#Putty tape vs silicone rv windows install#

#Putty tape vs silicone rv windows install#

While the person outside holds the window in place the person inside can install the clamp ring and start a couple screws. This is where remembering the placement of any spacers is helpful. After you get the window in the opening make sure it is spaced evenly around the perimeter. There are weep holes in the window frame that allow water to drain out of the track. Make sure the window is installed right side up. When you reinstall the window have one person inside and another person outside. If your RV has the uneven corrugated aluminum sheeting on the exterior its a good idea to add more butyl tape to the low areas in the metal so the window will seal properly. When you install butyl tape on the window frame make sure all the screw holes are covered and put the butyl tape around the entire perimeter of the window frame, leaving no gaps. You can purchase butyl tape from your local RV dealer or from Amazon. I prefer butyl tape over putty tape because it does not dry out like putty tape. On this trailer some of the old staples were rusted so I removed them and re-stapled the metal.Īfter the exterior surface and window frame are clean it’s time to install new butyl tape around the window frame. The exterior metal is usually stapled around the window opening. They come in several different sizes and shapes, and they work well removing old dried putty and butyl tape. The cleaner all of the surfaces are the better the window will seal.Īfter all of the old sealant is removed you can use a cleaner compatible with the exterior of the RV, and as a final prep I like to go over the surface with some denatured alcohol on a rag. For this job I use plastic scraping tools designed to remove automotive trim. The first step is to clean the old sealant from the exterior metal or fiberglass and from the window frame itself.

In lots of cases it’s necessary to remove the corrugated aluminum sheeting from the exterior too, but the damage was minimal and I was able to make repairs to the window frame and wall from the interior.Īfter the framing repairs were completed and new insulation was installed I cut and stapled new interior paneling to fit around the window opening. With the window and interior paneling removed I could assess the damage. Make a mental note where the spacers are located for installation. You might also notice some small spacers around the window frame. If the sealant around the window is still good it might take a little effort to get the window out, but it will come. Keep in mind when the screws are removed the window is ready to come out, so it’s a good idea to have somebody outside too. Using a screwdriver with the correct screwdriver tip remove all of the screws. These screws secure the clamp ring to the frame and seal the window. On the interior window frame you will notice numerous screws. After removing the interior paneling I saw a small amount of water damage around the window, and I needed to remove the window to make the necessary repairs. During my inspections of the trailer I noticed signs of water damage on the rear wall. You might need to replace a broken window, reseal a window or remove a window to repair water damage, which happens to be the case with our 5th wheel project trailer. The videos will be available on our RV Education 101 and RV 101 YouTube channels. The videos are basic upgrades and repairs RV owners can make on their RVs. We purchased an older 5th wheel project trailer to produce some RV do-it-yourself and RV how-to videos on. This is the style of window we are discussing today. As you tighten the screws it clamps and seals the window in place. When you install the window there is a clamp ring on the inside with holes around the perimeter so you can screw the clamp ring into the window’s frame. There are different types and styles of RV windows, but one of the most popular is a clamp ring style window.