Recreational Vehicle Maintenance: Roof Coating, Waterproof, Repair Kits And Patching Tape

There is an old saying familiar to most RV owners: “The two happiest days of a RV owners life are the day he or she purchases it and the day it's sold.” The reason for the melancholy on all of the days in between is the high-maintenance nature of such a large vehicle. Recreational vehicle maintenance sounds like a labor-intensive exercise, and it can be. If the owner performs their recreational vehicle maintenance on a regular basis, the occasional repair will not be that bad. If an owner neglects their RV, the number of tasks will grow.

The amount of recreational vehicle maintenance tasks depends on the style of the vehicle. The owner of a tow-behind camper or conversion van should have considerably fewer issues to address than the owner of a self contained motor home. A large, self propelled, RV will likely have a septic system, electrical systems, and fresh water storage that will all require maintenance. Such items need attention before and after every trip. There is another vital item that requires less frequent recreational vehicle maintenance: the roof. There is no more important a recreational vehicle maintenance issue than the condition of its roof.

A properly sealed roof is essential for keeping moisture from creeping into the interior of an RV. Water is a corrosive element. Once an RV is no longer waterproof, moisture will find its way into areas not easily accessed. Moisture can wreak havoc upon a RVs electrical system, or it could simply develop into a hazardous mold issue. It is recreational vehicle maintenance must for an owner to inspect the roof of their RV on a regular basis.

To make sure an RV roof has a waterproof seal is easy enough. Spray the roof of the RV with water, and then inspect the interior for leaks. A common issue with a roof's seal occurs around vents to the inside. To remedy such a leak, the owner needs to replace the seal around the vent. If repairing an older model, consider replacing the entire vent. This recreational vehicle maintenance project will require removal of all evidence of the previous seal. Any caulk or patching tape should be scraped away, and the entire area must be thoroughly cleaned for the new seal to be properly waterproof. In addition to the tools required to remove the old seal, the owner will also need self-leveling caulk and patching tape in their repair kit to complete their recreational vehicle maintenance project and achieve a waterproof seal.

Sometimes, however, it is not just a vent that is the problem, but the entire roof needs service. An RVs roof is subject to ultra violet and heat damage from the sun, and over time and temperature variations an old roof coating will expand, contract and become less effective. An RV owner can apply a new roof coating as a recreational vehicle maintenance project. A repair kit for this recreational vehicle maintenance project should include patching tape, roof coating material, and paint rollers for application.

This recreational vehicle maintenance project entails cleaning the roof's surface, removing and resealing any external vents, and applying the patch tape and coating. If the roof of the RV is made of metal, the owner will need to wash the roof and remove any pieces of the old seal not securely attached to the roof. Rubber roofs require the same treatment, but primer will also need to be applied before proceeding with the recreational vehicle maintenance. In either case, once the roof is clean and prepared, patch tape needs to be applied to all of the seams on the roof. Polycoatings International, a supplier of recreational vehicle maintenance products, offers a roof coating made from acrylic elastomer that is supposed to last up to 20 years if properly applied. A day of toil spent on this recreational vehicle maintenance project is a small price to pay for 20 years of protection.

It is important for an owner to employ recreational vehicle maintenance on a regular basis. Even if an RV roof has a fresh coating, an RV owner should make the inspection of the roof a seasonal exercise. A RV is an investment as well as a lifestyle, and the owner that performs regular recreational vehicle maintenance is actively protecting that investment.


Sources:
"Renewing the roof coat…" rverscorner.com. 3 Sept. 2007. http://www.rverscorner.com/rvroofmaintenance.html.

"Permanent Roof Repair System…" polycoatings.com. 3 Sept. 2007. http://www.polycoatings.com/rvroof.html.

"RV Maintenance: Reparing a Roof Leak." diynetwork.com. 3 Sept. 2007. http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/ab_exterior/article/ 0,2021,DIY_13687_3133447,00.html.