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noleakman's avatar
noleakman
Explorer
Apr 06, 2014

Rubber Roof

My son inlaw just bought a 98 Discovery with a rubber roof! He went up to clean it and said when he did the white is coming off with cleaning and black spots showing ! What needs to be done to fix or repair ????

6 Replies

  • His roof is probably a EDPM rubber roof. It's a sheet of rubber, black on the bottom with a white top layer. The sun and weather takes it's toll and the white layer wears away. Doesn't mean the roof is shot or that it will leak but it is getting old. If he's up to it search for Liquid Roof/Liquid Rubber. It's the same EDPM rubber as the original. A 2 part system you mix then apply to the old roof, after it's thoroughly cleaned. It's a messy job but not that hard. He'll end up with a brand new layer of rubber on top bonded to the hold roof. It comes in pure white, Liquid Rubber, and off white, Liquid Roof. They're identical compounds, Liquid Rubber marketed for commercial roofs, Liquid Roof for RV's.
  • Many years ago I re-coated my roof with a product from the RV industry. 3 Years later I was inspecting my roof. I found white powder on my hands and knees. In defense of the product i must admit I did no maintenance.

    Now I'm going to open a can of worms. I do not sell and will never sell a roof coating to the RV industry. My roof has the perfect coating (Silicone Rubber).

    Before you attack me please read this article: http://fiberglassswimmingpools.blogspot.com/

    The perfect RV roof coating is probably a flow-able oxime cure silicone rubber. My roof is 100% waterproof. It's unaffected by UV. I can clean it with acetone. (That's what I used to remove pine pitch). It withstands -70% to +350%. It adheres to metal, rubber, plastics and many other sub-straits. It expands and contracts without loosing adhesion.

    I'll never have to think about coating my roof again.
  • mikebreeze wrote:
    In my opinion, he should start thinking about another roof.


    x2, consider rhino lining or line-x also.
    bumpy
  • It's not going to be snow white. There will be some imperfections or black spots in the roof. As long as he doesn't have any leaks, he should be happy. Now, if that is the original roof on a 1998 RV, that is 16 years old. In my opinion, he should start thinking about another roof.