Community Forums

GSP7 · 10-27-2007, 03:25 AM

I have the rubber type roof on my Aljo 5th wheel.

I had a little srinkage and gap at a front corner, where the rubber mat shrank and pulled out. I used some Dicor lap chalk last year but that stuff shrank up also and cracked and just plain seemed like a bad product.

What about the Kool Seal products? I used some Kool Seal white acrylic patch cement on my house roof and it seemed to work good.

Also, I know RV supplys have a special complete 2 part i think, coating for rubber roofs, but is that stuff any good?

Id like to coat my whole rubber roof as its getting old and maybe abit dryed out.

I think some of these RV roof products seem way over priced.

Anyone have good luck with regular roof products like Kool Seal that might work beter and be more durable?

GSP7 · 10-27-2007, 03:25 AM

I have the rubber type roof on my Aljo 5th wheel.

I had a little srinkage and gap at a front corner, where the rubber mat shrank and pulled out. I used some Dicor lap chalk last year but that stuff shrank up also and cracked and just plain seemed like a bad product.

What about the Kool Seal products? I used some Kool Seal white acrylic patch cement on my house roof and it seemed to work good.

Also, I know RV supplys have a special complete 2 part i think, coating for rubber roofs, but is that stuff any good?

Id like to coat my whole rubber roof as its getting old and maybe abit dryed out.

I think some of these RV roof products seem way over priced.

Anyone have good luck with regular roof products like Kool Seal that might work beter and be more durable?

GSP7 · 10-27-2007, 05:15 AM

I found the thread about Eternaboun Tape and products to patch my tear and areas were the rubber pulled out at the edges.

That Tape looks like Good stuff.

My rubber chaulking looks good around all my vents and seems.

My rubber roof itself is getting nasty and its shrinking and pulling away at the front edge and I also have a tear on the side about 4' back from the front edge from the rubber shrinking .

I need to repair and would like to coat the whole roof with something(?? what product for coating??)

Im going to give the roof a good washing to clean oxidation and crud off this weekend

GSP7 · 10-27-2007, 07:09 AM

I am on a roof marathon this morening and used some Red truck cleaning liquid soap I got from a trucking co. and washed 3/4 of the roof(didnt want to get my leaky section wet)with a soft brush on a pole.

I got alot of crap off and have black sploched areas that is I have found is the actual black rubber under the oxidized grey/white top of the rubber.

Also I see the Eturnaboud tape comes in 50' roles and just thought, does anyone have extra that the might want to sell. Im sure if I bought a hole roll id only use maybe less than 5' of it and the rest would sit in my garage for 20 years

Ray,IN · 10-27-2007, 06:27 PM

EPDM roof material is guaranteed for 10 or 12 years, can't remember which. The installation is not however, it is covered by the RV factory warranty.
Now to your questions; Visit the Dicor EPDM roof treatment page before you do anything. This website should answer all your questions and debunk the mountains of home-remedies floating around.

GSP7 · 10-28-2007, 12:15 PM

Anyone know if the eturnabound tape is beter than the dicor membrane repair tape?

diandtom · 10-31-2007, 12:32 PM

I caught a brace in the shelter with our fiver the first time I put it under the shelter. I used Eternabond tape on it and that was over four years ago and it still looks good. The RV dealer wanted over $2,000 to put a new roof on. I had three or four small holes in the roof. He said it would never hold on the edge but it has.
I would like to know what to clean the roof with? I just finished with Spick & Span and the roof got small black spots all over it. I tried a roof cleaner from Camping World and it no better. I got a friend that painted his with exterior latex paint and claims that took care of his problem. Not sure I want to paint it.
Tom

GSP7 · 10-31-2007, 02:09 PM

Diandtom , The black spots are the rubber material itself. Looks like alge

I just got done scrubing mine again with a truck washing brush and some big rig soap. Alot of the "white" top layer thats oxidized is comming off and im down to black rubber in big patches.

Dang what a mess. As I hose off the roof as I scrub I have gray and black "muck". I had to get down and wash all the black splater of the sides of my 5er.

I just saw some of tha eturnabound tape at a RV place and Im going to order some 4" wide off the internet. The RV place wanted $50 for 25" and I can order 25' for $31

I think Ill get the Dicor primer and white top coat also. When the black rubber starts showing through its definatly time to coat the rubber roof.

Jeff_in_The_Dalles · 11-01-2007, 03:09 PM

EDPM membranes seem to be pretty durable, but they can be damaged by using cleaners or other products that are not compatable with EDPM.

How you describe it shrinking and pulling away is pretty strange. How old is the rig?

Anyway, from what you've described it sounds like it is pretty far gone. If it were mine and I was planning on keeping the unit long term, I think I'd bite the bullet and install new...

GSP7 · 11-02-2007, 08:57 AM

Its a 96 Aljo 25ft 5er. Its in incredible condition. The rubber is only shrinking and pulling away in about a 1 foot long section on a corner. and only about a 1/2". The rest looks good. Even most of the rubber chalking is still exelent.

I just ordered 2, 50ft rolls of eturnabond tape. Im researching coatings either liquid roof$$$, Dicor with the primer, or Elixir
plas-t-cote.

I plan on getting a new 5er after I relocate.

Jeff_in_The_Dalles · 11-02-2007, 02:32 PM

So it's only in one little area... I wonder if they stretched the membrane there too much when they put the side moulding on...

Maybe the eternabond stuff, followed by the dicor primer and coating wouldn't be too bad. I've never used their coating, though, but I would imagine it would help the appearance after the patch.

allendp · 11-03-2007, 08:05 PM

This Link Might be of interest to you if you plan to recoat the whole roof.

Like Ray said EPDM roofs are supposed to last at least 12 years with simple washing with a mild non-petrol based detergent like liquid spic & span once a year. I think the black spots are normal and should not be attempted to be washed off.

GSP7 · 11-09-2007, 08:06 PM

Allen, The blacK spots are most likely bleeding through the white top coat as the EPDM foof is black rubber with a white top layer.

Anyway I just got 2, 50ft rolls of Eturnabound tape.

This stuff is great!

I did a couple patches so far before my complete perimiter and front edge redo.

Kinda late rtonight. Ill report back and maybe take some pics

Rick