Surprised by roof inspection

Huntindog wrote:
Have you EVER looked at the roof? If it didn't look like that when new (it probably didn't) then it shouldn't look like that now.
It looks to me like water has already begun its damage. You say you have found 3 holes. That means it has at least 3 leaks.
You can band aid it if you want. Or fix it right.
If you have insurance, call them. Fixing it right is a big job. Once opened up, you may find much more damage than you can imagine.

Bought the trailer in 2012 when it was three years old (its a 2009). I did not go on the roof for the first inspection, I did not know better like I do now.

I do not have any evidence that it leaks but fixed three small tears/holes less than 1/4" with the patch and sealed the outside with leveling compound. Before this patch I drove this trailer through driving rain, once two weeks ago and once a year ago.

What's behind it? Dunno, feels like sawdust or maybe it is rot, but it seemed to hold my small frame of 210 pounds.

Right now I park under an overhang in the storage place. Figured that until it exhibits more issues or leaks I will continue to enjoy it. :)

Done!

Listen to Doug....put a bit of eternabond tape on it and be done with it.

Tachdriver wrote:
After looking at it, it feels as if there is some sawdust underneath and not rot.

And for the others, no I will not use silicone. I am going to my RV dealer and see what they have to patch and seal it. I don't believe silicone will stick very well to this material and I don't mind spending a little bit more money on materials to ensure it works until I can feel safe about using alternative materials.

Thanks all for the input.

Bear in mind your RV dealer is likely to tell you that what they have in stock is the best product, even if they just sold the last of the actual best product.

If it were mine, I would cut the EPDM enough to look underneath and verify it's just sawdust vs crumbling wood. If the wood is OK, I would seal the cut with Eternabond then caulk those edges with the right self leveling sealant, Dicor or whatever.

Dave H M wrote:
tackman, how does the bumpy area under the loose roof feel. Pic makes me think it is layer or layers of the sub roofing swelling/loosening due to moisture.

If it were mine I would have to have a look under one of those blisters for sure.

I got lost in all the whizzing that started and did not real all the posts fully.

Let us know how it turns out.

good luck.

After looking at it, it feels as if there is some sawdust underneath and not rot.

And for the others, no I will not use silicone. I am going to my RV dealer and see what they have to patch and seal it. I don't believe silicone will stick very well to this material and I don't mind spending a little bit more money on materials to ensure it works until I can feel safe about using alternative materials.

Thanks all for the input.

Almot wrote:

Bird Freak wrote:
Your first post was wrong. Silicone will not last long on this.

It looks like I repeated again that wrong assumption that I made earlier - that people always use their ... and so on :)

There was nothing in my first post about silicone. Key word here is not even "compatible", but "suitable".
Dicor lap sealant is compatible and suitable.
Geocel EPDM sealant is compatible and suitable.
Exterior Polyurethane caulk is compatible and suitable.
Silicone is "compatible" with EPDM, it will adhere, it will not "ruin" the roof, but I would not use it, it's not suitable for this application, and not only because of shorter life.

Read the label before using caulk. And think.

Silicone does NOT stick to EPDM---PERIOD. It can be used as a temporary patch until you get the correct material. For THAT matter, Silicone will NOT adhere correctly to Fiberglass(Fiberglass roofs). Doug

Bird Freak wrote:
Your first post was wrong. Silicone will not last long on this.

It looks like I repeated again that wrong assumption that I made earlier - that people always use their ... and so on :)

There was nothing in my first post about silicone. Key word here is not even "compatible", but "suitable".
Dicor lap sealant is compatible and suitable.
Geocel EPDM sealant is compatible and suitable.
Exterior Polyurethane caulk is compatible and suitable.
Silicone is "compatible" with EPDM, it will adhere, it will not "ruin" the roof, but I would not use it, it's not suitable for this application, and not only because of shorter life.

Read the label before using caulk. And think.

Almot wrote:
Yes, EPDM compatible sealant. Doesn't mean "EPDM compatible sealant. (Dicor)", does it?

Yes, you have to use a sealant suitable for purpose. Hold hammer by the handle, duh. I wrongly assumed that people always use their brains :)

EPDM = synthetic rubber. Some caulks will adhere to EPDM better, some worse. On a small pinhole the difference between better and worse will be negligible.

And what the heck means "ruin" the roof? Dissolving the rubber? Then this is not "ruin". This is how you make the bond when it can't be done in any other way - dissolving the surface of rubber, PVC, etc. Though this is more common in glues than caulks. I'm curious, what kind of caulk, if applied on a pinhole, can "ruin" EPDM roof so badly that a different and more complicated repair method would have to be used?

Why do you insist on this? Your first post was wrong. Silicone will not last long on this. Just use a little eternabond and forget it. No need to keep checking it and it will be there forever.

Yes, EPDM compatible sealant. Doesn't mean "EPDM compatible sealant. (Dicor)", does it?

Yes, you have to use a sealant suitable for purpose. Hold hammer by the handle, duh. I wrongly assumed that people always use their brains :)

EPDM = synthetic rubber. Some caulks will adhere to EPDM better, some worse. On a small pinhole the difference between better and worse will be negligible.

And what the heck means "ruin" the roof? Dissolving the rubber? Then this is not "ruin". This is how you make the bond when it can't be done in any other way - dissolving the surface of rubber, PVC, etc. Though this is more common in glues than caulks. I'm curious, what kind of caulk, if applied on a pinhole, can "ruin" EPDM roof so badly that a different and more complicated repair method would have to be used?