Fiberglass Roofs With Holes
Its alarming when you discover a hole in your grp roofing, especially if theres been a lot of rain recently. You need to seal any holes or gaps that have appeared in the roof as soon as possible. Your best bet is to purchase a repair kit, which comes with all the materials youll need to complete the task.
There is a long-lasting and reliable product that can fix those grp holes in a matter of minutes.
Geek Out With Us Every Week
Join our newsletter to learn about all things RV-related. Every week we offer free tips, tricks, product reviews, and more to our online community of RVers. Whether this is your first time on the road or youre a seasoned expert, wed love for you to geek out with us!Some RV repairs can be temporarily put on hold, but an RV roof repair is not one of them. Failing to repair your RV roof can cause a frustrating and expensive set of circumstances that will only grow worse with time.
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Ed Looney
Friday 28th of May 2021
What’s not clear to me on the roof is … do you have to remove old Dicor seals before replacing them, or can you just clean well, and place a new layer of new Dicor Lap Sealant right over the old? If you have to remove the old Dicor, how do you do it? Is this something you have had to do?
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 29th of May 2021
Hi Ed. Good question. If you check out the video in this earlier post ) you’ll see what we usually do is just clean up the existing Dicor and then lay a new coating over top of the old. As long as the old Dicor is still well-sealed to the roof and whatever object is penetrating it , that should be all you need to do.
Hope that helps!
Alicia Fudge
Sunday 24th of June 2018
TheRVgeeks
Sunday 24th of June 2018
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Thursday 5th of April 2018
TheRVgeeks
Thursday 5th of April 2018
Keith Setzer
Wednesday 24th of May 2017
TheRVgeeks
Which Is Better Aluminum Or Fiberglass Rv Roof
Fiberglass wins hands-down in durability, shine, and cleanliness. Weight and aerodynamics are two important factors of gas mileage, and fiberglass trailers are generally lighter than aluminum-sided campers. Fiberglass models are more likely to have a streamlined shape, which provides better aerodynamics as well.
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How To Repair Fiberglass Rv Roof
Some RVs come with fiberglass roofs. The way youll approach these repairs are slightly different than those of rubber roofs, especially when it comes to the supplies that you need.
Resealing fiberglass roofs
Similar to rubber roofs, the top coating on fiberglass roofs can oxidize over time, causing a flaky, chalky look. Before cleaning, scrape off any loose, curled pieces of the coating off. After that, rub fine to medium-grit sandpaper over the surface of the roof. A slightly abraded surface will allow the coating to adhere. Rinse again, and then apply the liquid sealant to the roof with a paintbrush or roller.
For sealing seams, apply a self-leveling sealant designed for fiberglass around joints as you would with a rubber roof.
Patching a hole or tear
In an emergency, you can fix a hole or tear in a fiberglass roof with a quick fiberglass repair patch. For a more permanent, sturdy fix, a little more work is needed.
Youll first need to sand down the damaged area until the damaged or frayed material is smooth. Make sure to wear the appropriate safety mask, goggles, and gloves, as fiberglass can irritate the lungs, eyes, and skin. Once the area is smooth and clean, youll apply fiberglass patches and resin, layer by layer, according to the repair kit instructions.
Finish the job with some sealant, and refinish the area as needed.
Getting Professional Rv Roof Repair
The truth of the matter is that for serious leaks or roof damage, you should bring your RV into our service center where our skilled technicians can take care of the problem. People who are extremely handy may be tempted to pull the roof off and reinstall a new one, but unless you have professional skillsets, you’ll probably just do more harm than good.
RVs Northwest is staffed by highly-trained mechanics and technicians. We can fix problems big and small with almost any type of RV. From leaky roofs, to broken furnaces, to unreliable engines in older RVs, we can take care of it. Our Spokane Valley location proudly serves the Spokane metro area, as well as Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, and Post Falls, Idaho. Stop by for an estimate and chat with our team. You won’t find a team more passionate about RVs in the Northwest!
Read Also: When Do You Replace A Roof
Prepare The Resin And Fiberglass Patch
Then you need to prepare the resin. You will find the instructions in the package and can mix them in a cup. You will also need to prepare a fiberglass patch or sheet. Just rip off the sheet depending on how much you will need.
But if you repair a tiny crack in the fiberglass body, you can skip the fiberglass patch. But make sure to keep a paintbrush too. You will need it to saturate the resin on the crack surface.
How To Repair A Punctured Rv Roof
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.
One of these is repairing a punctured or torn RV roof. To fix this kind of damage, all you really need to do is install a patch:
Thoroughly clean the area around the repair.
Remove any excess silicone.
Apply sealant or caulking to any recesses, and let dry.
