Sikaflex or white silicon???

[WESTY66]

As a new owner of a pre loved motorhome, one or two of the sealant joints are cracking, I’ve read that sikaflex is the stuff to use??? but is there a reason it’s preferred to silicon as I would have thought the silicon would move better with the panels it’s sealing??

 

[ambulancekidd]

Silicon dries out eventually. Ideally you need to use a non setting mastic.
Sikaflex is an excellent adhesive & seals things up but, would need to be applied to an open seam before closing it up.

 

[wasp]

Don't use silicon sealer it is not weather proof definitely use Sikaflex

 

[Geo]

"Silicon" the death knell of Motorhomes and Caravans

 

[Paddywack]

Sikaflex is what the quality manufacturers use and for good reason. There are lots of different types as Sikaflex is just the brand, you will need to check the data sheets to work out which one is best for you, this might be a good start Amazon product ASIN B0036KGDH0

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[WESTY66]

Don't use silicon sealer it is not weather proof definitely use Sikaflex

Sorry but I just don't get it, I put some windows in our old house back in 2001 and put silicon round em, it's still there keeping the weather out. It certainly hasn't cracked like the stuff around the various panels on my nearly 3 year old motorhome. It's not cos it's a brit van either (@Lenny HB) the joints around most used vans around the dealers I've been to have gone the same!!

 

[WESTY66]

Sikaflex is what the quality manufacturers use and for good reason. There are lots of different types as Sikaflex is just the brand, you will need to check the data sheets to work out which one is best for you, this might be a good start Amazon product ASIN B0036KGDH0

I will get some and clean all the old crap out the joints and re do them in Sikaflex, just didn't know why it was better than silicon that's all

 

[Larrynwin]

Another one to consider is Dicor, a good self levelling sealant for roof joints that stays supple.

 

[nicholsong]

Sorry but I just don't get it, I put some windows in our old house back in 2001 and put silicon round em, it's still there keeping the weather out. It certainly hasn't cracked like the stuff around the various panels on my nearly 3 year old motorhome. It's not cos it's a brit van either (@Lenny HB) the joints around most used vans around the dealers I've been to have gone the same!!

Your home does not vibrate and flex like a MH.

Boats flex and vibrate and all builders/repairers use Sikaflex, or equivalent - they cannot all be wrong.

Geoff

 

[Terry]

Hi Westy in answer to your window bit to start 9 out of 10 use normal Silicon that sticks to brickwork but does not stick to plastic good ....try taking a window out and the Silicon will simply pull off the plastic window like a elastic band unless they have used a low modulas Silicon,witch incedently they should use but companies never seem to There are differences in Silicons
Now your van problem ....use PurFlex 40 from Toolstation £4.20 ISH Sticks and seals almost anything ....I would not use Silicon on anything in or on any van ...take that from years of experience

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[maxi77]

Your home does not vibrate and flex like a MH.

Boats flex and vibrate and all builders/repairers use Sikaflex, or equivalent - they cannot all be wrong.

Geoff

One of the reasons for using silicone on buildings is different materials expand differently and silicone accommodates this movement. Silicone sealants are used on boats though perhaps not the ones used on buildings. There are many many different typed of Sikaflex all designed for specific applications and every one has at least one alternative from at least one different manufacturer. The answer is to decide what your need then is the research suitable materials and Sikflex may not be the most cost effective solution. Just grabbing a random tube of Sikaflex has a high probability pf being wrong

 

[Charlie123]

You must also consider the modulouus properties when choosing joint sealants.

 

[simsy56]

I'll second Dicor self levelling sealer.

Craig

 

[Wildbill]

Silicone can eat in to aluminium I have bean lead to believe
Bill

 

[mitzimad]

silicon is acidic and will attack metal

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