Clean and refresh fiberglass roof

[lynwaly]

We have a 36' motorhome with a fiberglass roof.
It's a 2017 model. It's been washed, but no other maintenance. We are getting chalking, the whitish streaks so we know we need to do more maintenance.

We live in our rv and have been on the road for 2 years. We are currently in Long Beach, CA, our home base.

I've gone on line to find mobile rv roof maintenance, but the seem to be geared towards rubber roofs. The one video that I did see for fiberglass was showing a procedure that would preclude our occupation of it (we do not have access to our house as we have tenants).

Questions: Does anyone know of a mobile rv service in So CA that does fiberglass roofs? Does anyone know whether I need a complete refinishing or just a good cleaning, polishing and wax job?

I've submitted some photos. One shows dirt that just come off with water.

[bneiva]

OPTION2! All you need to do is wash and apply a good polish at least once a year. After that, simply wash the roof periodically. I have been doing this to my roof for the past 20 years and it looks perfect!

Bill

[pasdad1]

We apply 303 to the fiberglass after washing and allowing the water to dry. We try to do this once or twice per year.

[Harleytoter]

Option 2. Clean roof with dawn and put a coat of Rust-oleum Topside marines paint.

[Jake21]

Originally Posted by lynwaly

We have a 36' motorhome with a fiberglass roof.

It's a 2017 model. It's been washed, but no other maintenance. We are getting chalking, the whitish streaks so we know we need to do more maintenance.



We live in our rv and have been on the road for 2 years. We are currently in Long Beach, CA, our home base.



I've gone on line to find mobile rv roof maintenance, but the seem to be geared towards rubber roofs. The one video that I did see for fiberglass was showing a procedure that would preclude our occupation of it (we do not have access to our house as we have tenants).



Questions: Does anyone know of a mobile rv service in So CA that does fiberglass roofs? Does anyone know whether I need a complete refinishing or just a good cleaning, polishing and wax job?



I've submitted some photos. One shows dirt that just come off with water.

I would not think that a 2017 roof would need a new coating just yet. Try a good cleaning first. Then maybe 303 as mentioned.

If you do decide it needs a new coating, i suggest Bus Kote. I looked at other options but this seemed the best way to go. Pretty simple to apply after a good pressure washing. I am in the process of my second coat today.

The Rustoleum as mentioned is a bit more complicated. First off, don’t use Dawn. Dawn leaves a film. The directions clearly state using a water and ammonia mixture and/or you need to sand with 150 grit.

[pasdad1]

I agree you probably don’t need to paint over the fiberglass….. ours is a 2013 and doesn’t need any paint.

You just need to clean it REALLY WELL. We use the magic eraser mop head and car wash soap. This takes all the junk off. Then either wax or polish, or my preference, the 303.

[bneiva]

Originally Posted by pasdad1

We apply 303 to the fiberglass after washing and allowing the water to dry. We try to do this once or twice per year.

Attachment 337307

Padsdad1: Not to contradict what you have to say but IAW the manufacturers instructions, the 303 treatment is only good for 2-3 weeks before having to be reapplied. Maybe it is because I live in Florida but I found that it only lasts about a week, or until the first rainfall.

Bill

[Gary RVRoamer]

For reduced chalking, I had better results with a liquid floor wax than 303. 303 is probably a better preservative, but maybe not so effective if its already chalking?


I find it unusual that a 2017 coach has chalking roof already - mine was near 10 years old before I had to repaint it. But maybe yours was exposed to acid rain of some sort or other industrial waste corrosion. I used Dicor Fiberglass Roof Coat on mine and prepped it by wiping down with liquid sandpaper after a thorough washing. Worked great.

[Dutch Star Don]

I would find an RV detailer and pay them to wash and wax the roof, easier then waxing the sides, as they can sit while they work.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by lynwaly

We have a 36' motorhome with a fiberglass roof.
It's a 2017 model. It's been washed, but no other maintenance. We are getting chalking, the whitish streaks so we know we need to do more maintenance.

We live in our rv and have been on the road for 2 years. We are currently in Long Beach, CA, our home base.

I've gone on line to find mobile rv roof maintenance, but the seem to be geared towards rubber roofs. The one video that I did see for fiberglass was showing a procedure that would preclude our occupation of it (we do not have access to our house as we have tenants).

