How to apply eternabond roof tape?

[Photoman]

Sent: 9/9/2003 10:35 AM

I have placed an order for a roll of Eternabond Roof Seal tape to hopefully fix my leaking roof. I,m supposed to receive it in a week to 10 days.  I have a 72 C20 (yes, Chevy chassis) that has been leaking in the bathroom.  The ceiling space between the vent and the outside wall (about 3 or 4 inches bulges down with water behind it when we get a good rain.  I have taken the vent out and gone over it good looking for cracks, etc., and think I have it patched up pretty good.  I used Power Plastic Bonder (a 2-part epoxy type stuff made especially for mending hard plastics, and also RV Goop, which is really neat stuff.  It's a clear contact adhesive & sealant and waterproof and flexible so withstands the Winnie bouncing down the road.  I even applied a bead of it on a couple slits in the dinette cushions.  I'll let you know how that works.  Before I put the vent back in, I put some Liquid Nails Paneling adhesive on a wide putty knife and shoved it in as far as I could get it between the vinyl ceiling covering and the veneer it was supposed to be stuck to.  (The moisture from the leak had separated it). 

Anyway, my question is how do you seal the outside edge that runs from front to back with the aluminum drip channel?  I have a sneaking suspicion my leak may be coming from that seam.  Should the tape be applied right over the screw heads that hold the channel on, or should the channel be taken off, the tape applied, and the channel put back on?  Anyone done this before?  Thanks.   



From: Dave-Pam1
Sent: 9/9/2003 10:45 AM

The easiest way would be to put it right over the screw heads and rail. The most correct way is to take the rail off, put the strip on and reattach the rail using new screws and move the rail a half an inch so you have clean siding to screw into...Either way should seal it up.
Good luck,
David

[Stripe]

The one thing you must remember is that if there is going to be any edge that will be facing forward you need to put a bead of caulking on the leading edge.  This prevents wind from slamming into the tape headlong.  I put a bead along the leading edges of all my eternabond to prevent the tape from peeling too soon from driving..  And so far it's held up like a trooper.

Also, when applying the tape, make sure you keep pressing it down with a roller or something.  This helps to activate the adhesive.

[Oz]

Although I didn't use any caulk on mine, that's a good idea!  I was re-coating my roof, so, after ensuring I rolled the tape flat, there wasn't really much of an edge and the 6 coats of Kool Seal covered and sealed it up just peachy.