Caulking Tips -- Share yours

[TravelTiger]

All,

I am working on an article about Caulking Maintenance for the next issue of Heartland Highlights. If you happen to have some neat tips or tricks on how you maintain, remove, replace, touch-up, clean-up, smooth, mask, tool, prep, etc., on full-body paint, colored fiberglass or white units, Please share them here! We might include them in the article!



Thank you,

Erika Dorsey
Heartland Highlights Editor

 

[JohnDar]

When I redid the roof caulking, I first washed the roof thoroughly, paying extra attention to the caulked areas. Then just applied the Dicor Self-Leveling caulk over the old, extending a little beyond to original caulk like. For esthetics, I used a plastic paint scraper to smooth the caulk out. I did not run the caulk past the curve of the roof on the front and rear caps, though. For the vertical trim caulk along the caps, I used the same plastic scraper to remove the old, along with some rubbing with a soapy Microfiber towel, dried it, and applied a bead of Boss 378 along the trim.

I get up on the roof several times during the summer and check the caulk, et. al. Same with the other caulked areas on my trailer.

 

[HornedToad]

All, If you happen to have some neat tips or tricks on how you... remove caulking.

The best tool to remove caulking is your thumb, by just rolling it off.

With most other tools you risk...
tearing/scratching/marring/denting the roof membrane/siding/trim.

 

[rxbristol]

Someone wrote recently that silicone chaulk is not the best for sealing out water. He suggested the latex type. This was based on a plumber friend. I don't know if there is any studies to back this up, but I could see his reasoning that silicone chaulk allows water to slide right by if there are ANY gaps.

 

[jnbhobe]

I use a polyurathane caulk and painters tape so it doesn't smear.

 

[jmgratz]

All,

I am working on an article about Caulking Maintenance for the next issue of Heartland Highlights. If you happen to have some neat tips or tricks on how you maintain, remove, replace, touch-up, clean-up, smooth, mask, tool, prep, etc., on full-body paint, colored fiberglass or white units, Please share them here! We might include them in the article!

Thank you,

Erika Dorsey
Heartland Highlights Editor

I use the blue masking tape to tape off the area I am caulking. After the caulk dries I remove the tape smoothing the caulk off with my finger as I remove the tape. Makes for a much neater job. For our full body paint RV we use clear caulk on everything that is not white.

 

[MTPockets]

Keep a bottle of Windex handy to spray on your fingers to keep caulk from sticking to your fingers. Works great if using your finger to spread or maneuver caulk.

 

[Jim Posz]

My tip is to always use fresh (recently purchased) sealant. I once did an entire tub using a tube of caulk I found in the basement. Went on fine, but two days later it was still sticky. Took it all out and did it over.

I have been using Megalastic sealant by White Lightning on the 5th wheel. It has a 40 year guarantee if applied within one year of purchase.

Good topic for article.