Questions: Does anyone know of a mobile rv service in So CA that does fiberglass roofs? Does anyone know whether I need a complete refinishing or just a good cleaning, polishing and wax job?

I've submitted some photos. One shows dirt that just come off with water.

Your pictures show black mold spots on your roof. I keep mine clean N shiny with a few oz bleach and the recommended amount of car wash soap in a 5G bucket of water. I wash our MH about 3X a year and it has no black spots anywhere, roof does not chalk enough in 4 months to see on the sides of the MH
Any touch-up needed is accomplished with Crown Boat and RV black streak remover. Made in KY.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by lynwaly

We have a 36' motorhome with a fiberglass roof.
It's a 2017 model. It's been washed, but no other maintenance. We are getting chalking, the whitish streaks so we know we need to do more maintenance.

We live in our rv and have been on the road for 2 years. We are currently in Long Beach, CA, our home base.

I've gone on line to find mobile rv roof maintenance, but the seem to be geared towards rubber roofs. The one video that I did see for fiberglass was showing a procedure that would preclude our occupation of it (we do not have access to our house as we have tenants).

Questions: Does anyone know of a mobile rv service in So CA that does fiberglass roofs? Does anyone know whether I need a complete refinishing or just a good cleaning, polishing and wax job?

I've submitted some photos. One shows dirt that just come off with water.

Well Lynwally,
You've been given some advice on what's next for your fiberglass roof. We have an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP and it has a fiberglass roof and I wouldn't put ANY PAINT on it if I was paid to. And 303 is merely a slight surface coating that won't have any longevity. I'm a tad bit surprised at the spotting on such a new coach. But, everyone's got different atmospheric and living conditions so, a fiberglass roof is gonna exhibit different appearances in different living conditions.

To have any form of "chalking" on a 2017 model seems a bit premature aging to me but, the sun, and any other elements do take their toll on a roof surface.

In any case, based on the pictures you're presenting, what's needed for your roof is a very good and dillagent wash. And that will entail the use of a good dishwashing soap like Dawn and, the use of some CLEANSER too!!!!!!

Yes, I said CLEANSER. You will not hurt the fiberglass surface in any way, shape or form. You'll need your hose up there to thoroughly rinse that roof as you wash and scrub it and, also rinse the sides down too so they don't accumulate the run-off of the cleanser and soap. Your roof will appear nice and white when you're done.

From that point on, it's a bit more work to achieve what you'd like to see. I know, I've done all of it. What will be needed is to actually MACHINE polish that roof. I did it with a DeWalt professional polisher and a wool pad. I used 3M Polishing liquid. That process took me the better part of two days. From that point, I used a decent automotive wax. No automotive wax lasts for ever, in spite of the claims and what people say. I know, I've tried just about every type of auto wax on the market on all kinds of surfaces.

Once it's thoroughly waxed, your roof will last like that for quite a while before needing a tough-up job. Some people don't like doing that much work on a roof. I don't blame them, it's not a fun job. But, if you want top-of-the-line results, NOTHING IS EASY! If you want to cease the streaking, NOTHING IS EASY! The sun is harsh on everything on this planet, especially RV roofs.

Then there's the safety police yelling about "It's gonna be really slippery up there if you wax it, don't do it"!!!!!! OF COURSE it's gonna be slippery, geeeze, duh, that's a given. No one told anyone to get up there and square dance in the rain after you've waxed your roof! It's a matter of common sense if you need to get back up there for any reason, especially if it's wet. BE CAREFULL!
Scott

In the pics below, you see the before and after when I did our roof. You can see the reflections of the framework of the cover the RV is parked under.
Scott

[ArtJoyce]

our MH the fiberglass looks bad. I'm going to watch the thread.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by ArtJoyce

our MH the fiberglass looks bad. I'm going to watch the thread.

Art,
Well, you see what a bit of work produces. I've not had a single "chalk" line or any residue, in any form, trail down the sides of our coach, in any rain storm or washing for years due to the work/effort that I put into that roof. Yep, it's work but, to me, wellllllllllll worth it.
Scott

[Thewellz]

I wash mine twice a year with a mequires wash n wax product and then periodically wax it with a synthetic carnuba blend, its not perfect, but it looks decent for a 20 year old roof, and has no chalking. Don't over complicate it, fiberglass is resilient, and "do not paint it!" Otherwise the paint itself will become a worse maintenance issue than just cleaning the fiberglass.