roof maintenance

[rafael33155]

fairly new with with my Montana i've had it for 3 years and not a full timer i took it in for repair of the hydraulics and they told me i needed to do roof maintenance re-caulk cause they say it's cracking and pressure wash roof and apply a sealant my Montana is a 2013 my question is are they trying to hose me they say it will cost one thousand dollar to do the job or can i do they re-caulk myself i always inspect the roof and the caulk show some sign of hairline cracks i been cleaning the roof with blue dawn soap and every 6 month i been applying 3M 303 protectant on it you guys are very experience with all this i need feed back roof is in great condition no roof leaks
thank

[bncinwv]

Sounds like prepare to be hosed! I assume roof is not leaking, therefore it should be fine. The only maintenance I have ever done to roof is an occasional cleaning with Blue Dawn and a stiff brush. I will not define occasional! I liken these roof sealers to car salesman trying to sell protectants for the paint on a new car. My opinion only!

Bingo

[rohrmann]

Yes, as has been said, clean and inspect regularly. Go to this site, http://www.dicor.com/videos-5/ and view 'Your RV Roof Care', so you can do your own caulking repair. If you stay on top of this, you can spend your money on camping instead of padding the dealer's repair shop.

[WaltBennett]

That is total BS. In actuality, no one has to do anything at all to them (save checking the caulk & touching it up). According to two of the manufacturers of the membrane material, no cleaning or sealing of any kind is really needed. I still gently wash ours with blue Dawn once each spring and climb up and check for tears & etc. a couple of times a year, but that's all. The white stuff that comes off the roof is designed to do so - although it messes up the sides for certain. The roof material is fine until the black membrane starts showing - that's why one should NOT vigorously scrub the top white layer. All this said, I can't total the number of folks who must believe there are roof police looking for dirty RV roofs by means of drones or helicopters.

[DQDick]

They won't like mine if the drone comes and looks. We've never washed it, but have hosed it off and blown it off. I do check frequently for tears and cracks in the Dicor and have added Dicor here and there. With two AC's, two fantastic fans and covers, a traveler satellite antenna, the regular antenna and 7 solar panels up there it would be a pretty impossible job for a crippled fat man to scrub the thing. If you want to wash it do so with blue dawn. You'll get enough of a hosing that way you don't need theirs.

[dieselguy]

$1000.00 ........ we're they looking at the floor or at you straight in the eye when they quoted you that???? I really wouldn't pressure wash your roof as a spray nozzle on a garden hose is sufficient. A good bristle broom brush, name brand cleaner or Dawn, and a water hose works well. I can't imagine more than a couple tubes of sealant and an hour of leisurely going over the seams in any worse case scenerio. If they said they were "sealing" your roof, that amounts to one of those car dealership package deals that supposedly adds life to your car purchase but in reality mostly pads their profit. Aerospace 303 works equally as well and says up front it only lasts 3-4 months.

[1retired06]

Hose job

[WeBeFulltime]

They are trying to get their hands VERY DEEP into your pocket for no reason! Let us know who these clowns are so we can avoid them.

[mlh]

I do the easiest thing possible, nothing. That is all that is required.
Lynwood

[1retired06]

Actually, scrubbing of the roof to make it look white and new accelerates the aging process according to my last two dealerships. Removes natural oils in the rubber and wears on the rubber membrane

[dieselguy]

I reckon you hear lotsa things from dealerships We've always kept our roofs sparklie white and always used Aerospace 303 2-3 times a year. I've not owned a fiver much over 5 years, but they all had / have a good quality membrane till I traded. The white stuff washing away when you do scrub your roof is membrane already oxidized by Mr. Sun. Nothin worse than sitting beside your fiver with a beer in one hand the other shading your brow staring at the brown streaks running off the roof down to the roof line molding.

[PennyC]

Hi - How much Blue Dawn do you use to clean the roof? Do you put it on full strength and wash or fill a bucket with water and add Blue Dawn like doing dishes? Please advise as we haven't had a 5th wheel for almost 20 years and materials have changed. Thanks, PennyC

[Rondo]

You have it PennyC, just take a bucket up on the roof of the Monte along with your Dawn, a brush(I use one of those that has the hose connected to it). I use about the amount you would use to do your dishes or possibly a little more. Before doing the scrubbing, I check for any holes or gashes made by tree branches first. If I find one I use a smaller brush to clean around any tears or holes, dry the area well and seal them with Eternobond tape. I wash and rinse the roof then I then check for cracks and use Dicor sealant on any cracks in the caulking I find after the roof dries.

rafael33155-- you are definitely being taken by that dealer if you let him wash and seal your roof. It might cost you no more than $10-12 to wash and caulk any possible cracks. Save that $1000 and use it on something you would really like to have for your Monte or take the Mrs out for a great weekend with that money!

[PennyC]

Thanks for your help!