Glue down any loose roof membrane, and add fasteners if needed.
Let it cure 24 hours.
Apply the patch so that theres at least two inches of overlap on all sides of the repair area, and cover any reinforcement fasteners.
Seal the patch and edges around it with RV roof coating.
RV roof tape or RV roof patches are easy to apply, with adhesive on one side that sticks to your RV roof and seals up the torn or punctured area.
These patches are very durable, and provide a permanent solution to a tear or small 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. You dont want a punctured roof causing leaks and creating water damage!
Read Also: How To Tell If Your Roof Has Hail Damage
Apply The Rv Fiberglass Roof Coating
If youve already read one of the Dicor fiberglass roof coating reviews, youll know that their products stand the test of time.
Of course, there are other fiberglass roof paint products from different manufacturers, but we put our faith in Dicor.
Certainly, a little RV fiberglass roof protection goes a long way.
The Dicor Fiberglass Roof Coating is one of those elastomeric roof coatings for fiberglass that adds an extra layer of protection.
As an acrylic resin, it wont harm the surface. Also, it protects the roof and interior from heating up on hot days too.
Once dried, the resin creates a film over the entire roof structure thats resistant to algae or mildew that can still grow below other, inferior RV fiberglass roof coating products.
How Rv Sealant And Coating Protects The Roof
The roofing material is just one of the things youll need to purchase for an RV roof replacement or repair job.
Sealant is key water damage is one of the most common reasons an RV roof needs to be repaired or replaced, and usually, the damage happens around the seals or because the roof coating has deteriorated.
If you catch a leak and fix it quickly, you could save yourself a lot of time and money.
If you decide to pay a professional when replacing your RV roof or just resealing it, the resealing portion of the job alone may cost between $1,000 and $1,700, or as much as $2,000 for larger RVs.
You can begin to see why an RV roof replacement can cost as much as $10,000, and why you may want to do the job or parts of it yourself.
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Leave It To The Experts: Fiberglass Rv Body Work And Repairs
Fiberglass RVs are truly a work of art. While aluminum RVs are more economical, the appeal and durability of fiberglass RVs has taken them to the top of the market. And even while fiberglass offers many benefits to RV owners, it is still prone to scratches and damage. At MPT Autobody of Myrtle Beach, we strive for perfection so that no matter how badly your RV is damaged, we can restore it to its former glory.
Rv Roof Repair On A Metal Roof
Clear your metal RV roof of any debris before you begin a repair. Inspect the repair area carefully and take note of whats around it. Remember, metal roofs are capable of concealing the true extent of any damage.
Inspect the seams and use seam tape and patching compound to fill them and prevent future leaks. Eternabond is one of the most popular tapes , which can actually be used on any type of RV roof, and is virtually permanent. The key is to make sure any seams are completely covered by the tape, overlapping if needed.
Also Check: Who Pays For Roof Repairs In A Condo
Rv Roof Repair: How To Fix Holes In An Rv Roof
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Some RV repairs can be temporarily put on hold, but an RV roof repair is not one of them. Failing to repair your RV roof can cause a frustrating and expensive set of circumstances that will only grow worse with time.
Because roof repair is such a critical piece of RV maintenance, in todays post well share with you some important tips for finding and repairing holes in an RV roof. Lets get started!
Stay Ahead On Maintenance
We cannot overstate the importance of preventative maintenance. Regularly checking your RVs roof for damage and cracking seals is the best way to notice small changes that may occur over time. Note that the warranty on your roof may depend on having your RV inspected annually and evidence that youve been doing preventative maintenance.
Maintaining your RV roof seals is important to prevent a leak and serious damage. The seam where the rubber roof met the sidewalls allowed water to seep underneath, doing extensive damage to the substructure.
Cracks and sun damage to your RVs seals can potentially allow water into your RV. Leaks can often go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. Water sitting in your RVs ceiling and walls can cause mold to grow, leading to potential health issues for anyone regularly spending time inside the RV. Of course water penetration left unchecked over a long period of time can lead to serious structural damage and rot.
We inspect the roof of our RV about once a month. We recommend that you regularly inspect your RVs roof as well and that you dont put off even the most minor repairs. Tending to minor wear or damage as it occurs may be easy and inexpensive. But delaying regular DIY maintenance and repairs can lead to extensive damage and very expensive professional repairs.
Our best advice: Stay on top of your RV roof! ????
