casita paint damaged by tape

[whoot]

Attachment 132587When I first got my Casita, I immediately went in to a brutally cold winter, and ended up taping Reflectix to the outside, in order to make an airtight skirt (which worked great, even at -7F). I originally used "painters tape", which instantly came off, and then took some advice that I should not have, and used some "shipping tape" that supposedly would come off. It does come off, in little pieces, and along with a lot of paint. So now I'm screwed and still have pieces of shipping tape fused to the outside of the Casita.



I didn't know what to do, so I left it on. Another person "helpfully" tried to remove it, which made it worse. Most of the damage is in a circle around the Casita. I guess I am going to have to hire someone to re-finish the Casita. Any idea how much that will cost?

[WizWid]

I see old tape - but I dont see damaged gel-coat.
Is the tape really pulling off the gel-coat?

Try soaking a bit in mineral spirits, or denatured alcohol.
You might be pleasantly surprised.
If that does not work - try acetone or gasoline. But be careful to only get it on gel-coat.

[Jack L]

A heat gun and a plastic scraper might help soften the Then the above recommended solvents for glue residue removal.

[whoot]

Originally Posted by widgetwizard

I see old tape - but I dont see damaged gel-coat.
Is the tape really pulling off the gel-coat?

Try soaking a bit in mineral spirits, or denatured alcohol.
You might be pleasantly surprised.
If that does not work - try acetone or gasoline. But be careful to only get it on gel-coat.

There is some damage for sure, some of the tape strips that came off had white paint/gel on them. I am not able to get to the Casita right now, which is another reason I may have to hire someone else to do it. If I sell it, I assume I will need to fix the paint/gelcoat. Which is why I was wondering how much it would cost.

[Donna D.]

Looks like the tape glue to me. Unless your Casita was painted by a previous owner, that's gelcoat not paint.

[John in Michigan]

William, the stock Casita (and most other molded fiberglass trailers) has a gel coat top layer on the exterior, not paint. If gel coat is coming off with the tape, the gel coat has either oxidized to a powder (minor concern) or the gel coat is de-laminating (indicates defective gel coat that would have to be repaired).

Third possibility is that your Casita was painted. In that case, just re-paint it.

[bsedwebt]

Casitas do not come painted when made new. People do use ZEP on them and that may cause what you are seeing - that can be stripped off and re-applied to make it shiny again. I have found that brake parts cleaner works really well on removing any tape type residues - I do it quick and and wipe it off in seconds not letting it set in.

[floyd]

Get it good and warm... Hot sun or hair dryer.
Use WD40 or GooGone .
Afterward use waterless handcleaner, finally... wash with a thick solution of CarWash soap and ScotchBrite.

[ThomasC]

Originally Posted by widgetwizard

I see old tape - but I dont see damaged gel-coat.
Is the tape really pulling off the gel-coat?

Try soaking a bit in mineral spirits, or denatured alcohol.
You might be pleasantly surprised.
If that does not work - try acetone or gasoline. But be careful to only get it on gel-coat.

I would be afraid of the acetone. When working with epoxy it is used for clean up. I'm not sure about fiberglass though. They use polyester and not epoxy don't they.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

I start with wd-40 and a heat gun


https://www.echotape.com/blog/ten-si...-tape-residue/


If done carefully I don't believe you would do any damage to the gel coat

[WaltP]

Have you tried any glue removers like gluebegone?
Walt

[whoot]

Originally Posted by WaltP

Have you tried any glue removers like gluebegone?
Walt

I have not, I was afraid of making it worse.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by whoot

I have not, I was afraid of making it worse.

Any product that says it can be used on fiberglass will be suitable.

For instance on this page from Goo Gone that says what it will remove and what it can be used on it says that it will work on fiberglass.

https://googone.com/howto/blog/does-...-work-on-that/


by the way "gluebegone" seems to be either a typo or a case of mistaken identity. Google search engine returns no hits with that word, apparently there is not a product on the market with that name.

[jerrymac]

Start with wd40. Spray on and let it soak in around edges. Easier on warm day or in direct sun. Use plastic scraper or plastic scrub pad if needed. Don't scrape with metal tools or green scotchbrite pads unless you want to scratch your finish. Heat gun might help but sun is much more gentle and predictable.

[jerrymac]

Can also try oven cleaner which should be safe for fiberglass but it's hard on other materials including skin and eyes. Wear gloves and goggles and work on small areas at a time, avoiding metal parts. Warm sun will help.

[johnwen1]

WD40 works wonders for me. Good luck

[Anthonysherwood]

Cuz he does have any paint on them that's a fiberglass resin with a gel coat I would use a heat gun and then use Goof Off glue remover and don't put too much heat on it just enough to soften the tape that's on there and take a plastic scraper for you don't SCAR or cut through the gel coat that's going to be the safest way to do it

[FRED SMAILES]

I wouldn't use a scraper if your using any heat it's bound to scar the gelcoat.
Lacquer thinner is my go to for removing most any solvent based glue.
Don't leave it on for a long time, soak a rag, rub it on till some material is removed withdraw, let the surface dry then repeat.
Fred

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by ThomasC

I would be afraid of the acetone. When working with epoxy it is used for clean up. I'm not sure about fiberglass though. They use polyester and not epoxy don't they.

No problem using acetone for work on the cured resin on our trailers, which is what the gelcoat is. Manufactures, including Escape, use it to clean up the trailer after production. It really does work great.

Don't use it on paint though.

[Jon Vermilye]

2X on the use of acetone on cured resin. My order of attack on cleaning is first Amazing LA Qrange spray cleaner, Bar Keeper's Friend powder, and last but not least, acetone.

I do have a question for the original poster - did you determine if it was tape residue or was the trailer painted, and it actually came off?