hail ruined my roof
My 5th wheel got hit with hail in El Paso. I'm getting it redone, thanks to Geico. The RV shop wants to replace it with a PVC skin, claiming that it's better than the original rubber roof. Anyone k...
Forum Discussion
If it is TPO, it is a step up from EPDM, which gets generally called "rubber." RV manufacturers generally use one of these two.
PVC roofing membranes have been around for almost 50 years, and while they will de-gas plasticizers, the materials have shown about 30 year durability in commercial use.
While TPO membranes don't have plasticizers, durability is really unknown. TPO RV fabrics usually come with 20 year warranties, but current formulations have been in use less than five years. TPO was introduced as an alternative to PVC, with supposed advantages of better weather resistance but long term benefits vs PVC have yet to be demonstrated.
The PVC is probably going to be 10 to 20 cents per square foot more expensive than TPO, depending on thickness and grade. There are at least four different grades of PVC roofing membrane and thicknesses range from 30 to 60 mils.
Get the installer to explain why the PVC is better than TPO or EDPM alternatives.
PVC roofing membranes have been around for almost 50 years, and while they will de-gas plasticizers, the materials have shown about 30 year durability in commercial use.
While TPO membranes don't have plasticizers, durability is really unknown. TPO RV fabrics usually come with 20 year warranties, but current formulations have been in use less than five years. TPO was introduced as an alternative to PVC, with supposed advantages of better weather resistance but long term benefits vs PVC have yet to be demonstrated.
The PVC is probably going to be 10 to 20 cents per square foot more expensive than TPO, depending on thickness and grade. There are at least four different grades of PVC roofing membrane and thicknesses range from 30 to 60 mils.
Get the installer to explain why the PVC is better than TPO or EDPM alternatives.
