Snowfether
Janesville, Wisconsin
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Joined: 06/13/2009
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Found a beautiful coach....Damon Escaper 2001 39' Diesel....it has a rubber roof. What kind of maintenance is involved?
Lacy
1995 Newmar Kountry Aire
We named her "Lacy Lucy"..."Lucy" for short
She's been a member of our family just a short time...since 10/31/09
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stevelv
Living on the island
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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There's nothing fundamentaly wrong with a rubber roof - they were a cheap option for lower end coaches compared to fiberglass or aluminum and they will last a long time if maintained. Early rubber roofs use EPDM which is the material used for the 'rubber' but it has two major drawbacks - physical damage (trees, careless walking etc) and UV deterioration. The first is obvious, the second is where the chemicals used to make the roof material leaches out under UV attack and the roof then leaves white streaks down the sides of your coach. Annual cleaning and treating with a protectant will slow down the process and is the maximum time between cleanings and inspections.
Roofs that have not been maintained can get mold and mildew growths and these need to be removed.
Later roofs may be TPO which again had cost savings for the manufacturer and is slightly less susceptable to UV attack - but it still needs to be maintained.
There are many products out there to help you maintain EPDM and TPO roofs - it's not hard, just time consuming but you are not alone - there are tens of thousands of rubber roofs out there.
RV Park Finder
Ex Fulltimers
Repairing/Restoring 1984 Monaco Regent 36' Gas to restart RVing
DH,DW,Jake and Indie
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nohandles
Ohio
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Joined: 03/02/2003
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We have a 1996 with a rubber roof. It has worked flawlessly for us for the last 7 years we've owned it. In the fall I clean and seal it just before I cover it for the winter. It has been relatively little work for me.
Douglas & Vanessa Kemp
96 Bounder 30E Ohio
Home is where ever you park it!
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LVJ58
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 02/26/2001
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Our 2000, 9 year old coach, has one of those TPO roofs (replacement for the older rubber type) and so far no problems. I've only cleaned it 3 or 4 times and never treated it. When the coach is not in use it's stored on our driveway exposed to the the hot desert sun in Nevada. Occasionally we get a bit of rain.
Jim & Sherry Seward
Las Vegas, NV
2000 Residency 3790 V-10 w/tags & Banks System
2003 Suzuki XL/7 toad
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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I'm not a fan of a true rubber roof at all; I'm a big fan of our Brite-Tek (TPO type material) roof. We're on our 3rd Brite-Tek roof and our issues have been zero. Quiet and virtually maintenance free. I cannot say the same for the last 2 fiberglass roofs I've worked on.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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A Horrible thing. JMHO
bumpy
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GrumpyandGrandma
CIncinnati, OH
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Joined: 02/02/2004
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Below is the information from the website of a manufacturer of one of the
rubber roof materials.
Cleaning & maintenance of Alpha Systems Royal Roof EPDM Rubber Sheet
Proper care & maintenance of the recreational vehicle, including the
Royal Roof, is important for trouble-free performance. Normal
maintenance is simple, easy & requires no special materials.
Periodic cleaning three or four times a year is the primary maintenance
required. Alpha Systems suggests using a household cleaner such as Top
Job, Spic-N-Span, or Ajax Cleanser, Granulated cleaning products perform
better for cleaning EPDM. Since the surface is not smooth like
fiberglass, a medium bristle scrub brush should be used instead of a
sponge. The rubber membrane requires scrubbing much like a white-wall
tire does. For tougher stains, like those from oak leaves or pine sap,
use kitchen cleanser with bleach **Extra precautions need to be taken to
control runoff onto sidewalls when using products containing bleach.
After cleaning, rinse the roof & sidewalls of the RV completely to
remove any soap residue & to prevent streaking.
Quarterly inspection of the roof is highly recommended. Check the
membrane for possible damage & check the caulk/lap sealant used in all
termination areas & around all accessories & fasteners.
Alpha Systems Royal Roof EPDM is quite inert & will dependably resist
weathering. It can, however, be cut or punctured by sharp objects. If
damage does occur, the Royal Roof membrane can be easily patched. Use
caution when placing any articles on the roof & exercise extreme care &
caution when working on top of your vehicle. The Royal Roof may become
slippery when wet, so remember to exercise extreme caution when cleaning
the rubber membrane.
EPDM rubber does not require periodic application of any product to
protect it from UV light or ozone. Such products can often damage the
EPDM membrane. Protect All Roof Treatment for EPDM rubber roofs, 303
Protectant for EPDM rubber roofs, or other products compatible w/EPDM
rubber roofing may be safely use. If you have any questions about these
products, please call Alpha Systems Customer Service at 754-295-5206 for
assistance.
DO NOT USE ACETONE OR ANY PROCUTS CONTAINING PETROLEUM DISTILLATES ON
THE ROYAL ROOF
Grandma in front of her retirement home..
She lets Grumpy drive!!
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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The ONLY maintenance required is to inspect and repair caulking as needed and wash the roof with mild soap and soft brush. MOST problems people have with EPDM roofs are caused by them putting chemicals on them to "protect" or "condition" their roofs against the manufacturers recommended care.
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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samsontdog
Sac. Ca summer, Yuma Az winter
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Joined: 08/06/2002
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I have a TT that sits permanently on my RV lot in Yuma in the extreme heat and in 7 years I have had no problems with the rubber roof. I wash the roof once a year and check it out. So far so good. Same thing for a 40 ft 5th w on another lot. I also have a 34 ft TT here in Ca and in the last 5 years washing the roof is all that I have done. I check it out thoroughly. It is under a metal cover when not using it. All three have rubber roofs
samsontdog 
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semiretiredDIY
WA state
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Joined: 12/15/2008
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I have both, I will tell you, if you have rubber, stay away from tree branches!! Anodized aluminum will out last the MH. But do you have a choice? Most MH's have rubber material roofs. Bus type MH's might have aluminum roofs, if they do, they are not cheap to buy!!
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