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Road_Phantom's avatar
Road_Phantom
Explorer
Dec 02, 2016

hail ruined my roof

My 5th wheel got hit with hail in El Paso. I'm getting it redone, thanks to Geico. The RV shop wants to replace it with a PVC skin, claiming that it's better than the original rubber roof.
Anyone know if this is true? I'll pay extra if it is.
  • edatlanta wrote:
    Road Phantom wrote:
    My 5th wheel got hit with hail in El Paso. I'm getting it redone, thanks to Geico. The RV shop wants to replace it with a PVC skin, claiming that it's better than the original rubber roof.
    Anyone know if this is true? I'll pay extra if it is.


    If you are getting a roof replaced I highly recommend you take a look Here.

    I had mine done this past January and it is the best thing I have ever done to my RV. And zero caulking to worry about.

    Check my previous posts back in January 2016.


    I think this is the route I would go too.
  • check to be sure that the TPO does [COLOR=]NOT have the felt backing.
    bumpy
  • Road Phantom wrote:
    My 5th wheel got hit with hail in El Paso. I'm getting it redone, thanks to Geico. The RV shop wants to replace it with a PVC skin, claiming that it's better than the original rubber roof.
    Anyone know if this is true? I'll pay extra if it is.


    If you are getting a roof replaced I highly recommend you take a look Here.

    I had mine done this past January and it is the best thing I have ever done to my RV. And zero caulking to worry about.

    Check my previous posts back in January 2016.
  • If it is TPO, it is a step up from EPDM, which gets generally called "rubber." RV manufacturers generally use one of these two.

    PVC roofing membranes have been around for almost 50 years, and while they will de-gas plasticizers, the materials have shown about 30 year durability in commercial use.

    While TPO membranes don't have plasticizers, durability is really unknown. TPO RV fabrics usually come with 20 year warranties, but current formulations have been in use less than five years. TPO was introduced as an alternative to PVC, with supposed advantages of better weather resistance but long term benefits vs PVC have yet to be demonstrated.

    The PVC is probably going to be 10 to 20 cents per square foot more expensive than TPO, depending on thickness and grade. There are at least four different grades of PVC roofing membrane and thicknesses range from 30 to 60 mils.

    Get the installer to explain why the PVC is better than TPO or EDPM alternatives.
  • Road Phantom wrote:
    My 5th wheel got hit with hail in El Paso. I'm getting it redone, thanks to Geico. The RV shop wants to replace it with a PVC skin, claiming that it's better than the original rubber roof.
    Anyone know if this is true? I'll pay extra if it is.


    I assume that they are talking about using TPO which would be, IMHO, a step up from rubber.
    bumpy