Recaulk Your Roof
Hey, All.
I'm posting this here because I own a 2009 Snow River camper, but the message is applicable to all RV's. Reseal your roof fixtures at least every two years!
I wasn't aware of this simple PM rule and now have $15,000 worth of water damage to my unit. The entire rear entry wall has rotted away because one 25 cent screw didn't grab and the end of the rear awning hold down bracket appears to have lifted before the original sealant cured. My technician believes the camper has been leaking since day one.
You're going to ask how we didn't notice this, but all the exterior walls are Luan and the interior walls are all vinyl wrapped, so the water was totally hidden and wasn't discovered until we were prepping for a long weekend away and there was water in the shower pan, when no one had used it for 3-4 months.
The water inside the rear wall was sufficient enough to push the shower caulking out of its way and travelled down the interior wall into the pan. Further investigation revealed rot in both rear corners, in all the rear and basement storage areas, around the rear corner of the slide out side and in the rear portion of the roof.
Even today, knowing the damage is there, its very difficult to see any evidence inside. No leaks, no smell, nothing. It wasn't until I drilled a hole in the corner of the shower ceiling, discovered wet insulation and could pick apart the roofing plywood with a fingernail, that I realized we had a serious problem.
Thank God for insurance....hope the photos work and you can see the damage.
Technician says the brown stain is indicative of dirt and water intrusion before sealant had cured.
I'm posting this here because I own a 2009 Snow River camper, but the message is applicable to all RV's. Reseal your roof fixtures at least every two years!
I wasn't aware of this simple PM rule and now have $15,000 worth of water damage to my unit. The entire rear entry wall has rotted away because one 25 cent screw didn't grab and the end of the rear awning hold down bracket appears to have lifted before the original sealant cured. My technician believes the camper has been leaking since day one.
You're going to ask how we didn't notice this, but all the exterior walls are Luan and the interior walls are all vinyl wrapped, so the water was totally hidden and wasn't discovered until we were prepping for a long weekend away and there was water in the shower pan, when no one had used it for 3-4 months.
The water inside the rear wall was sufficient enough to push the shower caulking out of its way and travelled down the interior wall into the pan. Further investigation revealed rot in both rear corners, in all the rear and basement storage areas, around the rear corner of the slide out side and in the rear portion of the roof.
Even today, knowing the damage is there, its very difficult to see any evidence inside. No leaks, no smell, nothing. It wasn't until I drilled a hole in the corner of the shower ceiling, discovered wet insulation and could pick apart the roofing plywood with a fingernail, that I realized we had a serious problem.
Thank God for insurance....hope the photos work and you can see the damage.
Technician says the brown stain is indicative of dirt and water intrusion before sealant had cured.
