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03-30-2016, 07:54 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Brooksville FL
Posts: 199
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Fiberglass Roof
I have a 2009 Itasca Ellipse. Can anyone tell me what maintenance or roof coatings are required periodically. It's stored outside and I live in Florida. I appreciate any help here. Thank you.
Randy W
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03-30-2016, 08:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iwillbeit
I have a 2009 Itasca Ellipse. Can anyone tell me what maintenance or roof coatings are required periodically. It's stored outside and I live in Florida. I appreciate any help here. Thank you.
Randy W
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Randy,
Other than a periodic washing with good soap and water, not much is needed. About once to twice a year, if you're energetic enough, a good waxing with regular automotive wax is good for it. Yes, it will make it a bit more slippery but, just pay attension while up there and it's wet. Check your seals/caulk joints around all your vents, front and rear caps, fans and the lot every once in a while to make sure they're in good shape.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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03-30-2016, 08:26 PM
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#3
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
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This is great stuff to seal any leaks
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03-30-2016, 08:27 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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I'll do mine with Dry Wash N Guard when it gets a little nicer here, although today was 72° but I had to take the DW in for an iron infusion then get to work so no time.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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03-31-2016, 06:09 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,803
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Wash and wax is what I do, plus check all the seams. When necessary, peel off old dicor and reapply new.
For waxing, I no longer use a paste wax on the roof. It was just too much work, especially on the non-slip surfaces. Instead I use Optimum spray wax. Just spray it on, and a light wipe and that's it. It has UV inhibitors and is good for 5-6 months. It only takes a few minutes to apply once the roof has been washed.
__________________
2013 DS 4338
2015 F-150 toad with kayaks,bicycles and a Harley in the back
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03-31-2016, 06:16 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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The seams and openings (vents, etc) need the same maintenance as any other roof type: a periodic check of the caulk to make sure the seal is tight.
The fiberglass sheet is probably painted, so may eventually begin to chalk or get stained. Re-painting is fairly easy once you have it cleaned up. Dicor makes a paint especially for fiberglass roofs and I re-did mine two years ago (at age 10). Did a nice job.
Other than that, routine washing is all that is desirable. If you want to wax it, I suggest a floor wax product. Less slippery than a car or boat wax.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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03-31-2016, 08:01 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Somewhere On the Road
Posts: 1,211
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Also give your A/C shrouds and other vent covers a look - I don't know how the leaves get inside but they do. Proceed carefully - my most interesting find was the hornet's nest ...
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Steve
2015 Itasca Ellipse QD | 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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03-31-2016, 10:07 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 490
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I scrub mine down once a year with a brush on a pole, using oxy clean and lightly power wash it off. I then coat it with the Zep floor polish to control the oxidation and elimination of the white streaking. Every few years, I'll strip the wax and re coat. Pretty easy and doesn't take much time. My roof looks like new.
__________________
'07 Holiday Rambler Navigator 45 PBQ 525 Cummins
'74 F350 44K,'79 11' Mitchell Camper, MINT All Original
'05 Gulf Stream Atrium 8411, SOLD
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03-31-2016, 10:19 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,324
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Very little maintenance required on a Winnebago figerglass roof. BUT, the absolutely critical thing on a Winnebago roof is the sealant at the seam along each side where the roof meets the sidewall. That is a mandatory annual check/repair as needed to maintain the Winnebago roof warranty. When you push inward on the roof fiberglass at the sealant, if a gap opens that sealant needs to be removed and replaced. It is a urethane based sealant/adhesive ... NOT silicone. The result of completely ignoring this sealant can be the roof peeling off while driving or during a strong wind storm.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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03-31-2016, 12:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: High up in Arizona
Posts: 2,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AFChap
Very little maintenance required on a Winnebago figerglass roof. BUT, the absolutely critical thing on a Winnebago roof is the sealant at the seam along each side where the roof meets the sidewall. That is a mandatory annual check/repair as needed to maintain the Winnebago roof warranty. When you push inward on the roof fiberglass at the sealant, if a gap opens that sealant needs to be removed and replaced. It is a urethane based sealant/adhesive ... NOT silicone. The result of completely ignoring this sealant can be the roof peeling off while driving or during a strong wind storm.
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This is a great diagram, thanks for posting.
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2019 Allegro Bus 37AP towing a Jeep JK Rubicon Wrangler
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03-31-2016, 01:35 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 48
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A bit off topic .. but how many of you stand on your roofs? Knowing those foam channels are in there for the air returns, I'm terrified I'm going to break the fiberglass.
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03-31-2016, 02:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Nor'easters Club Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Lake Katrine, NY
Posts: 269
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I am 230 lbs and go up there often enough. I wash it a couple times a year and while I am up there I check the caulk and mounted fixtures. The fiberglass roof is plenty strong on a Winnie.
Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum
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Herb, Anna and Lil Herb
2018 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40G
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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03-31-2016, 03:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: High up in Arizona
Posts: 2,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkervaski
A bit off topic .. but how many of you stand on your roofs? Knowing those foam channels are in there for the air returns, I'm terrified I'm going to break the fiberglass.
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I am 215 lbs on good days and I walk around up there often. I do feel some soft spots and I know right where they are so I avoid them. I always wear tennis shoes and step lightly, never had any issues with this coach or the last one.
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2019 Allegro Bus 37AP towing a Jeep JK Rubicon Wrangler
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03-31-2016, 09:12 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkervaski
A bit off topic .. but how many of you stand on your roofs? Knowing those foam channels are in there for the air returns, I'm terrified I'm going to break the fiberglass.
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bkervaski,
Those fiberglass roofs, along with the underlayment and roof rafters that are spaced a certain distance apart, are designed to be walked on. The manufacturers of coaches with fiberglass roofs know that there will be, at various times, people getting up there for maintenance, repairs, additions, washing and possibly waxing and more. Now, walked on and dancing on with multiple people at one time is different.
Common sense is the name of the game here. Get up there, do whatever business is necessary, and, hop (uh, that's "CLIMB") down and, you're done.
Scot
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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