Fiberglass Roof

Bumpyroad wrote:
...and if fiberglass falls apart if not painted, there are about 2.3 million unpainted fiberglass boats floating at marinas that will quickly be sinking.

Boats are made in a mold from the outside in. The first layer (therefore the outer most) is gelcoat. As Wikipedia says

Gelcoats are designed to be durable, providing resistance to ultraviolet degradation and hydrolysis

I happen to watch a YouTube channel called Sail Life. The guy just replace the entire deck on his 32+' sailboat. He used MULTIPLE layers of 'glass and cross oriented it over all new core material. Then he applied a couple of primer coats of paint and a couple more finish coats making specific comments that the finish coats are UV resistant.

Clearly an RV roof would not need that many layers of 'glass because the roof is not going to support multiple people walking on it AND it probably has more trusses than this guys sailboat.

One way a fiberglass roof is superior is in the effort required to clean it. My Aspect roof took about 15 minutes to wash (soft brush and dawn) and looks like brand new.

Also, black streaking is minimal. Nothing like either of my rubber-roofed RVs.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Over the life of the RV I dont think you will see two cents difference. All RVs need routine maintenance. One piece roofs still have openings for vents, ACs, skykights etc that need checked and cauked twice a year. Pick what you think will give you what you want and go camping happy.

I would certainly hope that a fiberglass roof would take much less maintenance, although inspection is always good.

OP - I think I would inquire what cloth and how many layers were applied.

Most resins will break down from long term exposure to the sun, so it must be painted.

A fiberglas or all aluminum roof will still have all the goop at the seams so the maint. will be about the same.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Over the life of the RV I dont think you will see two cents difference. All RVs need routine maintenance. One piece roofs still have openings for vents, ACs, skykights etc that need checked and cauked twice a year. Pick what you think will give you what you want and go camping happy.

I would certainly hope that a fiberglass roof would take much less maintenance, although inspection is always good.

OP - I think I would inquire what cloth and how many layers were applied.

Most resins will break down from long term exposure to the sun, so it must be painted.

I am assuming that the 2 cents comment was aimed at one piece vs two piece, etc.
and if fiberglass falls apart if not painted, there are about 2.3 million unpainted fiberglass boats floating at marinas that will quickly be sinking.

bumpy

on my winnebago aspect the roof is fiberglass and all the vents etc are formed into it, not like the old rv's that were just cutouts and metal frames then placed in with caulk/butyl rubber. Now the ac may be like on old days but I dont know. I do not think any nose piece on any of them is formed in, but rather just attached like they always have been and sealed. Only way to tell is get up and look.

donn0128 wrote:
Over the life of the RV I dont think you will see two cents difference. All RVs need routine maintenance. One piece roofs still have openings for vents, ACs, skykights etc that need checked and cauked twice a year. Pick what you think will give you what you want and go camping happy.

I would certainly hope that a fiberglass roof would take much less maintenance, although inspection is always good.

OP - I think I would inquire what cloth and how many layers were applied.

Most resins will break down from long term exposure to the sun, so it must be painted.

Over the life of the RV I dont think you will see two cents difference. All RVs need routine maintenance. One piece roofs still have openings for vents, ACs, skykights etc that need checked and cauked twice a year. Pick what you think will give you what you want and go camping happy.