Campers or Travel trailers are famous for leaking roofs. If,
you own a travel it is likely that you have repaired its roof in the past or
about starting repairs in near the future. Despite innovative products, roof
leaking has become a recurring issue. However, fixing leaking camper roof is
not that difficult if you have the right tools and the right procedure to fix
it. So, let’s start doing it.
1)-Inspecting for roof leaks:
One proactive approach to prevent future RV problems is to
inspect the roof regularly both internally and externally. Inspecting the roof
leaks will help you to catch problems early before they turn into bigger
problems. Most RV manufactures recommend roof inspections at least twice in a
year. Do one roof inspection before start of your camping season and another
inspection before putting your camper under storage after the end of camping
season.
2)-Temporary Fixes:
It is not possible to completely repair the roof while
you’re on vacation on the road. But this doesn’t mean to let go the problem unchecked.
Take a moment and apply a temporary fix until you get your camper roof
professionally assessed. Temporary fixes can be in the form of using Tarp
paper, or by simply putting a Tarp on the roof.
3)-Permanent Fix:
When you have the much needed time, have your roof
professionally assessed and ask for recommendations. The most popular “do it
yourself” method is to repair the leaky roof by applying a RV roof coating e.g.
(RV Roof Magic) on it.
Different Types of
RV/Camper roofs:
One thing you need to understand that each RV roof is
different and need different ways of maintaining it. The best way to find out
your RV roof material is to consult your RV manual.
·
Fiberglass
Roofs:
Fiberglass roof is a solid roof that will only leak if there
is underlying damage done to the roof. Another issue with fiberglass roof is
that over period of time it develops cracks or holes and water may seep into
those cracks causing roof leaks. Small holes and cracks can be repaired using
Bondo. For larger holes, you will need to add a new layer of thick marine
fiberglass cloth.
·
Aluminum
Roofs:
An aluminum RV roof can leak from the vents, from the
rivets, or from a hole in the aluminum itself. Fixing an aluminum roof leak may
be as simple as applying sealant around a leaking rivet or as complex as having
to replace an entire aluminum panel. If you’re inexperienced with working
with aluminum sheeting, hire professional services to get the job done.
·
Vinyl
Roofs:
A vinyl roof is actually a wooden roof with vinyl coating on
top of it. Vinyl roofs can be torn or punctured and are less durable than other
roofing materials. In case of vinyl roofs the best strategy is replace the
vinyl panel or opt for other durable roofing options.
·
Wooden
Roofs:
Wooden roofs are mostly found in historic RVs or DIY
campers. Wood does not make a good roofing material and will leak around any
screws or nails that have been used to put it in place. If your RV’s wooden
roof is making camping life difficult for you a good idea will be to replace it
with traditional roofing options like rubber or fiberglass.
·
Rubber
roofs:
Rubber is the most widely used material for RV roofs. Rubber
roofs are very durable and light weight so that the roof deck doesn’t need any
kind of reinforcements. Three main types of rubber roofs are Liquid Rubber
roofing, EPDM and TPO. Each rubber roof has its own pros and cons. Rubber roofs
have average life of 15 years and even can extend to 20 years with proper care
and maintenance. Rubber roofs are very easy to repair, just apply roof sealant
and be hassle free.
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