Cleaning; Shell Body Maintenance - Airstream (nest) 2019 Owner's Manual

Cleaning

Shell Body Maintenance

Normal maintenance of your gel coated Nest is similar to the
care you would give your automobile. Overall, automotive
cleaners and waxes work fine.
NOTE
Do not use caustic or highly alkaline (high pH)
cleaners or those containing ammonia. These
type of cleaners may darken white or off-white
weathered gel coat surfaces.
• Cleaning
We recommend general washing to avoid soil build-up and
staining. The soil on your gel coat finish is the result of regular
use and environmental pollutants such as soot and smog.
Periodic cleaning with a mild detergent is necessary to remove
normal deposits of soil.
• Waxing
From constant exposure over time to our natural environment
and undesired pollutants, the gel coat begins to lose its gloss.
To restore your finish to the original gloss and color requires your
special attention. After washing with a mild soap or detergent
give the surface a good polishing with a self-cleaning marine
or automotive wax. Waxing in the fall and spring is generally
recommended to maintain and restore most of the original gloss.
If the surface has not been maintained and has weathered
badly, and if cleaning and waxing does not restore the finish
satisfactorily, compounding will be required.
• Compounding
Polishing compound (fine abrasive) or rubbing compound(coarser
abrasive) is recommended for use on RVs to remove scratches,
stains, or a severely weathered surface. Polishing or rubbing
compound can be applied by hand or by mechanical means,
such as an electric or pneumatic buffer. After the scratched,
stained or weathered surface has been removed, it should be
waxed to enhance the gloss and color while providing a seal to
retard staining or new soil accumulation.
• Discoloration Removal
Your local fiberglass repair shop is best equipped and trained to
do this work. If regular washing and waxing has been neglected,
discoloration of the gel coated fiberglass surface may occur.
Discolored areas are very shallow in depth, literally right on the
surface.
6-2
The discoloration may be removed by gently wet-sanding the
affected areas only by using 600 grit, specially treated waterproof
sandpaper. It's important to always sand in one direction,
this includes the curves too. Use water to cool and clean the
sandpaper and cut back on dust.
After you are finished sanding, dry the areas and verify all the
discoloration has been removed. If not, repeat the process. After
sanding, buff the area using an electrical or pneumatic buffer at
low speed (1750 rpm – 2250 rpm) with a generous amount of
rubbing compound on a soft wool pad. This will restore the luster
to the sanded surface. When buffing has been completed, wash
off the rubbing compound with clean water, and dry the surface.
To restore the gloss to the affected area, use a high-grade
marine or automotive wax.
• Repairs
During the life of your RV, some damage to the gel coat surface
is unavoidable. We recommend repairs be done only by trained,
experienced professionals at your local fiberglass repair shop.
• Refinishing
For a severely scratched or weathered fiberglass RV that is no
longer restorable by using the previous methods, it may then be
necessary to refinish it with two-package or two-part aliphatic
urethane enamel. This can be done very effectively, but its
recommended refinishing should only be done by experienced
professionals.
• Caulking and Sealants
It is recommended that the caulking and sealant used in external
seams and joints, such as rear-shell segment, around window
frames, light bezels, etc., be checked once a year. If this material
has dried out and become cracked, checked or if a portion has
fallen out, it should be replaced with fresh material to prevent
possible water leaks. Caulking and sealing products are available
from your Airstream dealer.
NOTE
To keep your Nest looking new, paint the A-frame,
LPG tanks, and rear frame periodically.