RV Exterior Care Archives - Page 10 of 10

Diamond Shield Protective Polish And Removal Guide

Diamond Shield, or any clear front end protection film, can be a blessing or a curse for motorhome owners.

And when you visit RV forums on the internet, you will see both extremes.

Some love their Diamond Shield installation. On the other hand, some don’t seem satisfied at all. So why the extreme opposite opinions?

Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website.

Diamond Shield – What Does It Do?

The purpose of a clear front end bra for an RV is mainly to help protect against paint rock chip damage.

But it can also be helpful with bug splatter and road grime.

Of course, there are other ways of providing RV front end protection. Like a vinyl RV bra or a plastic RV shield.

But the big advantages of clear protection film is its invisibility and ease of use.

Diamond Shield badge on a motorhome shield — **The Diamond Shield badge identifies their installed product**

In fact, the average person would usually not even know that Diamond Shield is applied to a motorhome.

You have to get up close to even see the outline of the shield. And there is nothing to remove and clean like other forms of RV front end protection.

Because the front end is clear it also doesn’t interfere with the paint scheme of the RV either.

So why do so many RVers have such a negative viewpoint of Diamond Shield? Especially when it has so many clear advantages?

Front End RV Protection Film Problems

The real problem with clear front end protection film is that it is easily affected by the Sun’s UV rays.

Ultraviolet rays over time can bake the film, causing it to crack, yellow, and fade. In this way, it’s not unlike the paint that it is designed to protect.

Worse yet, when the shield begins to deteriorate, moisture can begin to penetrate underneath. When it does, mold can easily begin to grow.

And once that happens, there is practically no way to stop the mold from spreading.

A failed RV front end shield that is cracked, yellowed and full of mold. — **This is an example of a failed RV shield**

So the once beautiful Diamond Shield installation can become cracked and filled with mold. When it does, the RV’s front end looks horrible.

And this is why so many Diamond Shield owners are dissatisfied, to say the least.

So is there any way to prevent the deterioration of Diamond Shield? Yes, there is.

The real problem is that in most of these cases, the Diamond Shield RV owners have not maintained the shield.

And yes, some maintenance is required to make sure that Diamond Shield lasts a long time. It is not a product that can be installed and forgotten about.

But clear front end protection film does not require a lot of maintenance. In fact, it shouldn’t take more than about 5 – 10 minutes to do.

And it involves very little effort. Almost anyone can do it too, with products that are inexpensive and readily available.

Diamond Shield Protective Polish To The Rescue

Remember that the enemy of an RV rock shield is the Sun’s ultraviolet rays.

So the Diamond Shield protective polish that the main office often recommends most to maintain the shield is 303 Aerospace Protectant.

This product is a high-quality UV inhibitor, and is highly reviewed and recommended.

Just spray it on the shield and wipe the excess off with a high-quality microfiber towel. It is just that easy.

**303 Aerospace Protectant UV inhibitor**

Click here to find out more about 303 Aerospace Protectant

Some RV owners take their shield maintenance a step further though. And they also use a polymer sealant on the shield before applying 303 Aerospace Protectant.

This kind of synthetic wax sets up a moisture barrier that further protects the shield from mold.

In fact, you can apply a couple of layers of the polymer sealant if you wish. Then layer the 303 Aerospace Protectant on top of the sealant.

And that constitutes the ultimate Diamond Shield protective polish that you can apply.

All of this protection can be applied to the RV bug shield easily with microfiber towels in just minutes.

There are plenty of good polymer sealant products for the auto and RV market. Almost any of them would work well.

The one I like to use most often lasts longer than most. But if you have a favorite of your own, I’m sure it will work just fine.

My preference is Meguiar’s Fast Finish. It just wipes on and dries to a very slick finish. Best of all, it really lasts too!

Meguiar's Ultimate Fast Finish polymer sealant — **Meguiar’s Ultimate Fast Finish polymer sealant**

Meguiar’s Ultimate Fast Finish (the product discussed here).

Availability update: Meguiar’s Ultimate Fast Finish is currently unavailable at the Amazon listing previously linked here. The discussion and experience above refer to that original product.

