Good day everyone,I'm planning on restoring the EPDM roof on my Class A 2000 Southwind 42 foot RV this weekend and would love some feedback from anyone that has done this before. I have purchased a 5 gallon pail of liquid rubber made especially for RV roofs with EPDM. Here is the link to the product I bought:https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01EV4EXG2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Also I purchased some eternabond tape for the front and back seams and around all the roof top units.Steps:1- Sweep roof off with broom2- Use mild laundry soap and medium bristle brush to scrub entire roof and rinse off with pressure washer. Let roof dry completely.3- clean seams off for eternabond and apply eternabond and roll it on with metal seam roller.4- apply tape along sides of roof and apply liquid rubber with a brush to all the trim areas along edges and over top eternabond tape and roof top units. remove tape immediately after completely trim application.5- pour liquid paint directly from pail onto roof in required amounts stated on product instructions. Move paint around with roller for that area until even. Apply sections of liquid rubber until all roof is covered.6- Let dry and complete steps 4-5 again for 3 total coats of liquid rubber.7- DoneA couple questions about this plan:1- Should I apply mineral spirits to clean the seams of glue before applying the eternabond tape? Or should I clean this with something else if its hard to get it clean?2- How long should I let the rubber paint dry before another coat? And how thick a coat would you go? Would you do 2 or 3 coats of rubber?3- Do I need a better cleaner or chemical activator before applying this liquid rubber to the roof?Thanks for reading. I welcome any tricks, tips and critiques about my RV roof restoration plan.

I would not use a pressure washer but if you do, I would use it on the lowest pressure. I'm sure someone will get on here and say they use their 900000000 psi PW on their roof all the time but it can lift and loosen the membrane.Yes on the mineral spirits before the Eternabond (per the instructions).

Thanks Scott, I'll keep a close eye on the psi of the washer.One thing I forgot to ask was, how do I overlap the eternabond tape going around the roof top units? Do I butt the ends together or over lap them?

I would use a product that uses a primer. That way it won't pealoff. After that you can clean and touch up after time. I've done two.

Welcome to the forum.Last summer I restored the roof on our 96 Southwind. I used Heng's Rubber Roof Coating, it required no primer.Tide powdered detergent was recommended to clean the roof. Dawn liquid will make peel.Clean the area well with mineral spirits before applying the Eternabond. I used a metal roller to press the E/bond. Some use a wood roller, I think a metal roller does a better job, I tried both.Along the edge of the roof I used 2" Eternabond, about 1/2 inch on the rain gutter. I would have used 4" but because of the curve on the roof I was concerned it would not lay smoothly. The Eternabond is really sticky. The 2" did a great job.I used a 4" roller to apply the coating. I put on a very light first coat and left it dry overnight. The second coat went on nicely, basically like paint. So far it looks good and is holding up to the sun, wind, rain and Pennsylvania's freeze/thaw cycles.I'll do any touch ups as needed. I used about 2 1/2 gallons. The actual roof is 30'.Your plan sounds good. Personally, I wouldn't use a pressure washer. But, you know the possible problems so just be careful.My only advice would be, don't get in a hurry. Take your time and double check everything as you do the restoration. Thoroughly roll the Eternabond and it will stick properly.Definitely overlap the Eternabond seams.My only regret is, I didn't do it sooner.

Restoring EPDM roof for first time | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

edatlanta
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2017
It looks like you are doing a great job with your project, unfortunately you will still have a rubber roof. I had rubber roof membrane failure after 5.5 years service. Moisture was leaking "through" the membrane not the more common caulking leaks. I full time and constant worry about roof issues was eating me up and after the membrane failure was discovered I made a decision.

It wasn't cheap, but then a new RV after a leak that wasn't found in time isn't cheap either and a new rubber roof made no sense to me. So my solution was RV Flex Armor.

My interior is quieter due to the thickness of the new roof and a lifetime no leak guarantee. I sleep much better now and zero caulking that will fail and zero rubber roof that has failed.
gbopp
Explorer
Jan 20, 2017
Welcome to the forum.
Last summer I restored the roof on our 96 Southwind. I used Heng's Rubber Roof Coating, it required no primer.
Tide powdered detergent was recommended to clean the roof. Dawn liquid will make peel.

Clean the area well with mineral spirits before applying the Eternabond. I used a metal roller to press the E/bond. Some use a wood roller, I think a metal roller does a better job, I tried both.

Along the edge of the roof I used 2" Eternabond, about 1/2 inch on the rain gutter. I would have used 4" but because of the curve on the roof I was concerned it would not lay smoothly. The Eternabond is really sticky. The 2" did a great job.

I used a 4" roller to apply the coating. I put on a very light first coat and left it dry overnight. The second coat went on nicely, basically like paint.
So far it looks good and is holding up to the sun, wind, rain and Pennsylvania's freeze/thaw cycles.

I'll do any touch ups as needed. I used about 2 1/2 gallons. The actual roof is 30'.

Your plan sounds good. Personally, I wouldn't use a pressure washer. But, you know the possible problems so just be careful.
My only advice would be, don't get in a hurry. Take your time and double check everything as you do the restoration. Thoroughly roll the Eternabond and it will stick properly.

Definitely overlap the Eternabond seams.

My only regret is, I didn't do it sooner.
magik235
Explorer
Jan 20, 2017
I overlapped my seams.
Chopperbob
Explorer
Jan 20, 2017
I would use a product that uses a primer. That way it won't peal
off. After that you can clean and touch up after time.
I've done two.
voltrondon
Explorer
Jan 20, 2017
Thanks Scott, I'll keep a close eye on the psi of the washer.

One thing I forgot to ask was, how do I overlap the eternabond tape going around the roof top units? Do I butt the ends together or over lap them?
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 20, 2017
I would not use a pressure washer but if you do, I would use it on the lowest pressure.
I'm sure someone will get on here and say they use their 900000000 psi PW on their roof all the time but it can lift and loosen the membrane.

Yes on the mineral spirits before the Eternabond (per the instructions).

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Restoring EPDM roof for first time

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