they were doing.  Take Roof Coatings, I am blessed with 40 ft of old white Mobile Home Coat, the cheap stuff like Henry's.  Turns out the stuff forms "blisters" that range from 1" to about 6"s, can't put anything new over those.  Need to remove lots of them, might as well strip all that old crud off the roof, has anyone tried Paint Stripper? Will it attack the fiberglass Gel Coat?
Steve & Nancy Snow
1987 GV 40'
 

Re: Removing Roof Sealant

Reply #11 –
Sounds like bad prep for the Henrys which may work in your favor. Might try a 3500 psi power washer with turbo nozzle, see if you can peel it off first.  Paint stripper will be a mess.

Hard to see why anybody would put stuff like this on.  If you don't mind a little surface texture it's very simple to roll on a fresh coat of gelcoat.  I regelcoat the decks on a workboat every couple years, works great looks good. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS