Flex Seal...Oh NO??

[DBTennessee]

We recently purchased a used 2017 Coleman 262BH. I noticed the roof caulking looked different than what I had used/done before. I didn't pay much attention as the previous owner said he had just went over the roof and resealed everything. It looked clean, bright, and it seemed better than what I could have done myself.



After getting it home and closer inspection, he had sealed everything with a can of the liquid Flex Seal. I immediately began researching and found out that it is safe for use on RVs and TPO roofing. When I called a local RV repair shop, they said they had never used and wouldn't use it. Now I don't know what to do. If I try and take it off to replace with regular lap sealant, I think it will damage the membrane. This stuff seems like it is really on there and wouldn't come off very easily (so maybe it is ok after all?)



I know its not common....but do you think the Flex Seal will be ok? It is not leaking at the moment. Will anything stick to it (or is it like silicone and more Flex Seal wouldn't even work)? I have some Eternabond type tape but I am not sure if that would cover it sufficiently. Any advice or help from your experience is greatly appreciated.

[ATCguy]

My advise, take it for what it's worth:

IT IF AIN'T BROKE... DON'T FIX IT!!

Keep the roof of Eternabond with you on trips, and use it where needed if you ever have an issue. When you get back you can then reassess your options as to what to do in the future. But for now... if it's not leaking... then just leave it alone.

[kjlarson]

I agree with ATCguy; If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

In my experience Flex-Seal will hold up OK. It's the Sun that will do it in over time. If you really want to remove it first heat it up with the low heat on a heat gun than use a plastic putty tool to work it loose from the edges toward the center. Go slow to protect the membrane. Again, if there are no leaks I'd leave it alone.

[franktafl]

Use a plastic putty knife to scrape it off after you have gently warmed it. Then use the eternabond tape.

[persistent]

Keep us posted. Post every year as to how well it is working.

[aguablanco]

I would go over that trailer with a microscope and see if there were any leaks/water damage the previous owner was trying to hide. Seems to me there is a reason to do what he did.
RichH

[DBTennessee]

I sure did. He told me about a front corner leak. He fixed it with the tape, new butyl, and recaulked the corner trim. Other than a messy caulking job he did it ok. Nothing feels soft anywhere inside, even on that corner that leaked.
The only issue I can find is on that slide out. The wiper seals are bowed a little and not making very good contact with the slide. I saw a tad amount of water under the baseboard trim and wouldn't have seen that had I not been looking for it. I'd hate to have to replace those slide seals over it but don't know what to do about it.

[1l243]

I agree I would just keep an eye on it see how it reacts to sun and weather over time. My 3 cents the best thing you can do to protect your investment is to store it under cover out of the weather. Leaving Rigs out in the hot summer sun, monsoon rains and 24 inches of snow will take it's tole on any RV probably sooner than later.

[edwin sandel]

I hope DB will post periodically about the flex-seal. That is seen on tv commercials where the use the flex-seal to make a boat out of glass etc and it suppossedly did not leak. It is expensive to seal a whole roof with that or anything.

[franktafl]

I think Flex Seal is more a temporary fix rather than long-term.