Need help on roof questions!

[Wsmith01]

Hey guys and gals,

My family and I are brand new to the camping world. I purchased a 1994 RK255 Jayco Fifth Wheel (25.5 ft). The previous owner was meticulous about the maintenance and overall upkeep. When I purchased the camper the seller showed me the roof and told me it needed to be addressed sooner than later. He kept the camper under dry storage so leaking is not an issue. I am pretty handy so I feel good about working on the new roof. Here are my questions (see pics):

1. It has a white rubberized (I think) roof. It is white on the top side AND bottom side. Plywood is under the rubber. I have one tear. How do I repair? Also what kind of roof is this? All the reading I have done says the rubber roofs is black on the bottom side so when I discovered this one is white, it threw me off a bit.

2. The seller was an elderly guy and said he applied some kind of product to the roof a year or so ago. He was not in very good health and admittedly did not do a good job prepping the roof. The product that is on there is peeling. Every time I think I have it all off it starts peeling somewhere else. Do I need to remove the old stuff completely before applying new roofing materials? If so, how do I get it all off? Does anyone know what this stuff is?

Thank you so much for anyone's help in advance!

Waylon S

[Rustic Eagle]

Welcome to JOF

Most RV manufactures use some version of EPDM roofing materials (rubber), and also versions of the TPO roofing materials (thermo plastic compounds)...., yours appears to be a version of the EPDM materials.

The best solution for the tear is a product called Eternabond Sealer Tape, comes in different widths but 4" seams to be the most common used by folks with RV's. Check for any moisture damage do the the exposed wood structure.

I wouldn't be surprised that your roofing material is starting to break-down do to age....., may want to consider replacement if you plan to keep the FW for a number of years.

There are numerous roofing seal-coat products on the market for RV roofs (I'm not a fan of), you may want to consult the prior owner on which one he used, this information will lead you to how to remove (if possible) and/or if anything can be applied on top of it.

Bob

[Grumpy]

X2 for ETERNABOND. Just be sure to follow the prep instructions. As to the "stuff" he used it could be one of several different products. I would fix the tear and then get a semi stiff scrub brush and clean the roof. What comes off comes off, what sticks will probably wear off eventually.

[spoon059]

That roof looks like it is just about at the end of its useful life at 20 years old. Any attempts to fix that tear seem to be a bandaid solution at best, based upon the other picture. Eternabond tape is excellent for repairs, if you want to bandaid it.

Your best bet is to get a quote to replace the roof. Either a sheet of EPDM rubber reinstalled, or buy liquid EPDM that you "paint on" and dries as a single ply of EPDM rubber.

[clubhouse]

A 20 year old RV roof has likely reached end of life...or very close to it.

I agree that Eterna Bond could fix that rip, and would use it myself to fix that tear.

Beyond that I am not sure how much effort I would put into the rest of the roof vs start saving money to replace the entire roof.

Cleaning off the material the former owner used might make it look better temporarily, but I doubt it will extend the life any. Personally I have not seen any evidence that paint on roof products do anything for roofing material.

As you mentioned, even the prior owner knew the roof needed immediate attention.

[Seann45]

I agree with the eternabond tape for rip repairs.. infact I am replacing all the dicor sealant with eternabond tape.. it is said to last for the life of the roof. IF and when I have to replace the rubber roof I THINK I will go with a spray on bedliner. Probably Line-X. It should work as well or better than a rubber roof. I bet the cost will be less than a new rubber roof.