best way to recover a roof

pianotuna wrote:

Alan_Hepburn wrote:
We just had our roof done by the folks at RV-Armor earlier this year - it costs a bit more, but it's one that has a lifetime warranty tied to the vehicle's VIN so it's transferable. It took a total of 3 days to complete the job, and they came out to where we were parked. Very happy with the results so far.

Hi Alan,

May I ask what size / type your RV is?

What was the approximate cost?

Be aware, "RV-Armor" is nothing more than another rolled on paint system..

See HERE


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While the offer a "lifetime" warranty, I am highly skeptical of any "lifetime" warranties..

Lifetime as in the person's lifetime?

Lifetime as in the lifetime of the RV?

Lifetime as in the lifetime of the company?

The claim up to 30%-50% lower cost than a tear off and new roof material..

Sounds like a deal but the thought of paying half as much for a new roof for some rubberized paint splattered onto an old wornout and cracked roofing membrane doesn't really make for a good long lasting roof..

Adhesion and thickness of the coating is going to be a huge factor in whether it lasts a couple of yrs or 10 yrs.. Unless they apply multiple layers (coats)it will never have the thickness of the original wear layer and no matter what is done will never have the adhesion bond of the original wear layer.

For short term ownership to make it look pretty for the next owner it might make financial sense since you could perhaps squeeze a few more bucks out of the novice newly minted RV owner.. But to me that would be untruthful and unethical..

Alan_Hepburn wrote:
We just had our roof done by the folks at RV-Armor earlier this year - it costs a bit more, but it's one that has a lifetime warranty tied to the vehicle's VIN so it's transferable. It took a total of 3 days to complete the job, and they came out to where we were parked. Very happy with the results so far.

Hi Alan,

May I ask what size / type your RV is?

What was the approximate cost?

theoldwizard1 wrote:
First, I commend you for "doing the right thing", a complete re-roof ! It is the only way to know if there is damage to the roof deck and/or the supports. Any flexible roof covering has a life of about 10 years. UV (sunlight) is the enemy. Biannual washing and treatment with a UV protecting will help extend the life.

EPDM or TPO are the only realistic options. TPO comes in different grades/thicknesses. TPO does require some special tools to weld the TPO.

Washing, scrubbing, painting and such does not "extend" the life of a membrane roof. It can actually reduce the overall live by removing the wear (white) layer at a faster rate. Any soap or detergent strong enough to remove dirt will remove layers of the white wear layer, heck even the rain and snow remove microscopic particles of the wear layer.

Painting the roof only covers and hides the fact that the roofs life is over..

Many "products" that claim to rejuvenate or prevent UV exposure must be water based to prevent damage to the membrane, guess what happens when the very first rain hits that product.. It runs right off and you must apply again when dry.

Once the white wear layer is gone, the roof simply needs replaced anything short of replacement is a temporary bandaid that you must keep reapplying.

Have owned cars with vinyl roofs and I know quite few folks who have convertible top roof cars and replacing the soft roofs is part of the life of ownership of those cars. Once it starts going, it is done and nothing short of replacing will fix that.

pianotuna wrote:
Gdetrailer,

Is your roof flat? Mine is curved. I like the aluminum idea.

dougrainer,

Redecking sounds expensive. But I do value your advice.

My roof has the typicalRV slight curve so it is about 1 inch higher in the middle than the sides. It actually started out it's life with a aluminum roof, but the previous owner tragically shot thousands of little tiny air nails through the roof as they attempted a repair/remodel that was a epic fail. Moral of story, don't use powered nailers when remodeling a RV, you can't tell if you hit the narrow studs or blew through them..

5 yrs ago I did entertain covering with aluminum roofing, but as with even the membrane roofs the issue became finding a place that was willing to order and have the capability of receiving over sized freight via semi trailer.. Basically has a shipping dock.

I had neither a means to be at home at time of delivery or a shipping dock which would make life easier at the time. I was working at a place which has a shipping dock, but management frowned on having personal non business shipping hit the docks and working there for many yrs had to deal with a lot of materials that got lost on the dock or damaged on the dock..

Both aluminum rolls and roof membrane large enough to cover in one piece (too make for a seamless roof) requires truck shipping and consider that the roofing will mean at a minimum of 9ft wide roll I found that Peel and Stick to be a good compromise which allows for normal carrier shipping and handling.

Right now, I would hate to see what a large one piece run of aluminum roofing would cost :E

The Peel & Seal is designed to be applied to flat or pitched roofs, it works so well for us that when we needed our house reroofed, the roofers mentioned that our dormer had too small of pitch for shingles.. They recommended a "cousin" of the Peel & Seal which is a self stick black rubber/asphalt membrane system that is then covered with a second self stick membrane which has the roof gravel on.. The beauty of the self stick is there is no nails, screws or any fasteners needed to go through it. Has another benefit, it is "self healing" if one needs to run a screw or nail through it, the rubber/asphalt makes a water tight seal around the screw or nail.

I have also used Peel & Stick as a "flashing" and seam sealer on my metal garage roof which started leaking at the seams in places..

I would prefer something a bit more lifetime permanent like one piece aluminum, but so far the Peel & Seal is working great for me.

We just had our roof done by the folks at RV-Armor earlier this year - it costs a bit more, but it's one that has a lifetime warranty tied to the vehicle's VIN so it's transferable. It took a total of 3 days to complete the job, and they came out to where we were parked. Very happy with the results so far.

What about those companies that spray or roll on a roof that's guaranteed for life?

pianotuna wrote:
Gdetrailer,

Is your roof flat? Mine is curved. I like the aluminum idea.

dougrainer,

Redecking sounds expensive. But I do value your advice.

Well, You CANNOT install EPDM or TPO over the existing EPDM/TPO. You CANNOT install new EPDM/TPO over the existing wood subdeck after you remove the OLD EPDM/TPO. You HAVE to redeck. You overlay the new decking with Wood Glue/screws. Doug

theoldwizard1 wrote:
First, I commend you for "doing the right thing", a complete re-roof ! It is the only way to know if there is damage to the roof deck and/or the supports. Any flexible roof covering has a life of about 10 years. UV (sunlight) is the enemy. Biannual washing and treatment with a UV protecting will help extend the life.

EPDM or TPO are the only realistic options. TPO comes in different grades/thicknesses. TPO does require some special tools to weld the TPO.

Please explain welding. There is NO welding on EPDM or TPO roofs. Doug

First, I commend you for "doing the right thing", a complete re-roof ! It is the only way to know if there is damage to the roof deck and/or the supports. Any flexible roof covering has a life of about 10 years. UV (sunlight) is the enemy. Biannual washing and treatment with a UV protecting will help extend the life.

EPDM or TPO are the only realistic options. TPO comes in different grades/thicknesses. TPO does require some special tools to weld the TPO.

I know that eternabond is available in a four foot wide roll.