RV Rubber Roof Repair Tips and Tricks
So you need to start to think about your rv rubber roof repair job because you are seeing a few more signs of leaking and water damage. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you with your repair job.
Walking on the RV Rubber Roof
Before you go through to repair your rubber roof, you will want to inspect the surface to get an accurate idea of where the issues may be and what needs to be patched or fixed up. Walking properly along the roofline is important. First, lay plywood down along the seams of the rubber roof or other light wood material. When you walk on the roof over the plywood or wood boards, your weight is distributed evenly across the boards and across the roof rafters of your RV.
Always Repair the Defect First
Never simply just think the leak will go away if you slap on some sealant. You always want to get to the root of the problem first. If you are having a problem at the seams or the corners of your RV, get out a pry bar, remove the old trim and get rid of any existing water damage first. If you do not get rid of the water damage before you fix the rubber roof, you will promote rot throughout the entire surface of your roof. You can apply a simple liquid compound such as Git Rot found at most boating and RV stores. Put the trim back and you are ready to fix your rubber roof.
Dealing with Small Leaks and Seals
If you have a small leak in your rubber roof or if the seal is just not quite doing the job anymore, you can simply use a rubber roof coating to seal over the leak. Before you apply the rubber roof coating, you will need to clean off the spot that has the leak. Then just take out your paint brush and paint over the leaking problem, like you would when painting a wall of a room.
A Word about Harsh Abrasives
Never use any harsh abrasive on your rubber roof. It will undoubtedly cause the rubber roof to lose its resistance to weather and to water. The rubber coating will be stripped right off of the roof. Petroleum-based solvents are one of the worst types of products you can use around your rubber roof. They tend to be the cause of many roof problems because they are used on the rubber roof by homeowners or contractors that do not know exactly what they are doing.
Avoid Poking Holes
When repairing your rubber RV roof, avoid poking holes or making the spot any bigger. Just because you see 'bubbling' on the roof, does not mean that you need to relieve any pressure. Apply the rubber roof coating directly over the bubbles. If you open the hole up, you can guarantee you will have many more water leaking problems.
Use Butyl Rubber Ingredients
When looking for a rubber sealant, you will be amazed at how many you can find on the shelf. Stick to a sealant or caulk that is made with butyl rubber ingredients.
