Silicone Caulk Around top of roof

[FJ4013]

I have a 1978 FJ40 and the PO had used some type of a silicone caulk to seal the top of the roof where the rivets are. I am assuming this was a protective measure against leaks. Some of that silicone caulk is coming up and I would like to replace the entire caulk bead.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which type of caulk to use or brand? Would an all weather white silicone caulk for exterior windows do well?

 

[skidplate]

Silicone has it's place and it is not on the gutter, in my opinion. I used a wire wheel on my cordless drill to remove the silicone and it worked pretty well. A lot of folks are using a self leveling caulk found at your local RV center to seal the rain gutter. It dries to a flexible seal. I used it last year when I "freshened" my hard top and am happy with it. My .02

 

[skidplate]

Here's a lousy pic of what I used.

 

[FJ4013]

Silicone has it's place and it is not on the gutter, in my opinion. I used a wire wheel on my cordless drill to remove the silicone and it worked pretty well. A lot of folks are using a self leveling caulk found at your local RV center to seal the rain gutter. It dries to a flexible seal. I used it last year when I "freshened" my hard top and am happy with it. My .02

Thank you. Is 1 tube enough to do the entire roof?

 

[45Kevin]

I have had good success using seam sealer.
It will take paint.

 

[skidplate]

Thank you. Is 1 tube enough to do the entire roof?[/QUOT

Some people fill the whole rain gutter with a sealant. I have a roof rack that attaches to the rain gutter so I just ran a bead where the fiberglass top meets the rain gutter and didn't want the sealer to squish out so I only used less than half a tube for the whole top. I did seal it after the top was painted.

 

[skidplate]

I used less than half of the one tube. I just ran a bead over the seam where the fiberglass roof meets the rain gutter. I have a roof rack that mounts to the rain gutter so I didn't "fill" the gutter with sealer. I painted the top and then ran the bead. The sealer will self level .

 

[handcannon]

One BIG concern I have about silicone is that it will not hold paint at all. Silicone does have it's place, but not where any kind of paint is used as it will not ever hold paint. I was a cabinetmaker (until I retired) and worked with lots of different types of caulk. The best caulks I found were a latex, maybe with a small amount of silicone, but the directions ALWAYS had to state that it was paintable. I preferred latex base since it was easier to work with, and easier for clean up, although clean up had to be soon after it was exposed to air.

I have never sealed a roof gutter on a cruiser so I would have to defer to someone who has. I would want to try the self leveling caulk since more than one person has recommended it. I don't know what brand to use, so I would have to talk to someone who has used something professionally. If you use something recommended by a professional you will be much more likely to be successful.

Don

 

[Pete]

3M Autobody Sealant used to often be recommended for this and I've used it and it works. I don't think you can beat 3M automotive products, from sealants to polishes.