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05-22-2018, 05:17 PM
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#1
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Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 94
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How important is a clean roof?
I find cleaning the roof of my trailer to be a pain. Lots of climbing up and down a ladder and crawling around on hands and knees (I know the roof is built to walk on but I prefer to spread my weight around). The question for the collective is: Why is it important to clean the roof? We are planning a trip to Alaska next year and I’m trying to decide whether to buy a generator or install solar panels on the roof. It seems to me that installing several solar panels on the roof will make cleaning at least half of it impossible. I’m just wondering if a dirty rubber roof actually causes deterioration faster than leaving it alone?
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2018 ORV Black Rock 24KTS
2017 Ford F-250 Powerstroke Diesel
Montana
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05-22-2018, 05:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,283
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I think the portions of the roof under the solar panels will receive less sunlight and exposure and may last longer. I used brackets that hold my panels 3 inches above the roof so I can get my hands under it if I wanted to. I will periodically use a hose to wash off the roof including anything under the panels.
__________________
Jeff--
Arctic Fox 22G w/1440 watts solar/GMC2500HD Double Cab with Leer Cap w/740 watts solar
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05-22-2018, 05:59 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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We just power wash our TPO roof once a year, mostly cause it makes me feel good and it's a good time for an inspection. As far as solar panels, they should be cleaned regularly, dirt or film on them will reduce their efficiency which is not good.
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05-22-2018, 06:01 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posts: 1,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danr43
I find cleaning the roof of my trailer to be a pain. Lots of climbing up and down a ladder and crawling around on hands and knees (I know the roof is built to walk on but I prefer to spread my weight around). The question for the collective is: Why is it important to clean the roof? We are planning a trip to Alaska next year and I’m trying to decide whether to buy a generator or install solar panels on the roof. It seems to me that installing several solar panels on the roof will make cleaning at least half of it impossible. I’m just wondering if a dirty rubber roof actually causes deterioration faster than leaving it alone?
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Great question...I wonder if people who have EPDM or TPO installed roof on residential structure like office building, warehouses or homes wash them on a regular basis?
I understand a roof inspection check for cracks and new sealant application.
So if you don’t clean it what happens besides getting dirty?
If not cleaned what is the down side?
Is is a marketing thing to sell RV roofing products?
Can’t see me going up on an EPDM or TPO roof of a house to clean it ona regular basis..gutter yes.
Will wait to here.
Coops
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05-22-2018, 06:05 PM
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#5
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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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Not important unless you can't check the sealant.
__________________
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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05-22-2018, 06:07 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: So Calif
Posts: 3,521
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I wash/scrub ours down twice a year. Mostly during the inspections.
All that's needed. Don't want to fall 12+ feet.
__________________
2020 Coachmen Leprechaun 270QB (COA Member)
Jeep Wrangler toad for the dirt
"Well done is better than well said"....Ben Franklin
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05-22-2018, 06:12 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,804
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Quote:
Originally Posted by egwilly
I wash/scrub ours down twice a year. Mostly during the inspections.
All that's needed. Don't want to fall 12+ feet.
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I don’t bounce very well anymore.
__________________
2018 ORV 24KTS 30,000+miles
2017 Ford 3.5 TwinTurbo w/MaxTow
640 Watts solar/600 Ahr
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05-22-2018, 06:26 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Deep in SWFL
Posts: 120
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About as important as having clean underwear after a car accident.
__________________
2001 Newmar Dutch Star 3858 CAT 3126B 300HP FL
Full timing in the Tommy Truck
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05-22-2018, 06:30 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
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Not important.
I wash mine about three times a year but that's because we live in an agriculture area and the dust that collects on the roof runs down the sides of my coach like mud.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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05-22-2018, 06:33 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 356
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Roof what?
This is the email I sent to Dicor and 2 other manufactures of TPO roofing materials for an answer I have received nothing and dought I will.
I`m interested in your policy on care and maintenance of the DIFLEX2 (DICOR) TPO roof membrane. I have been told I have to clean my RV roof on a regular basis to maintain the product integrity and to extend the life of the product. I believe if this is necessary you would require cleaning and treating with a sealer of some kind at specific intervals to maintain the product warranty. I believe this cleaning advice found in many RV maintenance articles is just for aesthetic purposes or to help with the black streak issue and has nothing to do with keeping the TPO roof from failing from lack of maintenance.
I have owned 8 different campers over 35 years and only once did I clean the roof on one of them. The rain has done a very nice job of keeping the roof clean enough and I have never experienced a roof failure from a dirty roof. As we all know people that own very large RV`s tend to be the older crowd and this could be a health and safety issue. I'm older and don't have the strength and stability as I once had and the thought of climbing on the roof of my RV to clean my 42 ft. long camper is just a little unnerving. Of course this has nothing to do with the normal maintenance of roof sealers around roof penetrations and seams that do need touch up from time to time to prevent water intrusion and damage to the interior of the camper.
I have used your products with great success in the past and will continue to use them in the future. Please settle this topic between myself and a couple of my camping friends once and for all.
Thank you in advance,
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05-22-2018, 08:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 795
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSHGTO
This is the email I sent to Dicor and 2 other manufactures of TPO roofing materials for an answer I have received nothing and dought I will.
I`m interested in your policy on care and maintenance of the DIFLEX2 (DICOR) TPO roof membrane. I have been told I have to clean my RV roof on a regular basis to maintain the product integrity and to extend the life of the product. I believe if this is necessary you would require cleaning and treating with a sealer of some kind at specific intervals to maintain the product warranty. I believe this cleaning advice found in many RV maintenance articles is just for aesthetic purposes or to help with the black streak issue and has nothing to do with keeping the TPO roof from failing from lack of maintenance.
I have owned 8 different campers over 35 years and only once did I clean the roof on one of them. The rain has done a very nice job of keeping the roof clean enough and I have never experienced a roof failure from a dirty roof. As we all know people that own very large RV`s tend to be the older crowd and this could be a health and safety issue. I'm older and don't have the strength and stability as I once had and the thought of climbing on the roof of my RV to clean my 42 ft. long camper is just a little unnerving. Of course this has nothing to do with the normal maintenance of roof sealers around roof penetrations and seams that do need touch up from time to time to prevent water intrusion and damage to the interior of the camper.
I have used your products with great success in the past and will continue to use them in the future. Please settle this topic between myself and a couple of my camping friends once and for all.
Thank you in advance,
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It will be very interesting to see what, if any response you get from them
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05-22-2018, 09:08 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Vancouver Wash
Posts: 7,227
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It was your money....take care, or not, it's your RV....
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05-22-2018, 09:32 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,582
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Its important to me simply because I like to keep my belongings clean.
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05-22-2018, 09:37 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 60sumtin
Its important to me simply because I like to keep my belongings clean.
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...
Same here and that's why I power wash the roof once a year. If someone is not comfortable getting up on his roof, then the risk is not worth the limited benefit of a clean roof.
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