Been chasing a roof leak for a while. First seemed to be some old patches that had failed, cleaned off and redid. Seemed to work. Then leaking again. Seemed to be around the fan, recaulked and seemed to work. Then leaking again. Water always in the same spot, around fan. Found a huge hole where the rubber met the fan (January) and caulked the heck out of that (DICOR lap sealant). Seemed fixed.Again, noted leaking this fall. Getting majorly irritated. Cannot find anything, check all caulks and patches, all stuck fine. Resealed the edges. Found a drilled hole through the gutter above the awning with no caulk, patched that (all in the same area of the leak).Still leaking.I'm aware the roof is old (14 years). The RV has mileage on it but is in great shape. Had some body rust repaired. I'm not ready to junk it as I think it has some good years left in it but it is fast becoming a money pit. Just replaced the Kwikee steps, it's getting the brake lines and front brakes done in a few weeks.Having an RV guy look at it today; he is talking replacing the roof to the tune of $6K but will look at it first to see if he can source the leak.Any words of wisdom?

I believe there is a process where they can put a substance like soapy water etc, and run fans inside to pressurize. This exposes leaks.

Re coat the whole roof with Gaco Roof. I did 2 rubber roofs 2 years ago one a 1993 other 1997. They have never leaked again.Gaco cost $250 for 5 gallons and your roof will take most of it. 2 coats and will never leak again. Dicor simply does not last more than 3 years. It starts to crack and leaks.Yes it has petroleum distillates in it but caused no problems on my rubber roofs. Best stuff I have ever used in 30 years. Good for all types of roofing used mostly in commercial flat roofs.Pogoil.

Qiit playing around and wasting your time. Pay to have a Seal Test done. That is probably the best way to find all of the leaks in one shot. Then you can decide if you want to fix yourself or pay to have it done.

Pogoil, they make several types, do you remember which one you used?On the phone the RV man said he doesn't recommend coatings because all of his customers that used them have said they flaked off and didn't last; and he mentioned that having moisture under the rubber would cause them to fail. I don't know enough about rubber roofs and coatings to know if that's true or not, hence why I am here.I know the RV isn't going to last forever, but if I could get 5-10 more years out of it without breaking the bank, that'd be great. I don't mind the cost of maintenance but $6K is kind of steep for me right now (I have an antique home money pit eating most of my resources at the moment).

I'm hoping the RV man can do the seal test. If not, where do you have those done? I'm willing to do it; I just thought I had found and fixed the leaks, but have been proven wrong. :)

Roof Leak | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

Chopperbob
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Or you could apply Bus Kote and be done with it.
One coat primer two Coats finish. Done deal.
Need one sunny day and some elbow grease.
Bob
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2014
Seal Tech USA

The web site has links to shops that have the equipment. If you're really industrious you can try and make your own fan system.

The test will point out EVERY leak in the coach not just the roof. Windows, door, slides,,,, The test is the same as a blower door test you would have done of a stick and brink home as part of an energy audit or HVAC evaluation.
infogeek
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
I'm hoping the RV man can do the seal test. If not, where do you have those done? I'm willing to do it; I just thought I had found and fixed the leaks, but have been proven wrong. :)
infogeek
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Pogoil, they make several types, do you remember which one you used?

On the phone the RV man said he doesn't recommend coatings because all of his customers that used them have said they flaked off and didn't last; and he mentioned that having moisture under the rubber would cause them to fail. I don't know enough about rubber roofs and coatings to know if that's true or not, hence why I am here.

I know the RV isn't going to last forever, but if I could get 5-10 more years out of it without breaking the bank, that'd be great. I don't mind the cost of maintenance but $6K is kind of steep for me right now (I have an antique home money pit eating most of my resources at the moment).
donn0128
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2014
Qiit playing around and wasting your time. Pay to have a Seal Test done. That is probably the best way to find all of the leaks in one shot. Then you can decide if you want to fix yourself or pay to have it done.
Pogoil
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
Re coat the whole roof with Gaco Roof. I did 2 rubber roofs 2 years ago one a 1993 other 1997. They have never leaked again.

Gaco cost $250 for 5 gallons and your roof will take most of it. 2 coats and will never leak again. Dicor simply does not last more than 3 years. It starts to crack and leaks.

Yes it has petroleum distillates in it but caused no problems on my rubber roofs. Best stuff I have ever used in 30 years. Good for all types of roofing used mostly in commercial flat roofs.

Pogoil.
Effy
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2014
I believe there is a process where they can put a substance like soapy water etc, and run fans inside to pressurize. This exposes leaks.

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Roof Leak

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