The silver roof stuff

[cowcharge]

Hi all, I've read all the threads about removing old roof sealants, but I'm still confused, lol. My camper has both black roofing tar (which comes off pretty easily with a windex bottle of diesel), and a hard, silver substance that gouges and scratches off in powdery chunks with mechanical force, but looks like tan/white bondo under the surface, and isn't touched by diesel. Is that the stuff that people say comes off with paint stripper? I've seen it called Cool Seal too, is that the same stuff? Thanks!

[mamasherb]

I think we have may the same thing on ours (although the stuff on ours is more gray than silver) so we need to know the answer to this question too. The PO told us that it was a sealant for mobile home roofs, but did not know what it was called. I wonder if it's this:
www.koolseal.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=63-320

[Vintageshopnut]

Can't say for sure but sounds like the stuff I have. Only thing thats worked so far is paint stripper. I haven't tackled it yet but only tested in a few patches. I tried every product this forum suggested and only really harsh stripper had any progress. I think Vicx suggested I replace the aluminum rather than even attempt to get it off. Sounded too expensive at the time but trying to strip the roof with harsh chemicals is making me rethink my strategy. If you have any luck with any product that isn't so caustic I'd love to hear about it!

[vikx]

Our Corvette was cake frosted with Silver Slop!! What a mess. It was an inch thick in places, so new roof metal was the only option.

If it's not too thick, you can wire brush and then sand to a reasonable smoothness. It's a PAIN to do anything with; like cement. After getting it as level as possible, a light silver paint on the roof covers and protects.

I detest all coatings. They are not designed to seal, but reflect UV rays and protect. From what, I don't know. Snow Sh*t fails and allows water to creep underneath, rotting the metal. At least Silver Slop sticks. Still doesn't seal, tho... Drat it all.

[cowcharge]

I don't think it's the Koolseal, that stuff says it's flexible. The stuff on my roof is definitely not flexible.

[kayaxi]

After 43 years I'm not very flexible anymore either. It's possible it once was.

[safetybruce]

While we are on the subject of putting anything on a camper roof to "seal" it, instead of doing the right thing and properly repairing the seams and roof vent(s)...my 1950 Travelo has a full length rubberized roof seal/mat applied that looks to be applied very well. So why do I have to have a tarp over the top of this roof (20 feet long)? Because the roof vent leaks despite what looks like a great waterproofing of the roof...Members please do not put anything the factory did not originally install on your camper roof...repair the seam leaks properly and save yourself a lot of grief down the road. Any future purchase I make...if I see any foreign stuff on a camper roof...I will pass on that camper, unless of course...it is so waaaay coool looking that I am blinded by the shape.

[Vintageshopnut]

Vikx, you bring up an interesting point, I don't need to (shouldn't?) paint the roof the same as the body? It hadn't ocurred to me that the top wouldn't be painted in the same way/color as the rest of the trailer. In fact it should be painted silver? Sounds like I may have lucked out because the silver stuff is very thin on most if the roof. Thick around the vent but that flakes off easily.

Safety: I agree the shape and of course the beautiful wood interior cannot be resisted!

[cowcharge]

Ok, the stuff I'm talking about is between the stink vents and the black tar on the seam to the left, and also climbing the base of the farther stink vent. It's very much the consistency of hardened Bondo, and is only silver on the surface. Nice roof, huh?

Attachments:

[dawgpound]

Have you tried a heat gun to remove the hardened gunk? That is what I had to use on our Starflyte. The follow up with some lacquer thinner to remove the residue.

I plan on using DICOR Elastomeric RV Roof Coating on our roof. I used it on a 1970 Scotty that I restored, with great success. As long as you spend the time to do the prep work, you won't have any problems with peeling. I applied 3 coats on the Scotty and it dropped the inside temps by 10 degrees. Dicor doesn't fade or stain like Kool Seal does!

[cowcharge]

I'm only going to do the seams, with elastomeric tape. Gonna paint the rest (assuming I ever get all the crap off).

[lopo]

Right after I bought my Compact, while desperately looking for info, I bought a CD-ROM with an assortment of Shasta owners manuals from the 70's. Because it's a locked pdf file, I can't cut and paste, but here is what the manual said about roof care that should earn the forgiveness of all PO's who were generous with the gray stuff:

At least once a year, coat all roof seams, including roof edges and around vents, with top quality aluminum roofing cement. Periodically inspect seams for damage and/or cracking, and repair with roofing cement. If a leak develops, apply roofing cement to suspected area.

[mamasherb]

Bless their hearts, lopo. Our po(s) followed that advice to a tee.

[vikx]

Like I said: Silver Cement.

A roof can be painted any color. Silver might match what's there.. Just sand down the worst of the slop, pick what's loose and paint. Can't be worse than what you started with...

[cowcharge]

Mar 28, 2012 22:10:31 GMT -5 safetybruce said:

While we are on the subject of putting anything on a camper roof to "seal" it, instead of doing the right thing and properly repairing the seams and roof vent(s)...my 1950 Travelo has a full length rubberized roof seal/mat applied that looks to be applied very well. So why do I have to have a tarp over the top of this roof (20 feet long)? Because the roof vent leaks despite what looks like a great waterproofing of the roof...Members please do not put anything the factory did not originally install on your camper roof...repair the seam leaks properly and save yourself a lot of grief down the road. Any future purchase I make...if I see any foreign stuff on a camper roof...I will pass on that camper, unless of course...it is so waaaay coool looking that I am blinded by the shape.

Bruce, what do you consider the proper way to repair a roof seam? Squeezing it tight again, somehow? Injecting a sealant into the folds of the seam itself? I'm still going to tape the seams when the roof is clean, but was wondering what you recommended. My roof was painted white by the way, I intend to redo that after the taping to repel heat.

[txmcook]

We got our 64 16-sc last year and the PO had put the grey mess on the roof. It took several long days, 1.5 gallons gel stripper and I used a air scraper from Harbor Freight to clean the mess off. Afterwards to seal the roof I used acetone to clean the roof. Seam tape, thats white on top and very sticky on bottom. Used a J-roller to set it in place. Then I put on 4 coats of the White Cool Seal over the entire roof and around the vents. Worked like a charm. I am also going to use the seam tape under my J-rail with the putty tape. I believe in overkill, have way to much time invested in rebuild so far. Have pics in no order at www.txmcook.blogspot.com.