Rv roof types/maintenance

[rvlifer]

If we are gonna do another rv i need to have low maintenace. Getting a reasonably sized rv that isnt covered witj solar panels will help with roof maintenace.

Every rv i ever ownex was either tpo or epdm so i am familiar with the maintenance needed on those. What is really involved in fiberglass and aluminum roof maintenace? I did some research online but want to get info from those with 1st hand experience.

 

[Larry N.]

All we ever had to do was to periodically check and renew the caulking around the various protrusions (vents, A/C, etc.) and wash it on the two fiberglass roofs we had.

 

[Kirk]

An aluminum RV roof primarily requires regular cleaning, inspection, and sealant maintenance to prevent leaks and corrosion. This includes washing the roof, checking seams and seals, and addressing any damage promptly. I have never owned an RV with a fiberglass roof.

 

[bigb56]

I have fiberglass (Filon), when I bought the rig it was 9 years old and never touched up there. I used a marine cleaner and a couple coats of wax. All the penetrations are sealed with self leveling sealant like Dicor or similar and still in good shape. However, see below:

If it is a Winnebago there is a whole separate issue, Winnebago uses a special method to secure the edges of their Filon roof. It is tucked into an aluminum channel along both sides and secured with a bead of sealant like Proflex. There are no fasteners nor should there be. This system allows for flexing and racking to occur without damaging the roof. This system requires at a minimum annual inspections to assure the edges are still secured and the Proflex (or equivalent) is still pliable and adhered to both the Filon and the aluminum. Failure to do this could result in sections of roof flying off while driving. (When the Proflex or equivalent gets old and dries out it no longer flexes and can pull away from the surfaces during normal movement).

Below is a pic of mine after I cleaned, painted and re-applied the Proflx. The blue arrows point to the channel where the Filon is tucked in and secured with Proflex.

My original application lasted 10 years and now that I park indoors I'm hoping I never have to do it again.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

The roof maintenance problem is rarely about the roof membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, PVC, metal or fiberglass. Maintenance is about seams and openings (protrusions), inspecting and re-sealing as needed.

And they all need some degree of cleaning to avoid ugly dirty streaks running down the sides of the RV. Again, that's more a matter of the air & rain where the RV is used or stored than the type of membrane. Dirt, stains, mold, etc come from the environment. EPDM is more porous than the others and exfoliates more, but they all collect crud that gets washed away, either by rain & dew or you doing an occasional wash.

 

[rvlifer]

Epdm and tpo are more prone to punctures and tears. A guy just parked in front of our house to take the dogs for a walk. He had a teardrop with a fiberglass roof. He said he only cleaned it 1 time in 3 yrs and it lookex really good.

We will be taking our time but will be checking out different rvs for fun. I want to look at the casita and nucamp barefoot. Knowing what i want in a roof will be very helpful.

What is everyones vote on the roof type or rv with the least amount of roof maintenance?

 

[Professor David]

Keep us updated on ur search.

 

[Isaac-1]

I have an Aluminum roof on my 2002 Safari Trek motorhome, other than they typical sealant maintenance around roof vents, etc. it has been mostly very low maintenance since buying the coach in 2016. At least it was up until this year when the factory roof paint had degraded to the point where it needed to be repainted. I stripped it to the bare anodized Aluminum, the painted it with National Bus-Kote thermal rejection coating, only time will tell how it holds up.

 

[rvlifer]

Anyone know if there is any substantial difference in insulation value of the different roif types? Aluminum obviously could heat up more

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

No. Insulation R-value and coverage is strictly a manufacturer design/production question and not tied to the Waterproofing material used for the outer skin. Metal (aluminum or tin) may transmit heat faster, but is not inherently higher in temperature. Color, e.g. white vs black, affects that somewhat. But insulation is under the roof membrane and the R-value and presence/lack of coverage gaps is strictly an design & manufacturing quality parameter. Excellent R14 insulation is still mediocre if there are gaps where there is little or no insulation at all. Or areas where the external heat is transmitted directly to the interior, e.g. metal window frames or transparent skylights.

 

[Kirk]

The heating issue is more what makes it into the interior than the skin of your roof. Gary said it very well. It is true that aluminum does transmit heat energy more rapidly than fiberglass or TPO but all three of those typically have some type of wood substrate supporting them and I doubt that the difference is significant. The color and reflectivity of the roof skin would have some impact. The amount and quality of insulation in the roof structure, along with the fit of that insulation is far more important. Wind frames can be thermally broken which helps a lot. Probably the main thing with windows is dual pane glass, which is usually the only ones that offer thermally broken frames. When we were fulltime we also used the vent cushions in each vent which also seemed to make a noticeable difference.

 

[Professor David]

The heating issue is more what makes it into the interior than the skin of your roof. Gary said it very well. It is true that aluminum does transmit heat energy more rapidly than fiberglass or TPO but all three of those typically have some type of wood substrate supporting them and I doubt that the difference is significant. The color and reflectivity of the roof skin would have some impact. The amount and quality of insulation in the roof structure, along with the fit of that insulation is far more important. Wind frames can be thermally broken which helps a lot. Probably the main thing with windows is dual pane glass, which is usually the only ones that offer thermally broken frames. When we were fulltime we also used the vent cushions in each vent which also seemed to make a noticeable difference.

Kirk What are vent cushions?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Insulating cushion for roof vents: Amazon.com

They even make reflectors you can add to the cushion: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Insulator-Skylight-Reflective-45192/dp/B0024E6QX0/