How To Seal Camper Roof Seams (4 RV Roof Seam Sealer Options)
There are lots of good products you can use. One thing about owning an RV or trailer, you will have lots of roofing materials to work with. The key to working on your roof when applying new sealant is not to use anything sharp. Go with a plastic putty knife so you won’t create more problems to fix.
One way to seal your camper roof is by using Dicor self-leveling sealant. This stuff goes on over old caulking so you do not have to spend time removing the old to put the new in its place. That is a good time saver and easy application.
To learn more about this project, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can fix your roof quickly. You do not want to delay the repair as leaks may have already started to form.
What do You Use To Seal The Roof Of An RV?
Many owners swear by Dicor self-leveling compound or Eternabond for most roofs. But before you rush out to buy these products, make sure you know what materials your roof is made from.
Not all sealants work with all construction materials. Some may require that you remove the old caulking or sealant first before applying the new sealant. With those two products, you should not have to worry about either case.
You should be able to put them on over the old sealant and on any roofing material. But before you buy, read the labels and all information about these products to make sure.
Some people go the extra mile and even though they only have a few cracks, they put a rubber roof coating on their roofs. They do this for aesthetics, for peace of mind, and to make sure they got all the cracks and holes.
Those rubber compounds are easy to put on and they make sure your roof is leak free. If you do not want to do that, and you only have a few cracks to repair, go with the two products already mentioned above.
Just make sure to clean the areas you are going to re-seal so the new products stick to your RV’s roof.
RV Roof Seam Sealer Options
There are a lot of these products on the market today but if you are going to do the job right, then you need to buy the higher quality products. The lower-quality options may give you some good initial results but fail shortly after application. Here are 4 of the better options to look at and consider:
1. Dicor EPDM Self-leveling sealant- comes in a tube and it can be applied directly to the problem spot. You should not have to remove the old caulking or sealant first as this product is said to stick to most compounds and roofing materials.
Also, it is said that a little goes a long way so you may not need to buy too many tubes of this sealant to get your repairs done right. Just read the instructions to make sure you apply this product correctly and do not forget to clean the area you are repairing.
2. Dicor RPCRPQ EPDM Rubber Roofing Coating System- When you have a large area to repair, this is the product to use. It covers more territory than the self-leveling sealant in #1. This product is for the bigger repair jobs you may have.
There are two ways to apply this product. One is to paint it with a roller and a brush. That will get you a nice thick coat that covers all those cracks etc. The second way is to spray it on with a paint sprayer.
This will give you a thinner coat and that may be all you will need. It is up to you how you apply this product.
3. RV Roof Magic- this is a good liquid sealant that has variable product applications. It can cover thin cracks or larger ones. Or you can spread it over your entire roof.
What makes it good is that you can use it when you are using other sealant products. It is designed to be compatible with competitor products so you get the best roof protection possible.
This material is waterproof, UV resistant, and helps prevent fungus growth. You can camp near the beach as salt air or water does not harm this product. Just make sure to follow the instructions for proper application.
4. Eternabond- this is one of the more popular roof sealants among RV owners. They love this stuff as they only have to make the repair once. Plus, it is easy to apply because it is not a caulk or a liquid.
Eternabond comes in the form of a tape which makes it very easy to apply and there is no mess. It is UV resistant as well and it can be applied on different roofing materials so no matter which RV you own, you can seal those cracks quickly.
It gets top marks from thousands of users so check into this product to see what it can do for you.
How To Seal RV Roof Seams
This is not a difficult process. The most difficult part of applying sealant is that you have to be on your knees a lot. There are a lot of seams on many RV roofs and to seal them all you need to have knee padding to protect your joints.
The sealing process will depend on the type of roof you have, and the product you are using but one of the first steps is always to clean the area you are going to repair. Dirt will stop adhesion even with the best products being used.
Next, how you apply your sealant will depend on its format. Dicor comes in a tube so you would only need a caulking gun to apply it. You put this material right on the cracks with some overlap of the old sealant to make sure it seals tight.
