rubber roof maintenance

[jhadley]

I see a lot of owners scrubbing their rubber roof and then painting it with a protective "something". How important is this, or is it a marketing gimmick?

Jhadley

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by jhadley

I see a lot of owners scrubbing their rubber roof and then painting it with a protective "something". How important is this, or is it a marketing gimmick?

Jhadley

It's primarily to get you to buy something. Dicor has always recommended washing the rubber roof with Dawn dish soap or a product they are now selling. The roof needs nothing more than that. It does not need a "protective" coating.

It's sort of like those things they sell to put under your slideouts to help hold them up. They are not needed. Well, why do they sell them then? Answer is simple: Because people buy them. Those things were originally designed for the first RVs that had "tipouts" which were the forerunners of the slideouts.

Orv

[Clemson1881]

It depends. In some cases the white coating on the rubber roof may be wearing off and exposing black rubber. The sun's heat will quickly cause a hole to burn through your roof if black rubber is exposed for long. The protective coating you speak of could be a Kool Seal or similar product to re-white the roof. If you ever start having black showing through on your roof it is time to coat it with this product.

The treatment coatings many use when no problems are present are done with the idea that the treatment coating will help keep the white coating on the roof from chalking up and flaking off. The Dicor roof makers claim this is not necessary as many MOC members have posted. I would love for someone able to attend the fall rally to ask Dicor what keeps their roof from chalking up and flaking like all the other rubber roofs out there. Or are they simply conceding that in 12 to 15 years their roof membrane will need to be replaced? If that is the case I guess we do need to treat our roofs to extend their life. I would love to hear how Dicor answers that.

[richfaa]

Our Montana is 4 years old. I maintain the roof exactly as Dicor has told us at the last 4 Fally rallies and by the hand out they provide. Just washed it and inspected it last week. It is not blinding white but it is in perfect shape.

[Rondo]

Greg, you need to come to the Fall Rally and ask Dicor yourself. Your question is asked every year at the Rally and the answer seems to be the same-- Wash it with a good RV washing brush, Dawn Soap(the original blue type)in water in a five gallon bucket or so and rinse it off. Only do about a square yard or so at a time and as Rich said it won't be "sparkly white" but it will be white and clean. When you get done and it dries some-- go around and inspect the caulk around the top edges and around all vents, ACs and etc. for cracks and/or letting go. If you find them use an RV caulk and seal them up and there shouldn't be any problems! Unless you find a low tree branch, gas pump or bank drive through awning or something else to get at that roof!! Oh ya, don't forget to wear some good gripping tennis shoes or some other type of shoes because it does get slick up there!

[jhadley]

Thanks for the advice folks. My roof is 10 years old, and seems in good shape so far.

Jack Hadley

[old turbo]

I wash the roof once a year with Shaklee Basic H. I have a lot of tree sap on my roof which has to stay because it takes a chemical to remove. The seagulls and crows are the only ones that notice. When I wash the 5vr sides I touch up the sides of the roof to make things pretty.