How Long for Dicor Self Leveling Sealant to Cure?
One of the easiest ways for an RV to get ruined is for it to developed unchecked water leaks. Water will find the smallest and easiest route to get inside. They are not that simple to find either. Using good sealant protects you and your RV
How Long for Dicor Self Leveling Sealant to Cure? Dicor says that their sealant will skin over after 5 minutes. The next 4 hours makes it waterproof and after 48 hours it is 80% cured It will take a month for it to fully cure.
To find out as much information as you can about Dicor self-leveling sealant just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know so you can use this sealant properly and protect your RV
Dicor Self Leveling 101
Is Dicor Lap Sealant Silicone
The quick answer is no it is not a silicone sealant. Dicor lap sealant is more like a liquid and does not have the same consistency as silicone caulk comes with. Its composition restricts its use to horizontal surfaces only. It is not really made for vertical application.
One aspect that separates this sealant from silicone is that it never hardens. It stays flexible as well as water tight unless it gets old, shrinks and separates.
What is Dicor Lap Sealant
This product is not a silicone sealant but it does the same job. It goes into your horizontal seams and seals them up tight.The contents remain flexible long after you apply it to your EPDM and TPO roofing needs.
This sealant comes in a tube like regular caulking and silicone and is applied in the same manner. It adheres to fiberglass, aluminum, wood and a lot more surfaces.
What is Dicor Lap Sealant Made Of
The exact amount of the chemical ingredients are not known but suffice it to say that Dicor uses a lot of petroleum distillates to make this product. The good news is that those chemicals do not pollute the air.
It is called a compound because it gets its characteristic from a variety of products mixed together. Those ingredients make the sealant very waterproof while at the same time very flexible.
Dicor Lap as RV Self-Leveling Seam Sealer
It seems that this Dicor product is getting great reviews. The product does seem to work as advertised and many RV owners swear by it. Also, the company that makes this sealant is a very reputable and upstanding firm.
The product does what it is supposed to and holds up well over time. It gives you the flexibility you need as you travel rough roads.
Dicor Lap Sealant for RV Windows
As stated this lap sealer works well on RVs except in certain cases. With RV windows you have two vertical sides and this lap sealant is made for horizontal applications. That means that you would have to use silicone or some regular caulking to handle the vertical sides.
Other than that, it does keep the water out of your RV
Dicor Lap Sealant for Skylight
In this case, Dicor’s lap sealant can do the whole job without help. Almost all RV skylights are laid out in a horizontal fashion. That means all four of its sides are parallel to your RV’s roof.
This situation makes the lap sealant a perfect product to keep the rain out of your RV and it should seal the skylight up nice and tight.
How to Apply Dicor Lap Sealant
Applying this lap sealant is no different from applying regular caulk or silicone. You use the same tools, make sure the surface is nice and clean. You will also need to remove all loose dirt, paint, rust and more.
Once you are finished cleaning, let the surface dry and finally apply the lap sealant. The only difference between lap sealant and caulk is that the former is more of a liquid. Plus, it may not stick to previous silicone caulk.
Dicor Lap Sealant Application Temperature
Dicor’s website says that the ideal temperature to apply their product is between 50 and 70 degrees F. You can apply it in cooler or cold temperatures but make sure the lap sealant is heated to room temperature.
Also, do not apply lap sealant if the temperature is below or close to freezing levels. Cooler temperatures may not give you the self-leveling you want.
Dicor Lap Sealant Before the Rain
Applying the lap sealant should not be done if a rain storm is imminent. The lap sealant needs time to become waterproof and a short window of opportunity may not provide that space.
Even a 10 hour window is pushing your luck. Also, it may depend on how hard a rain you are expecting. The best bet is to wait to make sure you have enough dry days to get the job done correctly.
How Long Before Dicor Lap Sealant Can Get Wet
Dicor’s lap sealant becomes waterproof in just 4 hours. So that would be the minimum time frame you would be looking at. But because it takes so long to cure 80% it might be wise to let it dry for 48 hours before letting it get wet.
A full 30 days is needed before this lap sealant is fully cured. But it can get wet before that deadline.
Will Dicor Lap Sealant Stick to Silicone
No it cannot. But before you condemn the product for that fault, you should know that very few sealants or adhesives stick to silicone. Joining old and new sealing compounds is never a good idea . Most instructions direct you to completely remove the old before applying the new.
Dicor makes this recommendation as well. They say that no joint is the best joint.
Dicor Lap Sealant Colors
At last count there are 6 different colors you can choose from when you buy Dicor’s lap sealant. You have your choice of white, dove or bright white, black, tan, gray and ivory.