How Often Should You Maintain Your Diamond Shield?

So how often should this protective polish be applied to Diamond Shield? A good rule of thumb is to apply it once a month.

But if your RV spends a lot of time in high humidity areas, you may want to do it more often. Perhaps even every couple of weeks or so.

That way you can be sure that the protection you’re applying is adequate for the area.

This is especially true in lower Texas and Florida, where humidity can be extremely high.

Of course, you don’t have to apply the polymer sealant too. Just 303 Aerospace Protectant alone will do a great job.

But if you have the extra time, adding a synthetic polymer coating to the protection regime can be beneficial too.

The key to RV shield maintenance with a diamond shield protective polish is having a regular schedule for it. Then follow that schedule consistently. For the rest of the exterior, here is my quick RV wash-and-wax method.

What About Diamond Shield Removal?

Yes, no product lasts forever. And that is true of Diamond Shield as well.

So if your RV front end shield is showing signs of failing, what should you do? Well, let’s talk about how to remove Diamond Shield.

When you first begin to see clear evidence of cracking in the clear protection film, it’s time for Diamond Shield removal.

I can’t stress enough not to wait and delay the removal process. The longer you wait when a shield is failing, the more difficult the removal will be.

That’s because moisture can easily begin to penetrate the outer layer of the RV protective film.

When it does, it’s not hard for mold to start growing and accelerate the shield disintegration. Eventually the shield just breaks into small pieces when you try to remove it.

So don’t procrastinate on Diamond Shield removal when it starts to become necessary. For decorative vinyl rather than clear protective film, see my guide to removing RV stripes and graphics.

What Is Involved In Removing An RV Front End Shield?

Removing a clear front end protection film from an RV is not an easy job.

I have done it many times, and it is usually long and arduous. So I recommend that you make a search for “diamond shield removal near me” on Google.

Or you can just call the Diamond Shield home office too. They will be happy to help arrange for a professional removal of your RV shield.

To know more about Diamond Shield removal cost, just call the home office. The number is 888-806-5862.

A professional installer will also know how to remove Diamond Shield too. So they are the best solution for the job. But you can do the job yourself too.

I often get asked about diamond shield removal solvent too. But the truth is that there is no solvent that I know of that can easily remove a shield.

In most cases, it requires heating up the shield in a small area with something like a heat gun. Just be sure not to get the gun too close and mar the paint.

But if you sufficiently heat the protective film, it can often be pulled off with just a little effort.

You can then remove the glue left behind with mineral spirits or another appropriate glue remover.

Another very effective way to remove a front end protection shield is to use a steam machine. One like you might use for extra heavy duty cleaning jobs.

By steaming the shield, it often makes it even more pliable than a heat gun might accomplish. Then the removal is even easier.

**Steam cleaner for removing Diamond Shield**

Current steam-cleaner option: McCulloch MC1275

The link now opens the McCulloch MC1275 listing; the original article image and discussion have been retained. Before applying steam to protective film or paint, confirm surface compatibility with the film, paint and steam-cleaner manufacturers, follow their instructions and test an inconspicuous area.

How To Find A Diamond Shield Installer

Once you have the front end shield removed, you can reinstall it again.

To do that, it’s always best to call the Diamond Shield home office at 888-806-5862. You can also contact them online at diamond-shield.com

They can give you the information you need about Diamond Shield installation cost too.

If they have arranged for the removal of your front end shield, the installation can be done right away.

But if you have removed the shield yourself, you will need to make arrangements for a an installer to do the job.

And yes, they are usually able to come right to your location for both removal and installation.

Conclusion

So if you have Diamond Shield, or any other RV protection film, you can keep it looking great. And it isn’t hard to do.

Just make sure that your regular RV inspection also includes inspecting your rock shield too.

Then follow the maintenance guidelines in this article to get good results.

If you do, your Diamond Shield should last a long time and look great while it does!

Have safe and happy travels!

RV Exterior Paint Protection – Fast & Easy

The best RV exterior paint protection goes well beyond just washing and waxing your RV at regular intervals. So if you want the best results for your RVs exterior, more is needed.

