Rubber, Technologies, I think it looks great and it matches the paint job on my camper but some people dont like the look of it. Mount the side termination bars. The hot desert sun and dry air can do a number on RV rubber roofs. Biltrite, There comes a time when you need to perform an entire RV rubber roof replacement. Step 3: Enjoy unforgettable memories! Spray Polyurethane Foam, SunRise The following are all of the steps to follow when replacing your RVs roof: Since RVs rooftop systems such as the A/C unit or roof vent are essentially holes cut in the roof, the edges around them can develop leaks that you will need to fix to avoid water damage. Robetex, Additionally, damage thats allowed to sit unaddressed can get worse, and lead to more issues or more extensive and expensive repairs. Caulk gaps, voids and cut-out holes with Safety Rail Systems, AH1BSDc/cq a[Vb`fF7?3hFw|imXCbE:ni49`o Pam This is the area where your RVs roofing material ends. EPDM Adhered Even if theres just a small hole in the rubber roof membrane, it will let in water. Caulk Concrete Products, Before you can replace your whole roof, you need to know what youre replacing. Video Movies, AJC, Solomon, But every kind of camper roof requires preventive and routine maintenance. ITW, Drains-Retrofit / Reroof, See Also:6 Best Exterior RV Caulks For Camper Window, Molding & Trim. For those who have to replace the plywood, clean the insulation surface without taking off too much insulation so you get maximum adhesion. However, if there are multiple areas where the roof is damaged, or theres a single area with extensive damage that is compromising the rest of the roof, it may be time to replace it. Portals Plus, Steel rollers like this one (click to view on Amazon) are recommended for best results when applying RV roof sealant tape. Roof Anchors, Have any more questions about RV rubber roof repair, reseal, or replacement? Houseboat If so, youre not alone. If you think its something you can do I recommend checking out this awesome YouTube video by C.L.S. Welders, Lifelines- Sonneborn, Vulcan, Stainless, OMG, Chem Link, In small sections at a time, apply the roofing adhesive. Over time, rain, wind, snow and even UV rays from the sun can break down the seals and RV roof material, leading to water damage and other issues. These harsh cleaners could potentially damage the rubber if used in large amounts. Its advertised to last at least 18-35 years. Additionally, its very long-lasting and if properly maintained, could last as much as 30 years. To fix this kind of damage, all you really need to do is install a patch: Thoroughly clean the area around the repair. If you dont have either of those things even some RV sealant (self-leveling or non-sag) could be used as a temporary fix. One great way to soften it up is to let it sit out in the hot sun for a day and start removing the sealant tape in the evening. If nothing has ever been done to maintain or repair your campers roof for many years, you may need to think about replacement. Interwrap, Rivets- Do not pour any of these products directly onto the camper rubber roof. Either way, rinse well after sudsing! Concrete Stain & Miami-Dade Guns, Vents, See Also:Best RV Roof Coatings That Seal & Protect (All Camper Roofs). Carefully check for any signs of water damage at this stage. Pipe Supports, TPO Accessories, If you already own or recently acquired an older RV, there may come a time when no amount of resealing or recoating is going to solve your leaky roof. Adhesives, Snow Guards, As you power-wash the roof, ask your spouse or a friend to walk around below you inside the camper, checking the ceiling and walls for dampness or drips. You can also recycle your scrap roofing when you replace it, since aluminum is one of the few materials that doesnt diminish in value. Pipe Flashings, Many RVers do it every year, but sometimes you can go a few camping seasons without having to do a full reseal. If you havent used the sealant before, spot check its compatibility by applying a small amount in an inconspicuous area before applying it to all areas. Z{{d Keep in mind that, if you live in a humid climate, you may need to use a different type of RV sealant. Aztec Chinking, However, fiberglass roofs require less maintenance than roofs using the other materials, which may be preferable for some. Theyve sought adventure together for 5 years now and have done a lot of international traveling, including RVing in Mexico. Each type of roofing material has different advantages, costs, and maintenance needs. After the equipment is removed, unscrew the termination bars, end strips, and caps. Once dry, the liquid roof barrier protects it from UV rays from the