I check my roof twice a year for cracks in the sealant around the various seams. Since I have a 2010 era "Lite" trailer I cannot walk on the roof without laying down plywood and must do my inspection from a ladder at the side.As a result, other than to wash off debris with a hose, there is not a good way to scrub and reseal.It is an EPDM roof and to date has no signs of water leaks. I hesitate to attempt to put my 200 lb. frame on the roof, even with a the plywood. I last thing I want to do is stress the roof and create a leak.I wonder how others have addressed this issue or if they even worry about sealing the roof other than to check the seals?

My RV dealership, from which I purchased new, said to clean it with mild soap, using a car wash type brush, twice per year. Idea is just to remove sap, bird droppings etc. They said to check for cracks in sealer, dicor, etc, but no other roof preserving product needed.I am in the camp that thinks the less walking on the roof the better. Even though my roof is walkable for my 175 lbs, I still use pieces of 2" thick extruded foam, to move about when up there. It is rigid, but light wt, and will not tear/harm rubber, like plywood might.Jerry

I can walk on mine, a 10 yr old 5er. I wash it once a year with one of the long brushes that fits to a water hose and a car washing liquid. And have never treated it. Last year I did have to apply some Dicor in a few places where some of the caulking was starting to crack. And replaced the plastic attic vents. We typically use ours for a few short trips and one long trip each year. Otherwise it is in covered storage.

I crawl around on mine when I am inspecting or covering. I don't clean my roof. It gets a rinse when it rains.

Ours is stored inside...so it stays fairly clean. I do inspect seams and openings twice a year...and have washed it when I have nothing else to do, but not often.

Twice a year, wash with RV rubber roof cleaner and RV rubber roof treatment. In the Spring (usually, late April if weather warms up good), and usually October. If black streaking starts on the side between April and October, I'll wash it down with just a long handled brush and water. No soap. This usually takes care of it. I do not get on the roof washing it. I do get on the roof to treat it, since I apply with a sponge and then use a squeegie to spread it around. And on an arched roof, that's a real trick!Maybe I'm a bit anal here, but I think taking care of the roof properly is THE most important thing to do to a camper! Absolutely the most.

How often do you clean or treat you roof. | Good Sam Community

MFL
Nomad II
Feb 06, 2017
My RV dealership, from which I purchased new, said to clean it with mild soap, using a car wash type brush, twice per year. Idea is just to remove sap, bird droppings etc. They said to check for cracks in sealer, dicor, etc, but no other roof preserving product needed.

I am in the camp that thinks the less walking on the roof the better. Even though my roof is walkable for my 175 lbs, I still use pieces of 2" thick extruded foam, to move about when up there. It is rigid, but light wt, and will not tear/harm rubber, like plywood might.

Jerry
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 06, 2017
I can walk on mine, a 10 yr old 5er. I wash it once a year with one of the long brushes that fits to a water hose and a car washing liquid. And have never treated it. Last year I did have to apply some Dicor in a few places where some of the caulking was starting to crack. And replaced the plastic attic vents.

We typically use ours for a few short trips and one long trip each year. Otherwise it is in covered storage.
korbe
Explorer
Feb 06, 2017
I crawl around on mine when I am inspecting or covering. I don't clean my roof. It gets a rinse when it rains.
downtheroad
Explorer
Feb 06, 2017
Ours is stored inside...so it stays fairly clean. I do inspect seams and openings twice a year...and have washed it when I have nothing else to do, but not often.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Feb 06, 2017
Twice a year, wash with RV rubber roof cleaner and RV rubber roof treatment. In the Spring (usually, late April if weather warms up good), and usually October. If black streaking starts on the side between April and October, I'll wash it down with just a long handled brush and water. No soap. This usually takes care of it. I do not get on the roof washing it. I do get on the roof to treat it, since I apply with a sponge and then use a squeegie to spread it around. And on an arched roof, that's a real trick!

Maybe I'm a bit anal here, but I think taking care of the roof properly is THE most important thing to do to a camper! Absolutely the most.
llowllms
Explorer
Feb 06, 2017
I just purchased a 2016 and the dealership suggested once a year to clean with a roof cleaner that contained a UV additive. Traded in a 2005 on this and did the same with it. In all fairness though, I did replace the roof material in 2015.
Community Alumni
Feb 06, 2017
Each spring with Dawn dish soap.
ScottG
Nomad
Feb 06, 2017
Almost never. Washing only shortens the life span by removing part of the white protective layer.
I inspect it several times a year ans so far, I have only had to touch up a couple of spots of caulking.
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 06, 2017
ScottG wrote:
Almost never. Washing only shortens the life span by removing part of the white protective layer.
I inspect it several times a year ans so far, I have only had to touch up a couple of spots of caulking.

We have a winner!!

Many years ago I looked into this. I actually posted about my findings here on this forum at that time.

Dicor on their website had a FAQ section... And roof washing was one of their top questions. Back then Dicor frowned on roof washing. Said it was not necessary. If one really wanted to do it, they could using either spic and span or Murphys oil soap... I forget which one.

Dicor said that Carlise made the roofing for them to their specifications (likely rolls of the width needed for RVs)

So I went to the Carlise website. At that time they were the largest manufacturer of the stuff, and it was originally made for commercial buildings. It came in two colors. Black or white. The warranty did NOT require washing it... They said that the only reason to wash it, would be if one wanted to maintain the reflectivity of the white version. The stuff is impervious to dirt, mold etc... In fact their website actually had a picture featuring a building with a live roof.. Plants, grasses etc. growing on a roof of a large commercial building... Under the live roof was the roof membrane.

Years later, and Dicor has changed their tune about roof washing... Oh the material hasn't changed any. They just kept getting questions from RVers wanting to wash their roofs... So they recognized a buisiness opportunity and came up with a product to do it.

The bottom line is that it isn't needed.

In fact it can be dangerous. Soap and water on a roof that is 10-12 feet in the air... Pretty slippery to be on it. The fall is gonna hurt if you slip off of it.
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 06, 2017
General cleaning or treatment... never
Spot clean to apply Dicor over existing caulk as needed... every 2 or 3 years