RV Tech Showdown: Butyl Tape vs. Rubber Sealant

Get ready for the ultimate showdown in the RV world! Join us as we test out the new Dicor Butyl Rubber Ceiling against traditional putty tape. Say goodbye to messy, time-consuming installations and hello to a quick, clean application process that will revolutionize your RV maintenance routine. Subscribe for more RV tech secrets and stay ahead of the game!

🤝 LET'S BE FRIENDS! 🤝

💻 JOIN ONE OF OUR GROUPS! 💻

📬 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER! 📬

💸 SHOP WITH US! 💸

🛡 RV EXTENDED WARRANTY 🛡

🛠 CALRV OFFERINGS 🛠

🛒CALRV RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS 🛒
🧪 Chemicals/Cleaners/Protectants 🧪

🔨 RV Roofing & Sealant 🔨

🔧 RV Body Silicone 🔧

💡 RV Slideout 💡

* Suspension Kits *

ℹ NEED MORE INFORMATION? ℹ
Phone: [phone]

❗ AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE ❗
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using our links, we will earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you! Affiliate links help compensate for our time and effort into providing this information FREE to you. Thank you for using these links.

[colinleslie]

Very interesting. As an owner, doing occasional repairs, the advantage I see to the old-style butyl tape is I can keep a roll on hand and use just what I need.

[volt]

Thank you so much, I actually just learned how to use the lap sealant as you showed it.

[misfixitelaine]

Thank you. As usual, very informative.

[lionfish]

Excellent video
You just came up, new sub here

[PAKfromFYCB]

its so messy! but for windows over currugated metal it made alot more sense

[doradean]

Do you think this product would be good to cover exposed nailheads on roof as opposed to many roofing caulks that dries up and shrinks on a hot Texas roof?

[lasinmt]

I'm searching through videos on use of butyl tape and dicor sealants for redoing an older RV window that caused a leak in the RV wall. Problem is when I've provided the Hehr window label as asked by 3 different national companies to ID the glazes and the mullions they drop me. I mean one moment they ask for the label and I provide it and even photos of the glaze rubber ends too and they choke on the mullion ID's. There are 3 windows all with identical sealing rubbers and so I've got the Glaze ID'd we are pretty sure but the mullion or horizontal mullion that crosses the entire upper fixed window is the problem. One window is clearly damaged with about 3-4 inches nibbled away on one end and less than an inch on the other. I've never taken an entire window apart before. We have a window company in town who said they would reglaze and rebuild our windows but we must provide the rubber gaskets/seals etc. for the job. And no they won't take a window apart and leave it about their warehouse in a box so we can strip out a piece of the rubber to ID. So we are off to plan B or C. We intend to order the glazes which of course go all the way around exterior frame of the window. And it runs from 2.45 one company to 6.60 a foot another even had an estimate of 8 per foot by a fourth and we crossed them off right away. So we need 47 feet so it's not cheap to order and make a mistake and get stuck with it. Meantime that's half the issue. The reason the main window leaked was the seals long ago failed. Also it appears someone attempted to smear silicone around the exterior windows frame seams but with little used and of course is not compatible with butyl products and never holds up as well for water proofing. Plan B means cleaning both RV and window itself off well and wipe down with goo gone and maybe alcohol too after scraping all bits off you can find. I have two different Dicor products both vertical and horizontal caulking. I think after watching your video today I will stick with a double layer of butyl tape around the window frame to seal tightly. I may add a seam of dicor or clear caulking I think dicor may make one. Not sure but for now the issue with the windows of course is they are both vertical and horizontal and I'd have to switch out the caulking as I went around the window. Also I'm afraid the caulk would be a bit runny and not as thick as I might need. I'll pick a cooler day to apply the tape but also keep in the fridge/freezer if need be to help with that. I also am looking for a water proof paint on or tape to run around the approx 2" opening and thickness of the RV wall where the window slips in. This is to prevent any possible water entering into the wall again even if the window seals were ever to fail the water would have to run inside down a wall where you would see it quicker and not be hidden inside the wall. We bought this RV and seller appears to have known about this huge issue but sold it in Feb below freezing temps to hide the mildew scent plus choose a night time showing which also helped to hide many flaws. I've repaired one water damage under the fresh water tank but am still working on repairs of the wall beneath the window where it was in the wall down to the floor. Not as smelly but a harder to fix mess. I've never done anything like this but my husband is agreeing with me on how I'm approaching it. We have never owned an RV and it's a small 22 year old which if had been shown some care would have been great still but instead they neglected her and in that it became down right abuse. Her bones however are solid her engine good and once I make the repairs she'll be a great Class B+ again. Meantime the biggest problem is not in repairing the wall which I'm doing a great job of it's wanting to rebuild the windows including the interior mullion and hitting the same wall over and over. Today I'm onto plan B and ordering the 47 feet of outside glaze rubbers and looking for something to seal off the one window with damage to the horizontal mullion even though tape would prevent the slide and screen from opening. I've got to get these windows back in and water tight soon. Thank you and everyone for showing us how to handle these products and how they perform too. Great feedback so we get the idea before we make a mess on our own. Or maybe we still make a mess but at least we've got some idea in advance what to expect. Kudo's and happy camping everyone.

[stickman-]

Yea, but what is it going to be like when you have to remove it? Those vents don't last forever.

[terryhaynes]

Great information. Just wish this was a month ago 🥺. Oh well. But now I am aware of it for future work.

[theMekanik]

Why would you skrew a “vent” to the roof and not use a marine grade adhesive??

[mikemaj]

Butyl caulk is very messy has a tendency to move due to heat, plus if you ever need to redo something it is a huge pain to clean. I use butyl tape for sealing everything on a camper/rv. Watch that you get butyl tape and not putty tape. Putty tape doesn't hold up as well.

[nicholaseickmann]

Maybe it was said and I missed it, would you recommend this over the butyl tape when resealing windows?

[gkeith]

I have laid down a NEW EDPM unsealed rubber roof I need to install the roof vents with butyl tape and dicor sealant. However I’m plan to use Flexseal liquid on the whole roof. Which order? suggestions? can you guide me? Thanks .😢

[jeanmattison]

What caulk would you recommend for resealing windows on a painted aluminum trailer ?
Thanks in advance.

[thid]

Are you the guy on the Dicor sealant tubes?

[Sound.wave_]

Can you roll butyl tape into a ball like plasticine?

[mikeelder]

I have a camper shell on the bed of my truck. The side window is leaking and I'm looking for a product to reseal my camper windows.

[doorjumper]

What was the second product after the decor that you sealed the exterior of the plumbing vent?

[geniafont]

I have butyl tape coming out of the trim on the exterior corners of my Jayco Whitehawk. Can I use the cocking method for this application?

[Doesntmatteratall]

Why use something like this and butyl tape instead of silicone sealant caulking