I'm ready to start resealing my Adria, but unlike other vans I've seen 'fixed' all the seams have a rubber gasket between the van sides and rails.
Both W4 & Seamseal are not recommended for use with rubber. Sikaflex & Polyseal 40 can be used but I've been warned that if I ever need to remove the rail again I'd probably destroy the rubber trying to get it off! I know these seals can't be replaced so am reluctant to do anything which may cause more problems at a later date.
Can anyone recommend a sealant/adhesive/mastic that I can use?
Sikaflex is commonly used in windscreens. However, it is used to bond a windscreen in place. The old ones that were held in with rubber did not need any sealer. If fou have a rubber gaskt, you should not need any sealant, provided the gasket is intact. Silicone would be ok with rubber, if you really feel the need for sealant, but that is the purpose of the rubber gasket.
A few things, early Adria vans did not use the same non-setting seam sealant as British vans and for the same reason don't normally leak, are you sure your van needs resealing?
Secondly, the rubber gasket hardens with age which makes it less effective as a seal on it's own, the best it can do once hard is contain whatever sealant you choose.
Thirdly, Silkaflex is a trade name for an early 'polymer' sealant adhesive, Silka the company make the same stuff for others which is often sold for a lot less. Also it's now 'old hat' compared with modern sealant adhesives, the Soudel brand springs to mind as an alternative and I'm sure Silka, (if they have not up-dated 'Silkaflex' itself), have their own more modern polymers
Lastly, while the latest sealant adhesives will if done right do the job far better, if the preparation is not up to scratch they simply don't 'stick'. In these circumstances they will do a worse a job than the cheapest non-setting sealent of the old fashioned variety.
Thanks for the replies - Unfortunately I'm sure it needs resealing There a couple of areas on the inside which were completely rotten, (now replaced Yipee).
I have to admit getting the old sealant off was a nightmare, it was thick and black rather like tar. I've not seen anything like it on any other caravan. I think previous owners have 'played' in places and there was very little/no sealant in some areas. It's not the whole van thank goodness.
I've been in touch with a few companies and have decided to use Everbuilds StixAll (a new PMS polymer hybrid sealand/adhesive). It comes with a 40 year life time guarantee so should be fairly good stuff says it sticks and seals anything to everything! I think I'll use Seamseal CV for the non-rubber joints.
It's always the preparation which is the hard part, made more difficult in this case as the Adria skin is rippled. I've gone over everything with white spirit on a toothbrush then followed it with meths.
I'll seal it up and keep checking with the damp meter and hope (and pray) it's sorted. I know once I've sealed everything up if there is a problem I'm going to have the devils own job getting it off. Ah Well I've got to get it dry somehow!
Hi Mozann , found this on the net Stixall and this Stixall_info , could you let me know how you get on with Stixall , does sound like a pretty good sealant .
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Topic: Sealants & Rubber?
There a couple of areas on the inside which were completely rotten, (now replaced Yipee).