Not all sealants can be placed over old products. If you buy that type of sealant then you will have to use a plastic putty knife to scrape off the old caulking, etc.
You can use liquid sealant for your seams. This product will go on with either a paint brush or a roller. The latter helps you give your knees a break but it is not too good for those edge seams.
Then apply as thick of a coat as you think you need. Be generous so those cracks do not appear any time soon.
Sealing RV Roof Seams
While this is not a tough job to do, it is a time-consuming one as you may have a lot of seams to cover. There are the edge seams, any seams going across the roof, all the seams around the vents, AC units, and so on.
Be prepared to spend at least half a day on your RV’s roof. If you do not have many cracks to fill, then you may only be up there for an hour or two. When you do this job, follow the instructions on the label of the product you are using.
You will have to clean the area you are working on to make sure you did not waste your money if the new sealant does not hold. Then take your time. The application needs to be done properly and you do not want to miss any cracks.
Map out your roof and make a plan of action. That way you will cover all the cracks in the best way possible. If you are doing the entire roof, don’t paint yourself into a corner.
Start at the opposite end of your escape route so you can get off the roof without any trouble or embarrassment. Then make sure to use top-quality roofing sealant.
Those products will spare you the trouble of climbing up on your roof again in the very near future. If you are doing only those cracks you can see, take the time to do all your seams. Giving the good seams some reinforcement is a smart idea.
This action should spare you from having to do this same task in the near future when those good seams develop cracks.
How do You Reseal RV Roof Seams?
The first step is to buy the sealant that is designed to work with your roofing material. You would be wasting your money if you bought the wrong sealant. The second step will be to read the instructions on the can or tube.
Usually, those instructions will tell you to wash the area so it is clean and ready for the new sealant. Before you wash, make sure you do not have to remove the old caulking or sealant first.
Many products do not need this to be done so before you buy make sure you are picking a sealant that can go over old caulking or sealant. Oh, by the way, when you wash the area you are working on, let it dry first before applying the new coating.
You will want to use mild detergents so you can get the dirt without harming your roofing material. Also, check to see how long before the new sealant dries. You do not want to be doing this type of work right before it is going to rain.
Once you are done, let the new sealant dry before packing up and moving to your next destination.
Why Should You Seal Your Camper Roof?
The first reason is that those cracks look ugly. They detract from the overall look of your RV and tell everyone you are not doing a good maintenance job. Sealing those cracks keeps your camper looking nice and lets everyone know you are on top of things.
The second reason is the most important one. Those cracks will let a lot of water inside and once that happens that water, over time, will cause a lot of expensive damage.
You may not see the destruction for a long time as it is taking place behind the walls. But eventually, you will and the cost to repair the damage can be extraordinarily high.
Plugging those cracks is an investment in your future. Not only do you keep your camper safe from damage but you are also protecting your pocketbook. The cost of the different sealants may be on the high side but it is a lot cheaper than replacing studs, walls, and other water-damaged items inside your RV.
How Often Does Your Camper’s Roof Need To Be Sealed?
There are a number of factors that will influence how often you seal your roof or its seams. One of those factors will be how often you use your camper. If you use it a lot, the current sealant will not last as long as if you use your camper sparingly.
Another factor will be the weather conditions your roof is exposed to. If you happen to like camping in bad weather, then those elements will take their toll on your roof and seams.
Some sealants, like Eternabond, are supposed to last forever but since nothing is forever, you may have to repair the cracks that appear in those products. In some cases, you may not have to reseal for many years.
But experts recommend that you reseal your roof once a year to make sure it remains in top shape. How often you do it will depend on you and which sealant product you use.
Some Final Words
When you have cracks in the seams on your camper’s roof, it pays to use the best sealant products possible. They may be expensive but they work and may spare you from doing this task for some time.
Pick the product that will do the best job for you and your camper. That way you can have peace of mind when the rain hits your camping area.
