Forum Discussion

daved9664's avatar
daved9664
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016

"Chalked" up RV roof - Too far gone to recoat over??????

Hello all!

My 91 SunVoyager that I just bought used doesnt seem to have ever had a roof recoat besides calking with the wrong silicone etc.

It's cracked and peeling really bad in some areas. It's also "chalked" up a little.

Can liquid roof save the day? Whats the worst roof youve seen someone recoat?

A dude at a dealership claims its will just peel off after a while if I coat on top of the old stuff.
Class A
  • johnhicks's avatar
    johnhicks
    Explorer
    Sep 10, 2016
    You could clean it up, paint it with epoxy paint (boat paint) then caulk as appropriate.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Sep 09, 2016
    Chalking is normal for even a brand new roof. Unless the white layer is giving way to the black membrane underneath, there's no reason to coat it or even wash it. Just remove the bad sealant and reapply the correct caulk or Eternabond.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2016
    My bet is that the, "dude," at the dealership is recommending a new roof because they are slow at the shop. The main camping season and push for repairs and services is over for this season...they need something to do.

    As others have suggested, clean it, re-caulk where needed and save yourself thousands...
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2016
    daved9664 wrote:
    Hello all! A dude at a dealership claims its will just peel off after a while if I coat on top of the old stuff.

    Is the dude at the dealership recommending they install a new roof for you?

    Clean the roof well. Powdered Tide Detergent is one recommended product for cleaning.
    I've also read you should not use liquid Dawn. The coating will not stick properly.
    Cover any tears and seams with Eternabond.

    Do some research on the different coatings available and, ask questions on the forum.
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    Sep 09, 2016
    Remove ALL of the old caulk, scrub the roof, prime it, and then recoat with a liquid EPDM coating. WIth proper care, you will get 10+ years from it before needing to recoat again.

About Motorhome Group

38,705 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 27, 2025