April Showers bring May Flowers?
It’s that time of year again to inspect your exterior seals on your RV, sealant maintenance in crucial to the longevity of your investment. Water damage can drastically reduce the resale cost of your vehicle as well as be very expensive to repair the damage caused be extended water leaks.
Simple sealant inspections should be preformed seasonally, that means four times a year. Today we will focus on cap seals and Butyl or “putty tape”. Cap seals are sealants applied to horizontal surfaces to protect the underlying butyl. This sealant is typically 100% Silicone or sometimes a non-leveling lap sealant. Occasionally vertical surfaces have a cap seal, this varies from RV to RV depending on construction and the moldings used on that RV. Butyl is a sealant tape used to create a waterproof barrier and is applied between the sidewall and the accessory.
When inspecting your RV you are looking for voids or separations in the cap sealants. Inspect your sidewall moldings, windows, doors and accessories. As the RV ages you will see butyl that is creeping out from behind the windows, doors, or moldings. Address these issues now! Don’t wait, just do it. Below are some sample photos I’ve taken of some of these issues.
Properly address your potential leaks… Remove all the sealants used to create the cap seal, failure to do so will create adhesion problems for your new sealant. Remove all the exposed butyl tape carefully, try not to damage you RV when doing this. Using razor blades and knives are not recommended. Remember if you are unsure about performing this operation take it to a professional, it will save you money down the road. Clean and prep the surfaces with a mild solvent, make sure to use the correct solvent! Contact your RV dealer for recommendations if you are unsure what to use.
Use only 100% silicone or a non-leveling lap sealant. (It will usually say Window & Door, or Exterior Sealant. Don’t use bathroom tub and tile sealants! They don’t work properly.) Make sure the sealant you use is flexible! Don’t over apply your sealant, a little goes a long way and looks better. When applying your new sealant make sure to cover the entire horizontal edge of the item your sealing. This creates a water shed and will keep water from breaking down your butyl.
