How To Remove Dicor Lap Sealant On A RV (Quickly & Easily!)

Sealant is needed not just in and around the home. A special type of it can also be used on recreational vehicles to keep them better protected.

Many RV owners turn to Dicor lap sealant to protect their investments. It’s easy to see why given the many benefits that type of sealant can provide. Eventually though, replacing an old coat of Dicor lap sealant with a new layer will become necessary.

To remove the Dicor lap sealant, use some kind of heating element such as a blowtorch or hairdryer to soften it. Once the lap sealant has been softened, use an item with dull but stiff edges to scrape it off. Clean the spot the sealant occupied using some rags and denatured alcohol to prime it for a new layer.

Sealing your home properly is important and the same rings true for your RV. You can close it up better by using Dicor lap sealant. Learn more about working with that specific material by continuing with the rest of this article.

Lap or self-leveling sealant is a substance often applied to RVs. To be more specific, lap sealants are used to seal up the edges of an RV’s roof.

Since the roof of a typical RV is often exposed to the elements, using household sealant doesn’t make sense. After a while, the household sealant is going to be affected by the sun and the other elements. It won’t be able to provide the kind of protection your vehicle needs.

Self-leveling sealant is different because it’s specially formulated to withstand the harsh outdoor elements. They are UV-stabilized, meaning they aren’t as susceptible to becoming discolored and deteriorating like household sealants.

Lap sealants also take into account the surfaces they are meant to cover. Similar to some other forms of sealants, lap sealants are remarkably flexible. That allows them to cover a spot reliably even as it expands and contracts.

You also don’t have to worry about the lap sealant affecting your RV’s color scheme. They won’t affect the type of paint you use. Another thing to note about lap sealant is that they can be used on different kinds of surfaces. They work great on aluminum, fiberglass, metal, rubber, and even wooden RV roofs.

Applying lap sealant to your RV is a great way to regulate temperature. If you’ve noticed that the air conditioning in your RV has seemingly gotten weaker, it could be due to poor insulation. Using lap sealant will help improve your RV’s insulation and result in more comfortable trips.

Using a self-leveling sealant is also a good idea if your vehicle was recently damaged while camping. Some small holes may have shown up along the roof and they could potentially allow water to drip into the RV. Patch up those holes along your RV’s roof with self-leveling sealant to keep the water out.

There’s no need to wait for your RV to sustain damage before using lap sealant. Apply it as a preventative measure against long-term damage. It can help certain components of your RV last much longer.

Safety should always come first whenever you’re working with a substance such as sealant. Whether you’re removing or applying it, you have to wear protective equipment first.

Gloves and goggles are highly recommended. If you want to wear a long-sleeve shirt to keep yourself further protected, go ahead and do so. You should also be mindful of where you’re working when removing the sealant. Move the RV out of your enclosed garage and park it somewhere open. That way, you won’t risk breathing in the fumes that have nowhere to go.

Removing the Dicor lap sealant while it’s warm is important. Trying to scrape it off while it matches the temperature outside will result in messier removal. In order to warm the lap sealant up, you can do one of three things.

First, consider waiting until a particularly warm day before you work on removing the sealant. Prolonged exposure to the sun should make the self-leveling sealant very pliable. If the temperature outside is not suitable for lap sealant removal, you can still use a hairdryer. Set the hairdryer to low and keep moving it over the sealant until it starts to soften.

You can also use a handheld blowtorch to soften the lap sealant. Just like with the hairdryer, make sure to move the blowtorch around so the sealant can soften evenly.

With the lap sealant now softer and more pliable, you can work on removing it. Before you start scraping though, it’s important to evaluate the tool you’re looking to use.

When you’re removing household sealant, using something like a utility knife or razor scraper is no issue. You can cut away the sealant with no worries. Doing the same thing when removing lap sealant is not recommended, however. That’s because the sharp edges could end up damaging your RV’s roof.

To keep your RV’s roof protected, use a tool like a putty knife instead. If you don’t have a putty knife, something like an old ID, old bank card, or index card can also work. The stiffness of the item you’re using should be enough to remove the sealant without relying on a sharp edge.

You can work even more cautiously by starting around the perimeter of the self-leveling sealant. Use the tool to get underneath the sealant and lift it carefully. Continue working on the sealant in that manner until it’s completely removed.

Now that the lap sealant is out of the way, you can clean up the spot it occupied. Doing so is important if you’re planning to re-seal that spot later on.

Grab some rags and denatured alcohol as you’ll need them for cleaning. Apply some of the denatured alcohol to the rag and use it to wipe the spot clean. Be careful and avoid using too much denatured alcohol or you could end up damaging your RV’s roof. After cleaning the spot up with the alcohol, get a new rag and use that to wipe the spot dry.

Are you afraid of potentially dealing significant damage to your RV by scraping the lap sealant off? That’s understandable and also an issue you can work around.

Instead of removing the existing lap sealant, you can apply a new layer on top of it. Don’t just apply the lap sealant hastily though. Check the existing layer first and clean it up thoroughly. Once you’re done cleaning up the existing sealant, inspect it for any cracks or openings. You’ll have to fill those in with the lap sealant.

Allowing the existing layer of sealant to dry up first after cleaning is also important. A wet or even damp surface can prevent the new layer from forming a proper seal.

As much as possible though, removing the old layer of lap sealant before adding a new one is still recommended. It’s the best way to ensure a proper seal. Find out if WD 40 removes silicone sealant.

Related Questions

How Do You Clean the Lap Sealant?

Cleaning the lap sealant from time to time is important if you want to maintain its level of performance. There are two ways to clean up the Dicor lap sealant properly.First, prepare some soapy water and some rags. Let one of the rags soak in the soapy water for a bit before using it to clean the sealant. You should see the layer of sealant looking cleaner after a few swipes.If the layer of sealant doesn’t appear clean enough after using the soapy water, you’ll have to use a stronger cleaner. Prepare some mineral spirits and use them to dampen a piece of cloth. Use that piece of cloth now to wipe the layer of sealant and clear away the debris.When choosing a cleaner to use on the lap sealant, you should avoid using soaps and spirits with a fruity scent. The smell of the fruity cleaning substance could attract animals and they could end up damaging your roof.

Does Dicor Lap Sealant Work on All RV Roofs?

If you have a newer RV, you may want to hold off on applying the Dicor lap sealant. Some RV roofs are not compatible with the aforementioned sealant so the layer you apply may just go to waste. It’s better to ask the dealer about which sealant you should apply.

How Long Does It Take for Dicor Lap Sealant to Cure?

Knowing the curing times for Dicor lap sealant is important. They will tell you when you can use your RV again.Assuming the temperature in your area remains somewhere around 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a skin should start to form quickly. It will take about five minutes or so to be more specific.After four to five hours, the lap sealant should be strong enough to resist water. The new layer should be mostly cured after two days. If you want the sealant to be completely cured before using your RV, you’ll have to wait up to a month.