TPO Roof Sealant...?

[fritzrs]

I have a TPO (plastic) roof on a new 2014 RV. I’m looking for a self-leveling TPO sealant in customer friendly 3-5 oz tube (like bathtub silicone sealant found at Home Depot). Dicor only has it in industrial size caulking gun tubes, gallons and buckets. Most RV owners don’t carry caulking guns.
Question: Does anyone have or know a mfr who makes a good TPO sealant in smaller 3-5 oz tubes (for roof maintenance)...?
Funny I can buy silicone sealant in smaller maintenance size 3-5 oz tubes from many sources. But TPO roof sealant is only in massive product sizes. I guess I have to wait until roof fails and needs total replacement before buying TPO sealant in buckets, barrels or gun application sizes.
Very odd... Thanks... :h

[randrx2]

I went and looked at unit on a dealers lot. Date of manufacturer for the house portion was 01/13. It was a TPO roof. I do not know the story of why Winnebago did this. I am guessing they were trying to cut costs and realized that it may not be benificial to change thier manufacturing for one model. Plus they would have to change all their literature that says "All our units come with fiberglass roofs"!

[fritzrs]

Hi Randrx2 and Road Dog,
My Winnebago roof is definitely not fiberglass.
Motor Home Component Information (MHCI) sheet for my 2014 Minnie Winnie, failed to list the actual roof material used on my RV. So I wrote Winnebago with my RV model (and serial number) and received this reply:
“I have attached documentation of the Dicor TPO Roof that you have on your motor home.”
Information Winnebago sent to me was for BriteTEK TPO Plastic roof made by Dicor Products.
So... my Minnie Winnie roof is not fiberglass, not EPDM (rubber)... but TPO Plastic (thermoplastic olefin). Dicor website calls it a thermoformed flexible plastic.

[Road_Dog]

According to Winnebago's literature, you have a fiberglass roof. I don't believe it's plastic! You might want to give them a call and double check. Winnebago says that all their models have fiberglass roofs!

[randrx2]

fritzrs wrote:
Hi Randrx2,
Yep, our 2014 Minnie Winnie has a TPO (plastic) roof. I only hope it’s as tough as that plastic covering my steak last night. I use Murphy’s Oil Soap and a super soft brush to wash it (maintenance).
I do wish it had been built with a full fiberglass ‘cap’ type roof (zero leaks).

That's strange. I thought ALL Winnebagos had fiberglass roofs. They even advertise that all their coaches have them.

[John_Joey]

fritzrs wrote:
Hi John and Joey,
That’s a problem, open that huge tube of sealant, use 1-2 oz. and do what throw it away???...

Buy the normal size tube of Dicor, then use your 1-2 oz and seal the tip with several layers of electrical tape. Take several turns around the nozzle and you'll be just fine. I had one of those in my rig for a year before I needed to use it again. It was just fine.

[westend]

The most likely reason that the RV sealants are sold in 16 oz. cartridges is that it is often not enough to reseal most of the joints on the roof.

What I do with sealant cartridges is to use one of the cone type caps and tape that onto the unused cartridge. I know some folks even refrigerate the unused cartridge and that promotes longevity.

Some of the polymer sealants don't last long in an opened tube but at $6-$8 per cartridge I don't lose a lot of sleep over losing a half cartridge.

[fritzrs]

Hi John and Joey,
That’s a problem, open that huge tube of sealant, use 1-2 oz. and do what throw it away???
I understand buying construction sized tubes if I was removing and replacing a couple vents or re-sealing the entire roof edge. But for small annual maintenance repairs of a seam 1-2 inches it appears expensive, wasteful and illogical. I can find quality marine sealant in smaller maintenance sized, re-closable tubes... but not RV sealant.
IMO, opportunity missed by the mfr. Ho-hummm...

[fritzrs]

Hi Randrx2,
Yep, our 2014 Minnie Winnie has a TPO (plastic) roof. I only hope it’s as tough as that plastic covering my steak last night. I use Murphy’s Oil Soap and a super soft brush to wash it (maintenance).
I do wish it had been built with a full fiberglass ‘cap’ type roof (zero leaks).

[John_Joey]

Buy the tube and carry a gun with you when you travel. On the road roof repairs are very uncommon, but they do happen. If not for your rig, maybe your neighbors. That's exactly what happened to me while in Tunica, MS. The guy next to me had a newer rig, and after a big rain storm it was leaking like crazy in one corner.

[randrx2]

Fritzrs,

Did your Minnie Winnie come with a TPO roof? I thought all Winnebagos were fiberglass roofs.

Thank you.

[fritzrs]

Thanks guys... Seems DAP and Dow make sealant in 3oz and 5.5oz size for maintenance jobs. Now if I can only get Dicor or Alpha to do the same...

3M makes adhesive sealants in small tubes too... but they haven't gotten back to me on 3M products approved for EPDM-rubber or TPO-plastic roof uses.

[Ron3rd]

Dicor is commonly used on both tpo and epdm. It will work fine if you choose to use it. Apparently Alpha pushes their own brand of sealants on their website.

Can't help the OP with the smaller tube though, I've never seen one, only the big caulking tubes. I agree with the OP that a small tube would be nice for small jobs.

[tbred]

If it helps, I have a new alpha ply roof on my new 2013. I called Alpha systems direct and was told it is indeed a TPO type roof. The customer service rep I spoke with also told me the Dicor self leveling lap sealant is fine to use on this roof. Sorry that doesn't help with a smaller product size. I tried to get the Alpha sealant but no one will ship it due to hazardous materials status.

[Judgerr]

This might help!tells how to tell diff between TPO and EPDM!


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