Solvent to clean butyl tape residue on tpo roof?

**SJMaye** · 08-12-2019, 06:33 AM

I will be installing a new vent fan. I have watched many videos on the procedure. They all use some sort of solvent to clean the butyl tape residue left from the old vent. I want to use something that does a good job cleaning the residue, but do not want to harm the tpo roof. I have tried the Alpha Systems website. Seems to be dead.

Can someone refer me to the right solvent?

**Justa5th** · 08-12-2019, 08:11 AM

Following. I haven’t been able to find much info either.

**howson** · 08-12-2019, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by SJMaye

I will be installing a new vent fan. I have watched many videos on the procedure. They all use some sort of solvent to clean the butyl tape residue left from the old vent. I want to use something that does a good job cleaning the residue, but do not want to harm the tpo roof. I have tried the Alpha Systems website. Seems to be dead.

Can someone refer me to the right solvent?

All of this is discussed at length in the thread I referenced previously: https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...an-Replacement

Gene (gbkims) posted a detailed response (see post 13) when I asked the same question last year. Please take a moment and read through the thread again.

FYI, I didn't need any solvent.

**gbkims** · 08-12-2019, 09:38 AM

Sometimes can warm up the sticky stuff and roll/push with fingertips(kinda hard on the fingers), depends on how sticky the original butyl tape is.

**JKellerJr** · 08-12-2019, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by gbkims

Sometimes can warm up the sticky stuff and roll/push with fingertips(kinda hard on the fingers), depends on how sticky the original butyl tape is.

Yup, this is what I did. Hair dryer to warm up and rolled it off. And yes the fingers were not to happy. Didn't get every trace of it off but i felt it was plenty clean enough. I didn't use any solvent

**GeoffnCheri** · 08-12-2019, 04:56 PM

i have used mineral spirits on a clean rag to clean up some dirty lap sealant prior to putting on some additional sealant. Worked well

**SJMaye** · 08-13-2019, 04:28 AM

Thank you, howson. I read every post including #13 . I guess what I was looking for was the Alpha Systems (or GD) approved solvent to clean the butyl tape. Based on the thread PPG SX330 Wax & Grease Remover works well, but I did not see any reference to it being approved for use on the Alpha Systems TPO roof. Yes, I did see the references to the chemical makeup being similar to the Super Flex adhesive. I was just looking for an officially approved chemical. The TT is only 3 weeks old. I don't want to run in to any potential warranty issues.

Thanks for the info. It was a great thread. I am hoping my luck will be like yours and I will have very little residue left on the tpo.