Posted 2016-07-04 7:40 PM (#167456) Subject: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Regular
Posts: 60
Have a 2004 Sundowner 720 LQ. Need to remove old, cracked roof caulking and replace. Sikaflex, Dicor or Eternabond tape only or perhaps sealant and tape both? Also want to make the roof cooler for FL weather. Koolseal or Dicor Metal Roof Protectant? Thanks,Kim
Posted 2016-07-05 6:34 AM (#167465 - in reply to #167456) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Elastomeric products are easy to apply, seal well and will reduce the surface temps of a trailer's roof. They are readily available from several big box and hardware sources, and because of their comparatively low costs, are excellent DIY projects.
Posted 2016-07-05 11:13 AM (#167466 - in reply to #167465) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: canada
I did a similar project last summer. Search for "how to remove old roof caulk & prep aluminum roof to re-seal seams" in the archives, search within the last 360 days. You'll likely find lots of helpful info there. One thing that I did not do the first time was to stir up the elastomeric paint well enough, my first coat was way too thin. I got a long paint stirrer that attached to an electric drill at Harbor Freight and that worked really well. Good luck!
Posted 2016-07-05 12:08 PM (#167468 - in reply to #167456) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Expert
Posts: 2615
I recently coated our 2h GN trailer using KoolSeal,over a weekend.i used flexible caulk around the popup vents and rolled on 2 coats,it wasn't easy on the knees being up on the roof but it went fairly quick.
Posted 2016-07-05 12:25 PM (#167470 - in reply to #167465) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Regular
Posts: 60
Thank you for the info. I KoolSealed a different trailer a few years ago but I didn't have to do any roof re-caulking. Do I have to completely remove the old caulking or could just put the Kool Seal (or other elastomeric) over the top of old caulking in the hopes that it acts as a sealent/caulking agent itself?
Posted 2016-07-05 12:36 PM (#167473 - in reply to #167471) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Regular
Posts: 60
I found a couple of posts on resealing but is there anything special I should clean an aluminum roof with? I can't remember what I did last time. Also, I see that I should remove any loose caulking but what if if the caulking is only cracked and old but not loose yet? Thanks again. This is a great forum.
Posted 2016-07-05 9:08 PM (#167482 - in reply to #167474) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: canada
Off the top of my head I remember that I could not remove all the old caulking either. I did the best I could w/a scraper, then used Toluene as a solvent and then a brass wheel brush connected to an electric drill which was helpful especially around the roof vent seams. If anything is loose underneath then that is your "weak link" and whatever you apply on top will be just adhering to the loose stuff. Prep is everything and goes a long way towards getting a good result. I did have some caulking that was firmly adhered to the roof and that was left just as it was.
Posted 2016-07-05 9:11 PM (#167483 - in reply to #167471) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: canada
Maybe that is something the moderator could look into - I could not easily find my own thread either, and it had lots of great info in there. I wonder if it's possible to extend the time frame for searches to more than 360 days which might then yield info that the system thinks has "timed out"?
Posted 2016-07-07 5:25 PM (#167524 - in reply to #167473) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
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Posts: 2615
Originally written by kahuck1a on 2016-07-05 12:36 PM
I found a couple of posts on resealing but is there anything special I should clean an aluminum roof with? I can't remember what I did last time. Also, I see that I should remove any loose caulking but what if if the caulking is only cracked and old but not loose yet? Thanks again. This is a great forum.
I used an all purpose cleaner diluted with water such as Simple Green,etc,then rinsed well and let dry.i scrubbed it a couple of times with a large floor broom
Posted 2016-07-07 5:27 PM (#167525 - in reply to #167483) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
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Posts: 2615
I had some inbox messages that I saved, discussing this with Tobruck and Gard,I believe.i will post some that were helpful. From : tobruk To : crowleysridgegirl Subject : resealing roof Date : 2011-11-22 11:06 AM We often use Kool Seal. One advantage is that you do not have to complete remove the old sealant. We scuff it pretty hard to get any dirt and loose stuff off. Then mask and Kool Seal and you're done. dave mcadooTobruk Trailerssince 1984reply quote delete
Posted 2016-07-07 5:34 PM (#167526 - in reply to #167525) Subject: RE: need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
Expert
Posts: 2615
( quote)I suppose it couldn't hurt to go all out like Gard but all we've ever done is to use a wire brush around the old caulking where the roof piece meets the main rail. Pressure wash the fire out of the rest of it and slop on the Kool Seal. Dies it work? I guess so. We've never had any unit come back and we've been doing it a while. Obviously the more and the better the prep job the better will be the finished product dave mcadooTobruk Trailerssince 1984
need advice on re-sealing and cooling aluminum trailer roof please
