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Kulgpa · 09-17-2013, 04:58 PM

I have two questions. First I have been trying to figure out what type of roof material is my 2001 DSDP? The diagram below shows the roof material construction which I have a sample when I drilled a hole for an XM antenna. It appears to be the same material (gel coat) on boats. Newmar tells me it's rubber. I've seen may names for roofs (BritTEX, EPDM, rubber, etc.) but none that seem to describe my roof. Anyone really know what is called (and it's not rubber)?

Second question deals with repairing the joint from the roof to the side radius panel (see photos). Whoever tried to repair the joint really made a mess. I have cleaned some of the area when I started replacing all the rusty screws with SS screws. Some one painted something over the original joint and that is why is looks so ragged. I used Xylene to remove the paint(?) which did an excellent job and did not remove any RV paint that was over the original caulking from the radius to the roof panel. I was thinking of applying only a small strip of caulking along the roof line to side joint and then dabbing a small amount of caulking on the screws. After reading the iRV2 forums it was mentioned that the EternaBond tape would make a better looking joint than caulking. Does anyone know the thickness of the tape? Would it adhere to the painted caulking? How far an overlap is needed when joining two pieces of tape (I won't get this job done in one session)? Any other suggestions pertaining to using the tape?

Also, anyone know of a good non-leveling paintable caulking in the vertical joint on the one picture. I prefer not to use silicone.

Thanks

Mr_D · 09-17-2013, 05:18 PM

Is it a solid piece or are there several joints (maybe three) running crosswise?
Ours is the standard BriteTek. Newmar offered a fiberglass roof at the time. We had it on our 2000 DSDP and it had seams in it, not a one piece roof like they have now.
Dicor makes at least two types of sealer, one is the self leveling and the other is thicker and made for vertical use.

"007" · 09-17-2013, 05:28 PM

You may have the fiberglass and someone coated with a rubber paint sealant paint sure messed up your seams.
If the screws are all painted over I would just clean up the loose stuff and apply E-BOND tape over all your seams.

Kulgpa · 09-17-2013, 05:32 PM

The roof is one solid piece that runs the whole length and width. I had been using Dicor self-leveling when I originally bought the MH in 2008. While so time back I was reading this forum, it was mentioned that the SM5504 (Schnee-Morehead) was a better adhesive caulking and I like it as it flows better (but not too much) and it has a higher UV factor. They (S-M) make a vertical caulking number SM7108 but I can not find it at any retail supplier. The company only sells to wholesale distributors and the distributors (I guess) only sell to large construction companies. I'll check with the local RV parts place (about the only one in this small town) and see if they have the Dicor caulking that you mentioned.

Thanks, Rod

GaryKD · 09-17-2013, 05:35 PM

Hi Kulgpa,
The brochure for your coach is at
https://comnet2.newmarcorp.com/insta...es/2001dsb.pdf

The brochure mentions you have a BriteTEC roof.

EternaBond tape is thin. It would need to be measured with a micrometer. Use the 4" wide tape. Clean the area of old "?". complete installing the SS screws. Make sure the area where the EternaBond is to be placed is clean. Snap a chalk line where one side of the EternaBond will be. Lay the EternaBond from rear to front. There is a 10 year warranty. Install it and forget it.

Kulgpa · 09-17-2013, 06:04 PM

Hi Gary,

I read the brochure your link referred to and it does say a 'BriteTek roof with 7MM decking (whatever that means). I looked up BriteTek on line and they all seem to mention that BriteTek is an EPDM rubber membrane. Maybe that is why the Newmar tech said that I have a rubber roof. I can only say that the roof material had to have come from the factory as the caulking they used to butt up to the roof material to make it flush was painted the same time the chassis was painted. When I installed my HD dish, I covered the old dish mounting screw holes with a gel coat repair tube and it adhered to the surface and it is now just as hard. I'll just say my roof is made of fiber glass that is covered with something hard!