Mineral spirits and silicone advice

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by Ooshkaboo

It works, it just needs to be used properly.
Correct preparation of surfaces, hitting the right area to get a tight seal.
I’ve been using whatever silicone I’ve had already open for the few small jobs I’ve done,
That said if I had a bigger job on top of the roof, why not go with the upgraded sealant/adhesive.

I’ve used silicone instead of grouting the shower tiles, never needs resealed like grout does.
Plenty of colors that match up just as well as grout options.
I figured If it’s good enough to go around the bathtub…
If needed it makes touching it up a breeze.
I’m sure some will disagree, but most haven’t actually tried it.
On multiple tile jobs it’s been holding up for years.

Well, I am not any good at using any glues or sealants—always make a mess.

But this is just the external shower unit on the passenger side of the trailer. Lots of screws, too.

What does Escape recommend for resealing openings in the fiberglass?

[Ooshkaboo]

Originally Posted by MrLynn

Well, I am not any good at using any glues or sealants—always make a mess.

But this is just the external shower unit on the passenger side of the trailer. Lots of screws, too.

What does Escape recommend for resealing openings in the fiberglass?

I don’t know what they would recommend, but for that little bit I’d grab my silicone that I’ve been using for home bathrooms for years.
That and plenty of paper towels, I’m the same as you, I can count on me making a mess so I have had to get really good at clean up.

Or if you’d want go with the 3m 5200, but I didn’t want to open up a $25 dollar tub for non roof minor work.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by MrLynn

Well, I am not any good at using any glues or sealants—always make a mess.

But this is just the external shower unit on the passenger side of the trailer. Lots of screws, too.

What does Escape recommend for resealing openings in the fiberglass?

ETI uses Proflex.

[Donna D.]

Just remember this. You have used silicone INSIDE your home for years. Now, you want to use it OUTSIDE on your fiberglass trailer. Your home has fairly even temperatures and UVs never hit the inside of the shower stall. However the exterior of your trailer may have temps that flux 100 degrees and sit 365 outside in UV rays. Two different conditions completely. You've spent 1000s of dollars on your trailer, please don't cheap out on caulking. You'll regret it. End of my rant.

[wjwoods01@gmail.com]

Is it Proflex Super Caulk?

[Rossue]

It's this:

https://www.geocelusa.com/product/pr...xible-sealant/

[wjwoods01@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Rossue

It's this:

https://www.geocelusa.com/product/pr...xible-sealant/

Great, thank you.

[Ooshkaboo]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Just remember this. You have used silicone INSIDE your home for years. Now, you want to use it OUTSIDE on your fiberglass trailer. Your home has fairly even temperatures and UVs never hit the inside of the shower stall. However the exterior of your trailer may have temps that flux 100 degrees and sit 365 outside in UV rays. Two different conditions completely. You've spent 1000s of dollars on your trailer, please don't cheap out on caulking. You'll regret it. End of my rant.

Not sure why it’s such a absolute to you, there are with this as in many things different viewpoints.
There are just as many reasons, opinions out there to use it as there are not to use it.

The caulks for doors and windows have silicone mixed in, I’ve put a few in-exterior on one side.
I like to think vertical, what I’m using for a window isn’t going to be the same as what I use on a roof.
But do whatever works for you.

I will say Escape could do with a better caulk person, I think even I could do a neater caulk job.

[Rossue]

Yeah, try caulking around a window and get that nice taper at each end- it isn't easy and think ETI must have some sort of template or something. I had to replace my rear window; Proflex set time is 3-5 minutes and after that you really cannot touch it.

[cpaharley2008]

Here you go...

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Here you go...

OK, ordered a tube. Nobody carries it around here, so had to order from Amazon, and put off job until Friday.

[brroberts]

Polyurethane, butyl, silicon, polysulfide, acrylic, latex, and combinations of these all have there place. Some are indoor, some outdoor, and some both. It all comes down to the formulation and application. Some of them can cross the line to mild to very strong adhesives. I am not a caulk, adhesive, or sealant expert, but I know how to research when needed. There are outdoor silicons. So to say to never use silicon is going too far in my opinion. I use it, but not for everything. I too sometimes grab a less than ideal product at times if it’s what I have on hand and it’s an open cartridge or tube. RV’s most commonly use Lexel, Geocel/Proflex, butyl tape, or some type of Dicor. That’s not exhaustive, but typical. ETI seems to use a lot of Proflex, but I have found silicon on my new 2021 ETI 19. Mostly on wiring penetrations.

[Ron in BC]

While I find the mental image of Donna chasing someone, fork in hand, who dares to come near her with a tube of silicone, pretty funny, I have to agree with her.

First learned of things like silicone and Nylon 66 in a materials course at university. After that I used silicone in great abundance, especially on boats.

At some point I found myself pulling off silicone in great abundance. I've come to view it as a heart breaker. It seems to work really well and do the job but at some point it's going to fail. I've scraped out failed silicone by the yard.

I use this product to wipe down any silicon contaminated area before resealing it.

Now there are much better products available, seems a no-brainer not to use them.

Ron