Black spots on rubber roof ???

I had the same spots on the roof of the TT I just sold. I scrubbed at them with some various cleaners and they didn't budge so I left them alone. There's absolutely no surface deterioration so I don't agree that it's the roof "wearing away".

Keep in mind EPDM rubber is in use on 1000s of commercial buildings in the nation and there are zero maintenance requirements. Certainly, if it makes you feel better to make someone rich buy buying their "softener" products go for it but it's not necessary. Keep the physical debris (leaves, etc.) off of it to allow for the intended water flow and you're good.

Suspect it's white wearing off as others have said. One of the reasons I don't wash my roof, the other being I'm too lazy :)

Bipeflier - take off the shroud inside on one of your vents, you probably have an EPDM (rubber) roof like most of us. You'll see that it's a black rubber with a white coating, not "white all the way through"

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:

BarneyS wrote:
I could be the white coating is wearing off exposing the black rubber.
Barney

X2. It's not mold it's just the white coating wearing off.

???? My rubber roof is white all the way through. Never saw one that was white over black.

Use bleach in a spray bottle,3 parts bleach,1 part water. Try to work dry areas of the roof, spray the bleach on the roof and watch the black spots disappear. Then you can use soft brush like you use on the sides with car wash soap to finish that area. Hose it off then move to another mostly dry area and repeat. It will be sparkling white with no black spots. My camper is 8 years old and I have used this since new. The rubber roof is still in good shape. After it is clean I apply 2 coats of protect-all roof treatment. Just keep the bleach hosed off of the sides of the camper.

BarneyS wrote:
I could be the white coating is wearing off exposing the black rubber.
Barney

X2. It's not mold it's just the white coating wearing off.

There are coatings available to refresh your roof.
Not costly and DIY. Rubber roofs slowly wear out.
Before it gets real bad coat it. I've done several.
Clean it primer then two coats of finish. I admit I'm in
Cal where it's sunny most of the time but it's doable.
I also used it on my awning and the roof of my shed.

I use Thetford Rubber Roof Cleaner and Conditioner on my roof. It does an amazing job of removing all kinds of stains.

Amazon Link

Once I'm done cleaning it, I use Protect All Rubber Roof treatment which has a UV protectant.

Protect All

Jim

I could be the white coating is wearing off exposing the black rubber.
Barney

These are mold spots. They do not harm the roof. Just not very attractive. My fiver has them too.

wildtoad wrote:
What happens when you wash the roof? Have you tried a small amount of bleach with the wash water?

When I wash the roof the spots stay there, will try the bleach. Thanks