What's the better roof?

Ya, saying goodby to black streaks with a rubber roof was the biggest plus I thought for the fiberglass roof we have now. Also added some vent covers and changed the TV antenna and the lap sealant was a snap to get off - not near the trauma of trying to clean it off a rubber roof.

I always liked the HR metal roofs and siding, but the hail around here in CO can make short work of them.

Fortunately I have never had roof issues. However, I always start any RV washing with the roof, so mine is always clean. Funny...never had any of those black streaks on the sides of my RV I hear others talk of either.

We have had aluminum, rubber, and fiberglass roofs. As far as ease of cleaning, I would vote for fiberglass.

The best roof hands down is the one that never leaks, and requires minimal maintenance. Please let me know when one is found....

The key as mentioned above is proper care, the question on a used coach is if the previous owner / owners properly cared for it. I feel the more frequent the required care ( regularly washing with special cleaners for EPDM, and TPO, ...), the less likely they kept up with it.

I have had rubber, filon, & fiberglass and all performed flawlessly. I'm on the roof regularly & wash maybe 4 times a year. I do find that the fiberglass products don't seem to get chalky with age like the rubber. Regardless, with proper care all should last a very long time.

tinkerer wrote:
Not taking sides here but my motorhome is 11 years old with a rubber roof and it looks like new. But I clean it with the proper cleaner and put on the treatment once a year.

IMHO, you're in the sweet spot. Somewhere between 10-15 years (depending on how well you take care of it) there are no worries. Then all of a sudden crazing will appear, maybe even enough shrinkage where things pull away from their fasteners. Dicor and rubber roof paint to the rescue for another 5-10 years of trouble free service.

Not taking sides here but my motorhome is 11 years old with a rubber roof and it looks like new. But I clean it with the proper cleaner and put on the treatment once a year.

My Monaco coach has the heavy gauge aluminum roof. I can walk all over it and even put chairs on the roof if I want to. It is a peaked aluminum roof with one seam down the middle. It is heavy enough and insulated enough that rain is not a noise issue. I am positive that no one is using this roof now as there are much cheaper, and inferior, roofing materials out there.

Neither...metal.....

IMO

fiberglass is easier to care for, and will outlast TPO EPDM etc..

i've had them including Alu