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Casa Grande, AZ
Oxidation Removal
Chalky, sun-faded fiberglass cut back and polished until the color and the gloss come back.
Get a free estimateTell us your number and we will call you back.
Chalky, sun-faded fiberglass cut back and polished until the color and the gloss come back.
Get a free estimateTell us your number and we will call you back.
When the fiberglass turns chalky and the color goes flat, that is the gel coat oxidizing in the sun. It gets cut back with compound, polished until the color and the gloss come back, then sealed so the shine holds. Even an older rig can come back looking close to new.
Oxidation is the chalky, faded film that forms on fiberglass gel coat when it sits in the sun. Forest River's owner manual puts it plainly: dulling and fading are increased by exposure to extreme sunlight, air pollutants and excessive moisture, and it names yellowing and chalking as signs of surface deterioration. In Arizona the UV index often reaches the Extreme range in summer, so a rig that stays parked through summer here can go from glossy to powdery quickly.
Wax alone will not fix real oxidation. We start with a thorough wash so we are not grinding dirt into the finish, then test a small area to see how deep the chalking goes. Light haze may only need a polish. Heavier oxidation gets a cutting compound worked in with a power buffer, panel by panel, until the dead gel coat is gone and the color comes back. Decals and graphics get a gentler touch.
Once the surface is corrected, it has to be protected or the sun will start the process over. We follow compounding with a hand-applied wax that we power buff out, which seals the freshly opened gel coat. On older Class C and Class A coaches there is often more color hiding under the chalk than you would expect. Results depend on how much gel coat is left, and we will tell you honestly what we see before we start.
Run a hand down the side. If it comes away with white chalk, or the finish looks dull and faded, the gel coat is oxidizing.
Most of the time, yes. Heavier oxidation takes more compounding, and we will tell you what to expect after a look at it.
Run a clean hand across the sidewall. If it comes away with white or colored chalk, or the finish looks dull and faded even after a wash, the gel coat is oxidized.
Most can be improved a great deal, but it depends on how much gel coat is left. We test a small area first and tell you what to expect.