You should be able to match your RV’s color scheme or get close to it without clashing. These products are available only through RV dealers, RV parts stores and Camping World. You cannot buy direct from Dicor.
How Long Does Dicor Lap Sealant Last
One of the key players in the duration equation is the environment your RV has to go through and endure. Environment has a lot to do with the longevity of any sealant including Dicor’s lap sealant.
If you are in the hot sun a lot, then you are looking at about 3 years at best. Some RV users have reached the 5 year mark before needing to replace it. It is recommended that you check the lap sealant about twice a year.
The warranty gives about a 10 year coverage time. Your results will possibly be different.
Other Dicor Lap Sealant Equivalent
There are comparable products on the market today that would be considered Dicor lap sealant’s equivalent. One is a full range of Sika products that can be found in a variety of RV stores, etc.
Another is the Loctite Marine Adhesive which works well on vents and possibly skylights. Then there are those RV users who prefer avoiding caulk type sealants and turn to eternabond tape to get that seal they are looking for.
You may have to experiment a little to find the right sealant that will work best in the environment you and your RV are in the most.
Dicor Lap Sealant vs Eternabond
Dicor lap sealant is made for rubber roofs. That is where they work the best. The company does say that it will adhere to fiberglass but with that style of roof, your sealing options are a lot greater.
Some RV users have had a bad experience with lap sealant stating that it doe snot last 6 months. They prefer eternabond tape because they can get 10 years use out of one application. Plus, it can be used on more roofs than just rubber.
Both options are good and there are those RV users who use both products and are completely satisfied with their seal. Which one you use, or both, will be up to your preference and experience.
Dicor Lap vs Silicone
In this competition silicone sealant is the weaker of the two products. It has the habit of drying out and cracking, this lets in a lot of water and can cause you some serious damage. Plus, very little adheres to silicone. You have to completely clean it out before applying new sealant to the area.
Dicor’s lap sealant does not harden and remains flexible. This allows for it to endure the vibrations of the road a lot longer than silicone. Its weakness, showing up after several years, is that it will shrink and separate.
In either case, preventive inspections will solve all your sealant problems and help you catch the leaks before the cause trouble.
Dicor Sealant vs Sikaflex
Sikaflex is a good product to use on your RV, especially when you do not find any Dicor lap sealant around the store. It is said to be more flexible than the lap sealant but that remains to be seen.
Dicor’s lap sealant has one main weakness. It cannot be applied to vertical surfaces. It is this weakness that has it at a disadvantage compared to other sealing products. Sikaflex would have the edge here but with Dicor’s prowess at sealing horizontal seams, it may be the better sealant to use in those cases.
How to Clean Dicor Sealant
This is the other weakness that comes with the Dicor lap sealant. It does get dirty. Keeping it clean is something you may have to do frequently Regular washing of your RV may help keep the sealant clean, but not for long.
One material you can use is mineral spirits. This should not harm your seal and it will get the dirt off. Other RV users have suggested turpentine but they may have been a little confused and thought the questions was about removing Dicor lap sealant from the RV.
Denatured alcohol is another method to use but like cars and other vehicles, lap sealant will get dirty again.
Can you Paint Over Dicor Lap Sealant? (paintable)
While there is no official word on this topic, it seems that some RV users were successful in painting their Dicor lap sealant application. Dicor’s website did not mention that it could.
One of the problems that may prevent painting the lap sealant are the bonding chemical ingredients Dicor uses to make their product. The sealant does bubble when applied to your roof or other surface and that is due to those chemicals. The same may be true for painting
Instead of painting it might be better to cover the sealant with eternabond or some other tape that can be painted.
Dicor Lap Removal or Solvent
The most recommended tool to remove the old Dicor lap sealant was the putty knife. When you use this tool, you need to be careful that the sharp edges do not rear any vulnerable roof or other materials.
One way to avoid tearing is to heat up the putty knife with a blow torch. This will help the knife cut through the old sealant a lot easier and keep you from making mistakes.
The official word from Dicor is that you do not have to remove the old lap sealant. Just clean the old with some mineral spirits, let dry and ad the new.
Some Final Comments
In this short investigation into Dicor’s lap sealant it became obvious that it is a very good sealant to use on RVs. It has a wide application and it does the job it is designed to do.
In comparisons to other products, it holds its own and you would not be losing anything by avoiding those products and turning to Dicor’s lap sealant as your go to sealer.
The only thing you have to watch out for are those weaknesses that come with this product. It does not do vertical surfaces so when you use it you would need another sealant to cover those spots.
All in all, you can’t go wrong when you use this self-leveling lap sealant.