sun and also adds weatherproofing to block moisture and slow wear-and-tear from the elements. Falltech, In addition to all of the maintenance you should do to maximize the lifetime of your RVs roof, you may want to consider a cover for your camper or just for the roof. or unknown caulking. Apply sealant or caulking to any recesses, and let dry. Its very common for the area of the rubber roof membrane along the sides of campers where its curved down will start to form cracks and peel back. You may need to use a putty knife and scrap away sections of the wood it will be glued to the Styrofoam insulation. Roof Repair Materials, All Line, Sunset, Techniques page. Guardian, Each kind has its pros and cons. Weatherbond, Do you know how we can tell what material we have? Do you have any experience with this? whole strip, overlapping both sides by 2". Roofing Nails, OR put another strip of RoofSeal along the entire metal strip (cover the tj@E RV Water Hookup Filling The RV Fresh Water Tank Issue Fix. Whether its an RV roof patch kit or sealant tape. Scrub until clean then wipe or blow away Install your RV roof appliances and accessories. How Much Does It Cost To Install A 5th Wheel Hitch? plastic abrasive kitchen scrubber in repair areas. HY-C, Make sure you put putty tape on the inside of the side bars. BASF, Be careful not to get water inside the hole. Its a good idea to keep some in your RVs emergency tool kit just in case something happens while youre out on a trip. If you stay on top of repairs and maintenance, and fix any leaks quickly, you can minimize or postpone the need to replace the whole roof. Although every job is different, some general tools you should have on hand for dealing with your RV roof include: Acetone or other cleaner, like a 3M Scotch Bright Pad, Razor knife or shears for cutting the replacement material, Scraper or utility blade to remove old caulking. You should expect at least that much out of both TPO and EPDM rubber camper roofs with the proper maintenance and storage. OR use new fasteners, and put In manageable sections, apply the recommended roof adhesive. Fry Reglet, If any cracks or holes are forming in it you know its time for a reseal or touchup. Nails, These are often secured with rivets that will need to be drilled out. Note: Tarps are even worse than RV covers at allowing mildew and mold to grow in a short period of time, so only use these as a short-term solution. She is one half of DashboardDrifters.com and the founder of RVSpotDrop, a web service for full time RVers. Propane Torches, Are you stressed out about how much its going to cost to fix? Polyurethane Foam, If youre sealing around a roof vent or skylight, industry experts recommend using SB-140 butyl caulking ($5.75 per 10.3-ounce tube). Whats the Easiest Way to Remove EternaBond Tape? price; best if old roof is not well adhered). The same goes for your rooftop systems, like the air conditioning unit. Sievert, However, you may be able to repair or replace your RV roof yourself. Pro tip: Leave the first 1.5 feet or so unglued at the beginning. Narrow Crown Stainless, roof surface. Then, carefully uninstall all the equipment and store it so you can reinstall it. Alpha You can check out some more RV roof coatings in this post here (click to view) if you want to read about some other options. Pylex, The most common types of camper roofing material are TPO, EPDM, fiberglass, and aluminum. RV Roof Repair But you should replace it with a proper RV roof patch later. Theres an aesthetic reason as well. If the sealant is still soft and the scraper just makes an indent, its still good. Josam, Put your edge metal back on with new Swan TPO is very UV-resistant, and it can help reduce energy consumption when installed as your RV roof. Remove Trufast, Campers from states like Arizona and Nevada might need a new roof a lot sooner than an RV from a more moderate climate like Montana. base of roof penetrations (vents, hatches etc), put another layer of Maze Nails, now have a great looking and long lasting new roof. I use dish soap and 91% isopropyl alcohol because thats usually what I have on hand. In the opposite order of removal, you now need to install a layer of plywood (if applicable). The thin membrane that is an RV rubber roof is whats stopping water from leaking into your RV. Grouts, Show More Popular Products and Suppliers: (most effort, medium Foam Roofing, If your RV or campers roof is leaking, damaged, or worn down and old, it might be time to repair or replace the roof. Although this is normal, its a clear sign that its time to recoat the roof. Finally, its time to install a fresh piece of roofing material. Natural When doing so, be sure to caulk all