Rubber roof replaced
The rubber roof on my 36 foot class A was replaced, but has several wrinkles and air gaps under the roof. Is this common or should I have the roof redone?
Forum Discussion
John&Joey wrote:rgatijnet1 wrote:
..... The point of my post was that RV techs are NOT roofers. As a commercial contractor we installed hundreds of thousands of square feet of EPDM roofing and wrinkles and adhesion bubbles are not acceptible and that most RV techs do not have the skill to do the job right. Commercial roofs are much more challanging than some 8x40 roof on an RV. I have seen brand new EPDM roofs coming out of the RV factory that look exactly like what you would expect when you have an inexperienced installer working to a time schedule. The factory doesn't care and will say that it is covered by their minuscule 2-5 year warranty. Commercial roofs are usually warranted for 20 years with ZERO maintenance requirements. Nobody gets on the roof of a commercial building and washes it and reseals ALL of the penetrations every six months. Commercial buildings are also exposed to the elements 24/7 and able to withstand 130 MPH winds, which I doubt if most RV's will ever experience.
An EPDM roof is a fine product, IF it is installed correctly and not by someone that thinks they can handle it. As they say...a Jack of all trades and a master of none. The fact that this roof was turned over to the customer in this condition says everything about the quality done by that particular RV shop.
When you work with a real roofer who enjoys rubber roofs is when you learn everything you said above is 100% true. On the other hand it is also equally true that just about anyone can lay down a rubber roof. Bubbles and wrinkles may happen if they don't have the gift though.
1. There are MILLIONS of RV EPDM roofs out there installed by the factory
2. There are MILLIONS of RV EPDM roofs that have been replaced by RV Technicians
3. Just because the OP had his done by an inept or not skilled shop does not indicate that RV Service shops are incompetent.
4. Adhesive(amount and thickness) is critical for a GOOD non wrinkled job. You install the EPDM immediately after installing the adhesive. You do 1/2 the RV first and then the other half. You can then use a wide broom to sweep any possible wrinkles off. IF you attempt to walk on a freshly laid EPDM roof, you will get wrinkles and bubbles. The PVC type roofs are the best and easiest as they are almost impossible to make wrinkles and bubbles on. Doug
