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What is the best roof sealant ?
I have to coat my roof. The aluminum skin has numerous pin holes from a previous owner putting a satellite dish on the roof with no caulking or sealing of the screws through the aluminum. Even where the stainless bits rubbed small corrosion holes through the skin. We patched all we could see with eternabond, and have repaired the wood damage below. But it really needs a good seal coat. Does anyone have any recommendations? I hesitate to use a rubber type coating as I have visions of that peeling off.  I realize a bonding coat is needed. Brands? Acrylic? ??
Thanks for recommendations.
1998 26.5 Mid Bath
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #1 –
I have had good luck with eternabond tape. I taped my seam in 2014 and they have held up well. And, I do not cover the unit. Also 3M 4200 is a really good caulking material. I had good luck with that also.
2002 MB
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #2 –
Matt, looks like you are bound to coat your roof, in spite of opinions all over The Companion to never do it. A bit of Dicor would have done the job.

PS - I'll bet a nickel to a dime that the previous owner did not install the sat dish. But an incompetent RV tech did. There is no shortage of those.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #3 –
This LD is a 1998 or about 25 years old.  Without actually seeing pictures of the roof, a damaged or patched roof might indeed need some kind of professionally applied coating.  In my opinion, it wouldn’t diminish the value of an older RV and in fact might increase the value.

In addition, if the roof actually needs serious repair, a coated roof will give the owner a great peace of mind.  I’ve seen a few YouTube videos of both DIY and professionally applied roof coatings.  The owner’s reviews were very favorable. 

If this was our situation, we’d seriously consider a roof coating after doing considerable product research.  So that’s my opinion on an otherwise controversial LD subject.  Hope this helps.
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #4 –
Your LD had many holes produced at the Mothership when built, they are all sealed with polyurethane sealant.
Satellite dishes and solar panels are moved and/or replaced often and the screw holes can quickly be sealed with a good poly (3M 5200 Fast Cure). Holes can also be sealed with small pieces of Etrernabond Tape after cleaning the area well with acetone.

Roof coatings are prone to failure unless the surface is very well prepped, this should include the removal of all vents, antenna, A/C, and solar panels. After removal of all roof items, the roof surface can be deep cleaned and the surface lightly sanded to provide 'tooth' for the sealer to cling to. Think real expensive.

The issue with roof coating is most do not prep the roof correctly and the coating starts lifting after two or three years, once this happens, the leaks reappear with no way to find them.
It's your LD, do what you want to do but be aware of the possible consequences.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #5 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Your LD had many holes produced at the Mothership when built, they are all sealed with polyurethane sealant.
Satellite dishes and solar panels are moved and/or replaced often and the screw holes can quickly be sealed with a good poly (3M 5200 Fast Cure). Holes can also be sealed with small pieces of Etrernabond Tape after cleaning the area well with acetone.

Roof coatings are prone to failure unless the surface is very well prepped, this should include the removal of all vents, antenna, A/C, and solar panels. After removal of all roof items, the roof surface can be deep cleaned and the surface lightly sanded to provide 'tooth' for the sealer to cling to. Think real expensive.

The issue with roof coating is most do not prep the roof correctly and the coating starts lifting after two or three years, once this happens, the leaks reappear with no way to find them.
It's your LD, do what you want to do but be aware of the possible consequences.

Larry

After spending a few years reading hundreds of posts from some of the most knowledgeable people in RVing, I would highly recommend taking their advice.
Sam
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #6 –
[we had extensive repairs to the aft stateroom ceiling. Pulled everything off, removed the rotten wood replaced the beams, put in insulation, and a new liner. It is like new now. We eternabonded most of oth numerous pin holes and ended up cleaning and coating the roof with a rubber coating for aluminum. It is now waterproof, bright white and water tight. It had to be done to this old girl. The corrosion was pretty bad. All this because a yahoo screwed a sattilight TV dish straight to the aluminum roof with no caulk, no barrier wood, nothing.


quote author=Ed & Margee link=msg=249233 date=1679674584]
This LD is a 1998 or about 25 years old.  Without actually seeing pictures of the roof, a damaged or patched roof might indeed need some kind of professionally applied coating.  In my opinion, it wouldn’t diminish the value of an older RV and in fact might increase the value.

In addition, if the roof actually needs serious repair, a coated roof will give the owner a great peace of mind.  I’ve seen a few YouTube videos of both DIY and professionally applied roof coatings.  The owner’s reviews were very favorable. 

If this was our situation, we’d seriously consider a roof coating after doing considerable product research.  So that’s my opinion on an otherwise controversial LD subject.  Hope this helps.
[/quote]
1998 26.5 Mid Bath
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #7 –
If you are really concerned about a roof leak why not just check it for leaks.  Pressurize the inside of the motor home using external fans pushing air into the motor home thru the roof vents and use some bubble solution on the roof and seams looking for any air bubbles.  You can even check the window seals, front and end caps this way.  Of course you would want to seal up the inside to allow pressure to build, like taping the doors seals, stove vent, etc.  I believe there are shops that will do this for you. 

JohnF
2003 TK
 
Re: What is the best roof sealant ?
Reply #8 –
Quote from: JohnF  - 
If you are really concerned about a roof leak why not just check it for leaks.  Pressurize the inside of the motor home using external fans pushing air into the motor home thru the roof vents and use some bubble solution on the roof and seams looking for any air bubbles.  You can even check the window seals, front and end caps this way.  Of course you would want to seal up the inside to allow pressure to build, like taping the doors seals, stove vent, etc.  I believe there are shops that will do this for you. 

Here is a 12-year-old thread about pressure testing a leaky LD.
Finding leaks or look at all the bubbles
The rig is still running today.

A shop that does pressure testing will find more leaks than home testing, by the use of large fans to pressurize the coach, producing much higher pressures.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze