The roof of your RV is something that can be overlooked quite often since it’s something you don’t normally think about when the rest of the RV is working properly. Once the roof is damaged or stops working properly you have a big problem on your hands. This is why it’s important to maintain and inspect the roof regularly to find any damage and prevent more from occurring. The roof houses everything in your RV and if it is leaky, or damaged it can be very costly and time consuming to repair. If you catch any problems with your roof early on you will save yourself a lot of time and headache. Here is a list of steps you can take to make sure your roof is ready for your next trip.
- Check lap sealant. Lap seal is a material that seals all the seams in the roof. It’s where the side of the roof meets the upper sidewall of the RV, around all the vents on top of the RV, and at the top of the front and rear caps. Checking the lap seal is one of the most crucial preventative measures you can take for the care of your roof. While driving the RV is constantly flexing which can cause the lap seal to crack or shift. If any of the lap sealant is missing, dried up, flaking off, or looks damaged in any way you will want to replace it.
- Check all vents. More often than not we come across RVs that have multiple broken vents on the roof due to normal wear and tear or them being damaged by something, like a tree branch, without knowing. The most common vent that can be broken is the vent over the bathroom. Once a vent is broken or cracked there is a possibility of it allowing water inside of your RV, or underneath the roof. Water damage is very costly and even a small amount of water can damage a large area in your RV. If a vent is damaged you can go to any trailer supply store and order one that fits your RV. It is best to remove your existing damaged vent and take it to the store so you can get an exact match. Once you install the new vent be sure to put lap sealant around all edges, always apply generously.
- Check all gutters. It is very important to check all of the gutters on the exterior of your RV. Typically there are gutters over the entry door, above the awnings, on each side of the upper rear cap, and each side of the upper front cap. These gutters allow the flow of water to be guided off of your RV instead of pooling up anywhere and causing unnecessary pressure and weight. Around each gutter there should be a generous amount of silicone since water is flowing through those areas heavily. It is vital to ensure there are no areas that are cracked where water can get inside your coach.
- Treat your roof. Once you have checked everything on the roof of your coach for leaks, tears, or any miscellaneous damage you can treat it with a roof coating. This coating can be bought at any trailer supply store and goes directly on to your existing roof. Before you apply this coating make sure the roof is clean and dry, for application you can use a roller, brush, or squeegee. There are a few different kinds of coating you can buy and each one will have different directions for mixing and application. If this coating is applied once every 2 years it will prolong the life of your roof, and could save your roof for up to 20 years!
We recommend checking your roof regularly but it is also a good idea to check for leaks, and tears before putting the RV away in storage, and again when you take the RV out of storage. If you follow these steps you can prolong the life of your roof and your RV. Having a clean, well-maintained roof will help hold the value of your RV, inside and out!