But if you havent you can check out our video about how to repair holes in an RV roof:
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Repairing A Rubber Rv Roof
While rubber roofs tend to last longer compared to metal or fiberglass roofs, they are prone to becoming brittle over time. If your rubber RV roof has holes, the best product on the market is ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber membrane coatings. When you use EPDM products, you will be able to have a solid and durable RV roof that can last you up to 10 years. However, make sure that you only wash it with mild soap, as petroleum-based cleaners can damage the structural integrity of EPDM roofing materials.
After applying the EPDM membrane, you need to apply a sealant on top to prevent the EDPM from oxidizing when it rains. If you do not apply the sealant, the EDPM will develop a chalky appearance with streaks running through the membrane.
You also need to seal the roof joints to ensure that your roof is watertight. Caulk is a good material to use to help prevent water damage to your roof.
Tackle Tough Stains With An Rv Roof Fiberglass Oxidation Remover
Does your RV acrylic roof have a chalky, dull appearance or feel slightly brittle to the touch? Oxidation is the cause of these problems. Oxidation will all too quickly result if you dont have a regular RV fiberglass roof maintenance routine. You will need more than mild soap and water to refresh the roofs appearance if oxidation has started to take hold. Look out for a specialist fiberglass stain remover. For example, shop around for a high-quality stain-absorbing gel that easily removes stains without the need for sanding or compounding.
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Different Materials Different Methods
The steps mentioned above may generally apply to RV roof leak repair, but it is important to keep in mind that the approaches to fixing the problem will depend on the material used.
- Rubber is one of the most common materials that you will see in RV roofs. It is popular because of its durability. When repairing a rubber roof, make sure to stay away from petroleum-based products, as they can cause significant damage. There are repair kits that are specifically made for rubber roofs.
- On the other hand, if the RV roof is made of metal, you can use most roof coatings that are used in the household. Nonetheless, if you need to do more than sealing, such as when there is structural damage, seal tape will come in handy, which will work like duct tape.
- Meanwhile, for a fiberglass RV roof, repair can be quite complicated because the material is fragile. A small crack can instantly become bigger if it is not given immediate attention. You could try a patch kit which may work well for sealing but not for structure. You can also use a kit specifically made for fiberglass to create a strong repair. If getting your RV looks like thereâs no damage, youâll need to repair it with resin, sand, and paint. You may also need to use a gloss to make it look as good as new.
Hereâs a video with more details about making larger repairs to a fiberglass RV.
Clean The Roof Using An Rv Fiberglass Roof Cleaner
To perform any repairs to fiberglass, its necessary to clean it up first.
Given that its the roof and external to the RV, it may have picked up a mixture of dirt, grime, wax, twigs, leaves, broken fiberglass fragments, and oil. These can get in the way of the steps that follow.
A specialized RV Fiberglass Roof Cleaner is required to carefully wipe around and over the affected area to clean it.
Without following this step, its less likely that any filler, bonding agent, or patch over a hole will achieve the desired adhesion to the roofs surface or not for as long as youd like.
One of the best cleaners is the Dicor Fiberglass Clean & Prep. Its biodegradable and safe to use:
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First A Serious Warning
Major damage to the roof that affects the overall structure and integrity of the RV should be looked at by a high-quality RV repair workshop. It could be a serious safety issue. Do not take chances.
Also, do differentiate between roofs that can support your weight versus ones that wont.
RV models that came with ladders in their default fit-out usually were intended to be walked on whereas ones without ladders usually were not.
The safest areas on a roof are the front, back, and edges the further toward the center you go, the less supported the roof structure will be.
This article refers only to minor fiberglass blemishes or holes in the roof on the fiberglass roof.
Significant fiberglass roof damage could make the roof structurally unsound and needs to be examined by a qualified RV professional.
With that said, here is the process to follow to make small repairs to an RV fiberglass roof:
How To Coat A Rubber Rv Roof
If your RVs roof is made of EPDM or TPO, you will need to re-coat it every year or so to maintain it properly and maximize its lifespan. Here are the steps for Applying Rubber Roof Coating To Your Camper:
Check the roof for any leaks, and repair them before coating your camper foof.
Deep-clean the entire roof power-wash, then scrub stained or dirty areas with a 1:3 bleach/water mixture and a thick bristled street broom or scrubber. If the bleach doesnt get the stains out, try TSP and water. Power wash the roof again after cleaning to rinse it.
Remove old RV roof coatings and all silicone excess around the roof vents, air conditioning unit, and other systems.
Glue down any raised areas around the roof with M-1 sealant or EternaBond DoubleStick.
For EPDM roofs, you should apply a thin layer of EPDM primer before applying the roof coating.
Open the coating can and remove any skin on the surface. Stir the coating for four to five minutes, until it is fully combined.
Apply the roof coating . Let it cure for one to three days, depending on the temperature in your area. Then, apply a second coat in the opposite direction.
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