The roof of your RV is probably the most neglected component of the entire RV. Certainly if your refrigerator, furnace or stove went on the blink, it would be a hastily repaired item, as would be any other component of your RV that you see, need, and use every day.
So why are roofs so neglected? You probably don’t make a trip up to the roof very often. And if you did, what would you look for? Most of the time, the roof works, and you probably don’t even think of it until you need to repair water damage. If your roof is leaking to the extent that you can see signs of water intrusion, you more than likely have already suffered some sort of interior damage. Signs of water intrusion are: outside fiberglass wall delamination, water stains inside on the ceiling, and inside wall panels buckling.
Most all RVs, except for a few high-end motorhomes, have rubber or TPO roofs. These roofs are sealed on all sides and around all penetrations of the roof membrane with lap sealant.
From the day the RVs are rolled off the assembly lines, the roof lap sealant starts to deteriorate. And to help the aging process along, nature adds sunlight, ozone, oils, moisture and temperature variations. All of these elements– and who knows what else– are out to destroy the integrity of your roof and lap sealant. The good news is that the roof membrane will last for 10 to 12 years. The bad news is, within two to three years, you will see cracks in the sealant– dried, crusty separation of the sealant from the roof membrane– potentially followed by water damage and dry rot.
So what do you do to protect your roof? Inspect it or have it inspected once a year. Late summer or early fall, before the rains start, would be a good time. There are some good sealers out there, but I have found firsthand they are relatively short-lived. After about two years or less, the sealing process has to be redone. It’s not an option – it’s a necessity. The trick is to reseal before damage occurs.
The insurance companies that cover water damage require consistent upkeep of the roof membrane and lap sealant.
Enjoy the RV life!
Final Touch Coach Works is located at 28532 Livingston Avenue in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-775-8375 and visit www.FinalTouchRV.com.