Roof coatings

[Mel B.]

So to go along with the post below this one. I just did a search on here about roof coating our 5th wheels. I read postings and answers dated back to 2014. Seems as though it's not recommended by most of you to recoat our roofs? I've used DICOR to seal all flashings and solar brackets, I also power wash my roof every 2 years. It still looks good but it's OLD. So I thought I should recoat the entire roof, but the old posts I read seem to disagree with my thought. Is recoating my rig in my signature just a waste of $$

[Montana Man]

Not necessarily. The roofs are good for a long time even if they may look poorly. But if their physical condition is still good then a quality roof treatment will extend the life of the roof.

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

Not necessarily. The roofs are good for a long time even if they may look poorly. But if their physical condition is still good then a quality roof treatment will extend the life of the roof.

A quality roof treatment ,meaning what, re coating with something like I asked about in my thread, the Heng's rubber roof coating. There seems to be different opinions on this matter .

[PSFORD99]

Like the OP , my roof does not look too bad, but when is the time to do something. Its just over 11years old, I'm sure they have a life span. As said , I am noticing some white residue on the cement RV pad after a rain. I am sure its starting to deteriorate , and needing something , or replacing in the future.

[Mel B.]

Originally Posted by PSFORD99

Like the OP , my roof does not look too bad, but when is the time to do something. Its just over 11 years old, I'm sure they have a life span. As said , I am noticing some white residue on the cement RV pad after a rain. I am sure its starting to deteriorate , and needing something , or replacing in the future.

Mine is about 15 years old, but I have never seen any white residue on the concrete where it's always stored next to my house? Makes me wonder if you have something premature going on? As I said I power wash mine at least every 2 years, and I've never noticed any white coming off at all. Like "Montana Man" said ,I feel a good quality coating of some kind should extend the life??? Seems all you here about is DICOR but their are definitely some less expensive products out there, But it might be another case of "You get what you pay for"
I just googled "Hengs rubber roof coating" I don't see anywhere where it say's for EDPM roofs?

[mlh]

It’s not a waste of money if it makes you feel good. Will it help your roof? Probably not.
Lynwood

[BuilderBob]

Originally Posted by Mel B.

So to go along with the post below this one. I just did a search on here about roof coating our 5th wheels. I read postings and answers dated back to 2014. Seems as though it's not recommended by most of you to recoat our roofs? I've used DICOR to seal all flashings and solar brackets, I also power wash my roof every 2 years. It still looks good but it's OLD. So I thought I should recoat the entire roof, but the old posts I read seem to disagree with my thought. Is recoating my rig in my signature just a waste of $$

You should never use a pressure washer of any kind to wash your 5er's roof! Do you ever see any buddy cleaning the rook of an office or apartments most of them have rubber or EPDM we work on them all the time. You can do more damaged then you think and then you will need a new roof.

[Montana Man]

I can't say I know which product is the best. There are several quality brands out there. I do know that an rv stored outside over about 12 years or so will need attention. Especially if the "white stuff" is washing off the roof because that is the material itself disintegrating. Better to treat the roof, than treat the roof and rotted moldy structure.

[bigred715]

I use Dawn detergent and a small hand scrub brush at least once a year. Its not the bright white like when brand new, but Dawn is used by a lot of people on this forum. Do this once or twice a year and you will be OK.

[1retired06]

Originally Posted by BuilderBob

You should never use a pressure washer of any kind to wash your 5er's roof! Do you ever see any buddy cleaning the rook of an office or apartments most of them have rubber or EPDM we work on them all the time. You can do more damaged then you think and then you will need a new roof.

Agree, no power washing on our rigs

[Hblick48]

I used the Dicor system (primer and coating) on my old Sea Breeze. When I got the Montana 2 1/2 years ago, I coated the roof with Heng's. Both made the roof look good. I think the Dicor stuck to the old roof better than Hengs. You get what you pay for.

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by mlh

It’s not a waste of money if it makes you feel good. Will it help your roof? Probably not.
Lynwood

I'm certainly not looking for something to make me feel good, not sure I understand your comment, if it doesn't help the roof ,no amount of feeling good is going to help. It is most certainly a waste of money .

[Hblick48]

I had significant white powder residue that was continually coming off of my old Sea Breeze. Enough of the white had come off that you could see the dark substrate...looked like crap. Re-coating the room made it look good, but also eliminated the residue run-off. Apparently the new coating fused to the old roof trapping (or eliminating) the powder residue.

[Mel B.]

Originally Posted by BuilderBob

You should never use a pressure washer of any kind to wash your 5er's roof! Do you ever see any buddy cleaning the rook of an office or apartments most of them have rubber or EPDM we work on them all the time. You can do more damaged then you think and then you will need a new roof.

When I use the pressure washer I use a 45 degree tip and never have the tip closer then then 2' from the roof. I assure I have not caused damage to my roof doing it this way.

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by bigred715

I use Dawn detergent and a small hand scrub brush at least once a year. Its not the bright white like when brand new, but Dawn is used by a lot of people on this forum. Do this once or twice a year and you will be OK.

Thats the one detergent, Dawn, that was mentioned on one of the products to recoat NOT to use, using a mixture of tide laundry detergent , and water the better way.

[Mel B.]

Originally Posted by PSFORD99

Thats the one detergent, Dawn, that was mentioned on one of the products to recoat NOT to use, using a mixture of tide laundry detergent , and water the better way.

I've read that your not supposed to use Dawn on RV roofs also. But I can't remember Why?

[Cafemom6]

I'm no professional but I was told by people who do rubber roofs that a rubber roof has oils in it. Using a detergent like Dawn will remove the oils which make the rubber roof dry out. This is why you see the white residue, the roof is drying out. I use the Dicor products to clean and condition the roof. The conditioner is supposed to keep the rubber flexible and keep it from drying out. That's my $0.02 worth.

[WaltBennett]

This is another of the many "religious" arguments about RVing. All I can say is that five years back (or so) I searched a couple of the EDPM manufacturer's website and found two of them had instructions saying nothing needed to be done to them at all, but if you just HAD to wash it, to use blue Dawn and a soft brush. The white residue is from a protective ABLATIVE coating (meaning that it wears off over time), and the actual rubber membrane is black or dark grey. When the coating's gone, the rubber will eventually dry and crack from UV exposure. One specifically said to put NO coating of any kind on their product. The other didn't say anything about it.


You really should try researching those that make it vs. getting opinions from us general public.

[mlh]

[QUOTE=WaltBennett;1131539


You really should try researching those that make it vs. getting opinions from us general public.[/QUOTE]


This is the best advice you will ever get for your roof.
Lynwood

[miton 5052]

Hi Mel! Try looking into Flex armor, we had ours done , it was very impressive, comes with a lifetime warranty, and is transferable