around the air conditioning unit, roof vents, skylights and any other places where there may be a crack or seam in the roofing material. Well, it depends a lot on the situation. For resealing RV windows, the experts again suggest M-1 sealant, but Duralink ($6.25 per 10.1-ounce tube) is also used and has excellent adhesion to glass. With the new roofing material installed, youre almost ready to get back on the road. Make sure you keep track of all your RV maintenance and repairs with an online tool such as RV LIFE Maintenance. Make sure you mark where the holes in the camper roof are. Optional: Remove edge metal which around roof edge. Expansion Joints, Start at one end of the RV. PVC Roofing, Decent quality TPO RV roofing will cost between $5.50 and $6 per square foot, so using our 30-foot camper, the cost for the TPO alone would be between $1,400 and $1,530 for 255 square feet of material. Now that youve removed the old leaky roof, its time to replace it. Visually, a rubber RV roof should have no wrinkles, no dark or brown areas that could mean sun or water damage, and you shouldnt be able to see a weaving pattern. To keep everything nice and dry, you could use some butyl tape behind the termination bars. Its not hard to do with just your hand when using a small patch. You can even overlap Eternabond tape to make a wider patch. If there were leaks from the roof into your RV walls, you will want to address any damage or mold that might be hidden. Install the termination bar on the other side. Jennifer lives with her husband and their two cocker spaniels in a 29' trailer in Mexico. Even if you did a fantastic job cleaning the roof, its likely to still be dirty or stained in some areas, so using a EPDM primer will prepare the surface for a better bond between the roof and the tape. Rex Synfelt, You dont want a punctured roof causing leaks and creating water damage! Although you might pay a professional to do a full roof replacement for your RV, there are many roof repair jobs that are easy and far cheaper if you do them yourself. TRA, Save Money On Laundry With These Portable Washer/Dryers, How To Get On The Road Early (And Stress-Free), This Man Has Lived In His Mercedes Hatchback For 7 Years And Never Steps Out, What Is The Best Camper Roof Sealant (And How Do You Use It? If its not cleaned right, nothing will work as it should. EPDM vs TPO? But there are a lot of factors that can reduce life expectancy a lot. When you plan to repair or replace your campers roof yourself, there are some tools youll need to get the job done as quickly and effectively as possible. Copyright 2022 RoofSeal. It has a unique, woven fabric backing with microsealant composition so that it bonds perfectly on flat surfaces as well as around curves, angles, bolts and pipes. If you will be reapplying Eternabond tape or even lap sealant to the area you just need to keep it clean and you can apply the new sealant over the top. Ive used it myself and my camper roof hasnt had any leaks yet. Cleasby, Join over 10,000 VIP members to get practical, entertaining, and inspiring resources and step by step articles about RV travel Destinations, RV Gear, and full-time RV living to live Stress-Free Life In Your RV. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You are now done with the RV rubber roof repair. Aluminum roofing sheets cost around $3 per square foot, so the cost to replace the roofing material on a 30-foot by 8 -foot camper would be around $770. Add seam tape to all of the gaps in the plywood roof. National Nail, You can also use denatured alcohol, acetone, mineral spirits, or the EternaClean if you have it. Waterproofing Products, Thanks! Berry Aaron is the co-founder ofRVing Know How,where he shares their experiences and RV-related tips to make life better for other RV owners. Type Of RV Roofing Material And How Much Does They Cost To Replace, How RV Sealant and Coating Protects The Roof, Prepare Your RV Roof for Repair or Replacement, How to Fix a Leaky Skylight, Roof Vent, AC Unit or Hatch, Different Types of RV Roof Coating Sealants, 4: Investing In A RV Roof Cover for Durability, https://www.rvingknowhow.com/rv-roof-replacement-and-repair-guide/. Many of the manufacturers of camper rubber roofing materials will have a 10-15 year warranty on their products. You might never have to reseal it ever again if done right. Not only do the parts cost a good amount, the amount of work involved to take off the old roof and put on the new one is pretty high. You should address RV roof issues as soon as possible, to avoid further damage. Reinstall your termination bars along the sides, rear, and front of your RV. 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