How do you maintain a rubber roof?

[first5thwheel]

My 5th wheel has a one piece no seam rubber roof. Does anyone in the forum know what the upkeep of these types of roof are? Are they maintenance free? or is there seasonal maintenance? I live in full sunshine year round and it is HOT where I live in the summer. What can I do to help protect my roof and maintain it? Any advice would be appreciated.

There are no leaks, it is 11 years old, and I want to keep it that way. I don’t know if you have to apply a sealer to a rubber roof. Being new to a 5th wheel I do not know the type of upkeep the units need. I think a lot of upkeep is common since, but if any of you know of some hidden upkeep I may not have knowledge of I would love to hear from you.

[Abneynormal]

you are supposed to treat the roof at least once a year with a sealer protectant. also if any of the seams are questionable they make products for that as well. roof maintenance makes a difference. it dosent matter on what it is. rvs have a thin roof membrane its not like a commercial rubber roof. my advice is to talk to a reputable rv parts and accessories supplier or maybe others have input as to the best products

[TXiceman]

Most manufacturers recommend a scrubbing with a mild cleanser like Spic-N-Span once or twice a year and nothing else. You need to read the specific instructions that came with your RV.

We had one with a rubber roof and it was scrubbed about every six to nine months.

Most of the so called roof treatments are really to make the owner feel better and do little for the roof.

Ken

[87_Fixr]

On our 1994 Terry 5er we used the products from Protect-All to clean and treat our rubber roof but the aluminum sides of the camper had to be continually rinsed while using the cleaners. The roof, after a few years, never did get totally white again so we brushed on a rubber coating from Kool Seal- an elastomer, and the roof took on a whole new life. Good stuff.

[first5thwheel]

Cool I will research this product. Thanks for sharing. :O)

[W4RLR]

NOTHING on an RV is maintenance free!

[Abneynormal]

ok after reading the keystone manual(when all else fails) they dont require coatings. however, they say to check the seams quite often. if there are cracks to seal it with a recommended sealer. i would consult the manufacturer as to what brand to use. im going to do the same on our 2011 raptor

[TXiceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abneynormal ok after reading the keystone manual(when all else fails) they dont require coatings.

Now look at the money you will save.

ken

[Abneynormal]

yeah with the cost of diesel we need to save all we can. however, keystone did stress seam inspection from previous experience thats where most roofing problems occur. seams and valleys.

[lostagain]

I use Thetford Rubber Roof Cleaner & Conditioner. Does an excellent job cleaning the black crud off the roof.

[edj]

I do not care if there are stains on the rubber roof. Dicor recommends that it just be washed with some mild soap from time to time. So, I wash it once a year of so. The only other maintenance is to CLOSELY inspect all the caulk lines on the roof at least once a year and fixing any defects.

[Bruce H]

I am considering the roof maintenance that Camping World sells for about $300. Has anyone used them for rubber roof maintenance. I live in Arizona and the RV is 7 years old and I might add during that time I washed once a year. I do not see any signs of problems yet, but? Any comments will be appreciated.

[therink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman Most manufacturers recommend a scrubbing with a mild cleanser like Spic-N-Span once or twice a year and nothing else. You need to read the specific instructions that came with your RV. We had one with a rubber roof and it was scrubbed about every six to nine months. Most of the so called roof treatments are really to make the owner feel better and do little for the roof. Ken

x2
Steve

[az bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce H I am considering the roof maintenance that Camping World sells for about $300. Has anyone used them for rubber roof maintenance. I live in Arizona and the RV is 7 years old and I might add during that time I washed once a year. I do not see any signs of problems yet, but? Any comments will be appreciated.

We are on our second coach and have been rving for over thirty years. Previous also had a TPO foof and we have never used a sealer. After retirement we decided to go full-time and purchased a new rig.
New one also has a TPO roof and will be cared for the same way, here's our method.
It gets washed every 4 months with a pressure washer using Murphys Oil Soap and a soft brush. We then apply 303 protectant .
TPO and EPDM (commonly called rubber roofing) will last for many years with minimal care. Our home base is is in Surprise Arizona but we are only there when the snow gets deep.