Although we have had a pretty mild winter, most of us have winterized our rigs last fall and put them to sleep for several months and now is the time to think about getting them ready for the camping season. One of the most important things I believe an RV owner can do is to clean, condition, and inspect the roof material as well as all the sealants.
Can I Walk On My Roof?
It depends on many factors as all RVs are not created equal and some of the less expensive models have wooden framework that has very little structural integrity. Most of these models will have a sticker on the top that states no weight or a limited weight. If you are not sure what your roof can hold for weight capacity use a scaffold on the side of the rig or “bridge” the weight using a long piece of paneling to distribute the weight across the top. I have an 8’ piece of ½ “ paneling cut to 2” wide that I lay across the roof in case I feel the roof can’t hold my weight.
Another consideration is safety with a slick roof material and the risk of falling. I have found that most of the rubber membranes actually have good footing even when wet while I thought they would be very slippery. It would be wise to have a safety tether which you can get at any home improvement store. And have someone there to assist you as well.
It is a good idea to stay clear of anything that has a cut into the roof and installed such as the air conditioner, roof vents, and skylights. Most of these do not have any framework surrounding the opening so it would be a weak spot.
Proper Cleaning And Roof Materials
There are several different roof materials that have been used over the years starting with aluminum back in the 1980’s, then fiberglass and rubber membranes introduced in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. My “go to” cleaner is Dawn Dish Soap (Blue) which is great for oils, bird droppings, and tree sap and is also environmentally friendly. Remember the ducks in Alaska! Some readers in past articles have commented that it has particles that will scratch the material and sidewall and will also deteriorate the wax on the sidewall however I have used it for over 30 years and I do not believe the small concentration of the product will do any harm to the materials of your rig.
There are several roof materials such as EPDM, TPO, PVC, and fiberglass so it is important to know what roof material your rig has and what the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) recommends for cleaning and conditioning. EPDM and TPO have a recommended conditioner that can be purchased from Dicor while most PVC membranes such as Alpha Systems recommend cleaning with Murphy’s Oil Soap and no conditioning. Fiberglass materials from Kemlite (Crane Composites) just recommend cleaning although I do use a UV deterrent to keep it from fading.
You can determine if your roof material is EPDM by removing the frame from a roof vent and looking at the excess material. EPDM starts as a black membrane and has the color added to the top. The underside will still be black so if it is EPDM, you will want to clean it at least once a year and then condition it with Dicor EPDM conditioner or 303 Protectant. This will keep it from chalking and deteriorating due to exposure to the sun. Make sure you keep the side of the unit wet when cleaning as the white milky chalk will run down the sides and be very difficult to clean after it dries.
TPO can also be conditioned with 303 Protectant or a rubber roof conditioner that has UV protection. Alpha Systems has a product they call a PVC material and only needs to be cleaned with Murphy Oil Soap occasionally while other companies that make a PVC material claim there is no maintenance. I still think it is a good idea to clean it at least once a year.
Whatever material your roof has, it is necessary to inspect the seams at least twice a year to look for cracks or separation and reduce moisture penetration. Materials will expand and contract with daily temperature changes and sealants will separate or become brittle with exposure to the sun. If the sealant has cracks or pulled away from the seam, moisture can penetrate the area and once you see a water stain inside the rig, it’s too late. Visually inspect all seams around the roof to the front, sidewall, and back cap. Also inspect any openings in the roof such as roof vents, skylights, and plumbing vents. If you see a sealant that looks to have a crack or pulled away, it is time to remove the affected sealant and reseal it with a self-leveling sealant designed for your roof material. Common silicone is not the best application for every type of roof. Make sure you get the best sealant for your application.
About the author: Dave Solberg: Managing Editor, RV Repair Club
For the last 25 years, Dave has conducted RV maintenance and safety seminars, developed dealer and owner training programs, written RV safety and handyman articles authored an RV handbook reference guide, and logged over 100,000 miles on the road in an RV.
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