EPDM roof, Is it toast?

FIRE UP wrote:

Bird Freak wrote:
My friend brought his 98 Southwind up from Fla. this weekend and wants to fix it back up. Most of the white is gone from the roof but the rubber still looks good. No tears, no leaks caulking is great.
What would you put on it? CW wants to do a whole new roof but I just don't see it yet. I used something on a 96 SeaBreeze I had that looked good, was white and held up well but can't remember what it was.

While I'm not a fan of rubber roofs, we did have no trouble with ours when we owned our previous coach, a '99 Fleetwood Bounder, 34V with the F-53 and the V-10. The only problem we had with the roof was, just like your buddy, almost all the white had worn or, "sluffed" off. Well, I knew something had to be done. Besides, the entire world knows what the effects of a "black" roof would be to the inside temp.

So, I used a product made by Dicor. It's a two part system and, it came out flawless. The entire process took just one, LONG day. First, a thorough cleaning with good soap and water and rinse. Then, a prep and primer in the first of the Dicor process. Then, a "pressure wash". Yes, I said PRESSURE. That's what the instructions wanted you to do. Then, when that was dry, the first coat of the coating applied. Then, a second coat.

That stuff, 5 years later, looks just as good as the day it was applied. And, it was never under any cover. If one is looking to keep a rubber roof and wants at least some form of protection for it, I'd recommend the Dicor treatment in heartbeat. Below is a picture of ours the day after it was done.
Scott

Thanks Scott. I think that is what I used. I remember it being a 2 step process.

Bird Freak wrote:
My friend brought his 98 Southwind up from Fla. this weekend and wants to fix it back up. Most of the white is gone from the roof but the rubber still looks good. No tears, no leaks caulking is great.
What would you put on it? CW wants to do a whole new roof but I just don't see it yet. I used something on a 96 SeaBreeze I had that looked good, was white and held up well but can't remember what it was.

While I'm not a fan of rubber roofs, we did have no trouble with ours when we owned our previous coach, a '99 Fleetwood Bounder, 34V with the F-53 and the V-10. The only problem we had with the roof was, just like your buddy, almost all the white had worn or, "sluffed" off. Well, I knew something had to be done. Besides, the entire world knows what the effects of a "black" roof would be to the inside temp.

So, I used a product made by Dicor. It's a two part system and, it came out flawless. The entire process took just one, LONG day. First, a thorough cleaning with good soap and water and rinse. Then, a prep and primer in the first of the Dicor process. Then, a "pressure wash". Yes, I said PRESSURE. That's what the instructions wanted you to do. Then, when that was dry, the first coat of the coating applied. Then, a second coat.

That stuff, 5 years later, looks just as good as the day it was applied. And, it was never under any cover. If one is looking to keep a rubber roof and wants at least some form of protection for it, I'd recommend the Dicor treatment in heartbeat. Below is a picture of ours the day after it was done.
Scott

I added a coat of Dicor EPDM coating. Not cheap but will extend the life.

Bird Freak wrote:

msturtz wrote:
Really EPDM rubber roofs only last 10 or so years. I would not chance it at all. Water damage will cost far more than a roof.

The one on my MH had a 20 year warranty and the one on my 03 5er still looks new. Its only been under a cover for the last 3 years or so. Im trying to get him a little more time as his business failed and he lost it all.

He'll have time. In my part of the world we would apply

Clicky

msturtz wrote:
Really EPDM rubber roofs only last 10 or so years. I would not chance it at all. Water damage will cost far more than a roof.

The one on my MH had a 20 year warranty and the one on my 03 5er still looks new. Its only been under a cover for the last 3 years or so. Im trying to get him a little more time as his business failed and he lost it all.

ScottG wrote:
Depends on the weathering they get - 10 or 12 years is just the warranty. EPDM roofs routinely last 25~30+ years around here.
The UV is what kills them and of course Fl. is the worst.
The white material is there to protect the black rubber membrane. If the rubber is still in good shape then you can coat it with products made by the original manufacturer and be fine for years.

Thanks Scott. That's what I was thinking also. The rubber has not dried out or cracking yet.

A friend re coated his MH couldn't tell you the brand but I know he did a search for the best price but you could start here: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=epdm%20roof%20coating

Depends on the weathering they get - 10 or 12 years is just the warranty. EPDM roofs routinely last 25~30+ years around here.
The UV is what kills them and of course Fl. is the worst.
The white material is there to protect the black rubber membrane. If the rubber is still in good shape then you can coat it with products made by the original manufacturer and be fine for years.

I would AVOID CW for this kind of work.

Really EPDM rubber roofs only last 10 or so years. I would not chance it at all. Water damage will cost far more than a roof.