Best RV Exterior Protection – 3 Steps Needed

Your RV’s exterior surface could be made of fiberglass, gel coat, aluminum or just full body paint. If your motorhome has clear film on its front, my Diamond Shield care guide covers that surface separately.

And all of these surfaces need some form of regular cleaning and protection to last a long time and look their best. So to accomplish that you will need to do these things in order:

Wash your RV
Wax your RV
Then apply paint sealant periodically (or other long-term synthetic protection) to your RV

Of course, if your RV exterior has been neglected for a while you may need to prepare it beforehand.

In other words, if you see fading and/or small scratches on the outside of your RV, some form of surface correction is needed first.

This can be accomplished with a good RV polish or RV compound that is applied either by hand or using an orbital buffer. If the damage is to vinyl graphics rather than paint, my guide to removing RV stripes and graphics covers cracking and peeling.

Why Is RV Paint Sealant A Good Idea?

Modern paint and exterior products for autos and RVs provide protection from the elements and UV damage from the sun.

But some forms of protection last longer than others. And in general, RV waxes only last a few months at best.

Paint sealants though, can be used on almost any surface that can be waxed and can even be applied over wax.

They can then extend the protection of the RV wax, up to a full year or so. And they are pretty economical to buy and use.

You may have heard a lot of talk about ceramic coatings for RV paint.

And RV ceramic coatings are high-end products that can last for years. But they are also very expensive and difficult to apply, especially on large RVs.

So the sweet spot for RV exterior paint protection in terms of both cost and results is using a high quality RV paint sealant.

At least that is my opinion. And they can be exceptionally easy and simple to apply for almost anyone.

What Do I Use For Paint Protection On My RV?

In other posts on my website, I have explained that I use a product called “Wash Wax All” to both wash and wax my motorhome. It’s an exceptionally easy way to wash and wax an RV.

But I also apply a paint sealant or synthetic wax periodically to extend the effectiveness of that protection even further.

In fact, the paint sealant that I use on my RV goes on incredibly easy and can last up to a year.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Fast Finish (the product demonstrated below)

Availability update: Meguiar’s Ultimate Fast Finish is currently unavailable at the Amazon listing previously linked here. Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax is a different spray-wax option; its application and durability differ, and the experience described here concerns Fast Finish.

If you want to see how easy it is to apply this paint protection product, here is a video where I demonstrate using on my motorhome:

Please comment below and tell us how you protect the outside of your RV

RV Wash And Wax – Quick And Easy

The exterior walls of RVs can be made up of any number of surfaces. It could be aluminum, fiberglass, gel coat, or maybe even full body paint. But all exterior surfaces of RVs require care and there are two ways to do that. First, an RV wash and wax job is needed to remove the dirt, grime and contamination that has accumulated on the exterior surface. After the outside is clean, it is important to also apply some kind of wax or other protection against the elements and the sun’s UV damage.

Washing and Waxing Your RV – The Old Way

In the old days, cleaning an RV meant the use of soapy water, some kind of mitt or brush and a water rinse from a garden hose or pressure washer. After washing, the surface needed to be dried to prevent water spots. Then to protect the cleaned surface some kind of wax was usually applied by hand or machine. Of course, all of this takes a lot of time and energy to accomplish on your own.

This is most likely why we see so many RVs on the road today that are in need of exterior care. Of course, the owners most likely fully intend to wash and wax their RV. But the job is so daunting, they just keep putting it off. Or it could be that they plan on hiring someone to do it for them. But the problem is that RV detailing is expensive. So this can easily cause further delays in caring for the RV exterior.

Wash And Wax Your RV The New Way

Fortunately, the good news is that there have been very useful innovations made in products for exterior RV care in recent years. In fact, today many of the newer products encapsulate the outside dirt and grime when applied to the RV. Then the use of high quality microfiber towels or mops traps the dirt and removes it. This is all accomplished without scratching or damaging the outside RV surface. And there doesn’t have to be any water used in this process.

Just watch the video below to see this newer approach to RV exterior care in action.

Category: RV Exterior Care