Pro-Flex Sealant Issue

[chemist308]

When it was still warm, there were a few vertical surfaces that I resealed with Pro-Flex Clear sealant. I scrapped the old pealing silicone off with a plastic razor and remover, then clean and dried the area and applied Pro-Flex. Fast forward a couple months, and it's coming up in at least 1 seam (see pic). Is Pro-Flex not good for laminate surfaces, or am I missing something? If not Pro-Flex, then what should be used that has better life than silicone?

[Calbar]

When it was still warm, there were a few vertical surfaces that I resealed with Pro-Flex Clear sealant. I scrapped the old pealing silicone off with a plastic razor and remover, then clean and dried the area and applied Pro-Flex. Fast forward a couple months, and it's coming up in at least 1 seam (see pic). Is Pro-Flex not good for laminate surfaces, or am I missing something? If not Pro-Flex, then what should be used that has better life than silicone?

The proflex will not stick to the silicone residue. I painstakingly cleaned the silicone off of the fridge vents and used Lexel. I have areas now after 6 weeks that are coming up too. The silicone residue is really difficult to get off and most places don't sell anything that really takes it off. I an going to try to use a really fine sandpaper liek 2000 grit to prep the width of the sealant seal to get the silicone residue off and see how that works. Simple green usually works well too and will followup with that for final cleaning.

Rob

[offtohavasu]

Mineral Spirits works pretty well at removing silicone.

[WhittleBurner]

Also a final wipedown with denatured alchohol cleans off any left over residue from other cleaners or solvents.

[geotex1]

As a guy coming from a strong background in automotive finishes having worked in a body shop in my youth and been an extreme enthusiast all my life building and restoring cars, let me say it's all about the preparation. Silicone is a bear to deal with because it leaves behind a residue that is not easily cut. Yes, mineral spirits will soften and help remove cured silicone but it will not strip the film residue. Isopropyl will not either. Sanding with tooth your substrate, but not remove the film unless you take it down to an alarming level. What you want to do is remove the silicone with mineral spirits, NOT ODORLESS, and let it flash COMPLETELY off. After that use need to wipe down with automotive Prep-Sol and a lint free cloth. I recommend 3 wipe downs using a new cloth each time and letting the Prep-Sol flash off between each. You don't want to smear the residue over a larger area, you're cutting it and removing on those cloths! If you see any chalky or dull film, repeat till gone. Can apply the non-silcone sealant after that. Do note thick application of Pro-Flex is a no-no. The outermost will skin and cure faster than the core, and then when the thick core finally cures it shrinks. That shrinkage force pulls the outer layer away from the surface.

[Brewhedd]

Wonder why GD would use silicone? My last RV had zero silicone and the windows were not caulked at all.