Glad we had a leak-Check your Roof Seals!!!

[Belgique]

Water started pouring in the front. Thought it was from an antenna installation. Pulled the TV and searched...nothing. From boating days I should have know that where the water becomes visible has nothing to do with the entry point. Checked more and found that the roof seal was shot. Checked some more and found that almost the entire roof seal was shot, on both sides! I had checked but not checked right...I had just walked around on top and everything looked cool. If we had not had this leak I cannot imagine what would have happened.

I don't want to reignite the Eternabond vs caulks debate, I just want to tell relative newbies like me to check that seal. Do a search and there's a ton of posts on alternatives to fixing this. Because of boating days, I chose 5200...If I were a good caulker I could have done my 35U with 1 tube...it took me 1.25 tubes and was not a hard job. Steve

[Belgique]

Water started pouring in the front. Thought it was from an antenna installation. Pulled the TV and searched...nothing. From boating days I should have know that where the water becomes visible has nothing to do with the entry point. Checked more and found that the roof seal was shot. Checked some more and found that almost the entire roof seal was shot, on both sides! I had checked but not checked right...I had just walked around on top and everything looked cool. If we had not had this leak I cannot imagine what would have happened.

I don't want to reignite the Eternabond vs caulks debate, I just want to tell relative newbies like me to check that seal. Do a search and there's a ton of posts on alternatives to fixing this. Because of boating days, I chose 5200...If I were a good caulker I could have done my 35U with 1 tube...it took me 1.25 tubes and was not a hard job. Steve

[Florida Guy]

Do you mean the roof to sidewall joint seal? The roof sheeting overlaps the sidewall so even if the seal is bad it should not leak. The roof may fly off, but should not leak. That has been the discussion on this topic before. I resealed mine last year as preventive maintenance, but have never had a leak. I guess if the joint seal was really bad water could 'back up' but would run down the inside walls.

[Belgique]

Now don't be telling me this I'm sitting fat, dumb and happy that I won't have my leak up front anymore. Can't test it because the caulk hasn't dried. There was old caulk on those seams (between the drip rail and roof) the entire length but it was missing/bad in many places.

I've read most of the posts but missed the bit about that not being the issue..in fact, a lot of the Enternabond posts emphasize pushing the tape into the drip rail.

I didn't hurt anything by caulking, I presume? Thanks, Steve

[smlranger]

Check your marker lights. I had a leak up front and it was from the lack of any gaskets behind the marker light bases. I made gaskets from 1/8" neoprene and no more leaks.

[Belgique]

Update: It was the caulking on the roof seam. We had a toad strangler of a rain last night and nary a drop inside. SML: I eyed those clearance lights carefully because they look like they could be the culprit, but they were tight. Thanks all! Steve