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Veebyes's avatar
Veebyes
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2019

Roof freckles

My rubber roof has freckles. 12 years old. Cleaned at least twice a year. Have used TV roof cleaner & conditioner. Also 303. Stored indoors 7 months each year. How to clean? Will chlorine based product like Soft Scrub damage it?
  • I think the black streaks are actually the white coating washing off the roof, leaving the black spots. I fixed the issue two ways. I used a product called RainKap that diverts any runoff away from the sides of your RV (way superior to the gutter spouts IMHO), and I recoated the roof with Hengs, which has stayed nice and white with no black soot spots. It also had the side benefit of cooling down the RV significantly. Unfortunately, it looks like the RainKap product is no longer made.
  • Veebyes wrote:
    It matters plenty. Road soot collects on the roof, gets wet &washes down the sides as black streaks. Fine if you don't particularly care about the appearance of your rig & what that eventually has to do with its value. Did the roof of mine today giving it a good going over after a 3 1/2 month seven thousand mile trip. Followed the cleaning with a good application of 303.
    Mine has rain gutters that work real good. I get no streaks down the sides. As far as resale....last two I traded in and the price I got was sight unseen. Dealers never laid eyes on them until I showed up to do the deal. In all honesty I would put the condition of mine up against anybody's. After a few years there is no resale value anyway.

    B.O.
  • Agree with Plenty - almost all rubber roofs develop this issue and IMO it's cosmetic issue and unlikely to be related to black streak (if it doesn't come off with soap/water why would it come off with rain?) When I wanted a perfect roof I would send my son's up top with a bar of lava soap enclosed in a thick sock .. they would lightly scrub the roof and it would like like new. Hope this helps.
  • It matters plenty. Road soot collects on the roof, gets wet &washes down the sides as black streaks. Fine if you don't particularly care about the appearance of your rig & what that eventually has to do with its value. Did the roof of mine today giving it a good going over after a 3 1/2 month seven thousand mile trip. Followed the cleaning with a good application of 303.
  • Why does it matter? Mine gets washed maybe every year or so. Just want to get the big stuff off. I don't wash the roof on my house why the RV?

    B.O.

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