HELP! Emergency roof repair!

MSHappyCampers · 10-02-2011, 03:04 PM

I was washing the 5er today and almost stepped through the roof! Right over the LR slide-out there was an area about 10" around that the wood underneath the rubber roof was gone, obviously rotted away! There were two VERY SMALL holes in the rubber roof above this area. It' hard to believe that enough water got in through those small holes to rot the wood below, but not leak into the RV!

We've got a trip coming up in a few days and I need to do an emergency repair. My first thought was to cover the area with Eternabond temporarily and later worry about a permanent repair. I have never used Eternabond but have read that it's good stuff. Can some of you who have used it tell me if i'm on the right track? Thanks guys!

450Donn · 10-02-2011, 03:10 PM

Depending on how long the trip is and how many miles you are traveling it will work temporarily. Might be better to postpone the trip and simply repair the roof right the first time.

Midniteoyl · 10-02-2011, 03:14 PM

Ya.. it'll work..

Water in even small quantities will rot the wood because once it gets in, it cannot evaporate as its trapped between the rubber and (usually) non-porous foam. So all it does id sit there, rotting the wood.

tomwalt · 10-02-2011, 03:36 PM

Yes - Eternabond makes a very good patch on the EPDM Rubber roof. Clean the area of roof prior to taping - a green pad, wet wash cloth, and dry towel should do. The tape lays flat (don't stretch it) over the holes, then you have to press on the tape (and don't fall through the roof :>). For a patch job you don't need the roller - just press it down good with your fingers.

MSHappyCampers · 10-02-2011, 03:44 PM

Follow up.. I just went on-line and watched a video about the application of EternaBond. They say that pressure must be applied to "activate" it. It occured to me that I will not be able to apply pressure over the hole because the wood is gone underneath. I'm thinking about cutting a piece of the thinnest treated plywood available to a size two or three inches larger than the hole, splitting the rubber roof, slipping the plywood underneath the rubber roof covering the hole, securing the plywood patch with screws, laying the rubber roof back over the plywood, THEN applying the EternaBond over the whole thing. That will give me a solid surface to apply pressure against. Does this sound like a good plan, or does anyone have a better suggestion? Thanks again!

Midniteoyl · 10-02-2011, 03:50 PM

Use a heat gun.. it'll stick.

texnet · 10-02-2011, 03:52 PM

When you cut the rubber roof back you might as well clean the old would out and see what other damage there is. If you have a wood frame then you will also have several supports that need replaced, but if you have metal frame then you might be able to complete the repair. I did this with a 2000 travel trailer with a wood frame and was able to remove the rotten wood, spliced in new supports, replaced the plywood, reglued the rubber roof then sealed the cuts with eternabond. Took about 4-5 hours to complete the job.

Midniteoyl · 10-02-2011, 03:54 PM

As a FYI: If the plywood is not 1/4", 1/8", or 5mm, ie: "real thin", it will be 2.7mm which is the same as the wood panels at Menards.. Just look on the labels.