Sticky seams

[Raingod]

Have a 2019 Sunlight and over the last couple of years the sticky sealant has started to ooze out of the panel seams in places as per attached photo. The stuff is as sticky as hell and once on something is very hard to remove. I am about to give the van a good wash and tidy the sealant up at the same time. I aim to use a small grouting tool to run along the seams and then get the excess sealant off with white spirit or similar. That's the plan unless anyone has done this successfully before, if so I would love to hear what you used. Thanks in advance.

 

[Gellyneck]

I carefully cut out the old sealant with a trimming knife and resealed with appropriate (not silicone) sealant.

 

[iandsm]

Have a 2019 Sunlight and over the last couple of years the sticky sealant has started to ooze out of the panel seams in places as per attached photo. The stuff is as sticky as hell and once on something is very hard to remove. I am about to give the van a good wash and tidy the sealant up at the same time. I aim to use a small grouting tool to run along the seams and then get the excess sealant off with white spirit or similar. That's the plan unless anyone has done this successfully before, if so I would love to hear what you used. Thanks in advance.

View attachment 769516

I had there same issue on my previous motorhome (Rapido) I was pleased that there was plenty of sealant in the joint that was still flexible so to tidy up I used an old wooded clothes peg to scrape away the excess and clean the area with white spirit. Never had in an issue after that.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I have the same on our 2019 Sunlight. At our yearly water ingress check I asked the engineer about it, he said it wasn't an issue. I'd take the same view, "something it's better to be looking at than for".
The only area I did carry out a remedial repair was a tiny section at the front hab/cab intersection on the roof, which was probably overkill on my part as when I stripped the existing sealant back I noted the the front bulkhead was laid over the top roof area sheet, then sealed, and as I tend not to reverse at above 50mph, it would probably have been fine anyway.
Mike.

 

[gpat]

Same with our Carado. I was told not to touch it either as it "Would go back in when cold" It doesnt. You can trim it as its too soft. Its non setting mastic. The more I try to clean it the worse it gets. Strangely turtle wax seems to help but I try to only touch the stuff that is a long way from the joint otherwise it just gets anywhere and it sticks like....... to a blanket. Someone told me that moisturiser works but never tried it. I see the theory though.

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[funflair]

I used to clean this type of mastic up on our caravan with Autoglym Super Resin polish.

 

[Raingod]

Well the plan worked but the stuff was a devil to get off wanting to stick to anything it touched. After getting the bulk of it off I used a rag and white spirit to smooth the joints in than washed with soapy water. Hopefully like iandsm that's the end of it but time will tell.