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Beating a Dead horse...Roof Cleaner\Conditioner

DinTulsa
Explorer
Explorer
I have plans to clean and condition the roof of my rv. I'm planning on using the Dicor Roof cleaner and UV protector solutions. I've tried to search this forum with mixed results. Any input would be appreciated.
19 REPLIES 19

LarryJM
Explorer II
Explorer II
DownTheAvenue wrote:
2oldman wrote:
My owner's manual says I don't need to do anything. I don't consider this a conspiracy to make my roof degrade faster.


This is exactly correct. The EPDM roofing material "sheds" as it is exposed to UV light. That material "shed" from the roof actually shields the remaining material from the UV light and prolongs the life of the roof. EPDM roofing material is widely used in commercial applications, primarily on flat roofs such as warehouses and factories, and those roofs are never washed and coated with a "protectant".


IMO THE CORRECT ANSWER. Want to wear out your roof quicker then mess around with it and spend $$$ on cleaners/conditioners, etc. I haven't touched mine in almost 9 years except for inspections and intend to keep doing what has worked so far.

As far a black streaks, I have none from the roof since I installed the RainKap system.

Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
RAINKAP INSTALL////ETERNABOND INSTALL

poppin_fresh
Explorer
Explorer
falconbrother wrote:
CW told me that if I don't get up there once a year it voids the roof warranty. So, I have to clean it and treat it every year to maintain the ten year roof warranty. And, I have to document that with receipts etc.. Based on what the guy that gave us the walk-around was saying I have little to no confidence that the warranties will be honored without lots of fussing and fighting if I need it in a few years.


Just keep in mind that the "10 year warranty" is only for the membrane itself, which is unlikely to disintegrate and fail.

If the manufacturer did a crappy job at installing it, or there is a leak at a seam, you are out of luck. Those are on you to inspect and keep maintained.
2016 Bullet 274BHS
2015 Silverado 1500 Double Cab
Andersen WDH

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Explorer II
Tom/Barb wrote:
Good old soap and water does it for us.

then a good hard wax, no need to buff it out. Johnson's paste is as goo as it get,


since epdm roofs all say NEVER use any petroleum distilates on the roof, I'd stay away from any paste wax. virtually all of them have petroleum distilates mixed in whatever they use for was.
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!

spoon059
Explorer II
Explorer II
falconbrother wrote:
CW told me that if I don't get up there once a year it voids the roof warranty. So, I have to clean it and treat it every year to maintain the ten year roof warranty. And, I have to document that with receipts etc.. Based on what the guy that gave us the walk-around was saying I have little to no confidence that the warranties will be honored without lots of fussing and fighting if I need it in a few years.

Nonsense... get that in writing from them about their requirements. Oh, by the way, the warranty is through the MANUFACTURER for that warranty, not Camping World. The MANUFACTURER would have to require yearly treatment and would have to provide a list of acceptable treatments.

And more nonsense, I am fairly certain that most RV's clearly state that you have to check it 3-4 times per year... not simply once per year. All you have to do is INSPECT it and MAINTAIN any deficiencies (failed caulking, hole in roof) to maintain your warranty.

And one other thing... I have never met a single person who has ever had the rubber roof fail. I have only heard of a single person on the internet (edatlanta on this forum) who has ever had the rubber roof fail. Everybody that has issues with leaking from the roof is from the poor quality caulk that is used. The caulk fails and allows water in. Your warranty with Alpha Systems (manufacturer) doesn't cover a shoddy caulk job.
2015 Ram CTD
2015 Jayco 29QBS

falconbrother
Explorer II
Explorer II
CW told me that if I don't get up there once a year it voids the roof warranty. So, I have to clean it and treat it every year to maintain the ten year roof warranty. And, I have to document that with receipts etc.. Based on what the guy that gave us the walk-around was saying I have little to no confidence that the warranties will be honored without lots of fussing and fighting if I need it in a few years.

DE88ROX
Explorer
Explorer
I too have a TT with a roof that doesn't need anything. Its supposedly impregnated with UV Protectant. Per owners manual, I wash it using a mild dish soap 3 times a year. Clean roof and a nice coat of wax on the sidewalls, black streaks are almost non-existent. If I do get them, they come right off with normal washing
[COLOR=]TV- 2010 GMC Sierra Z71 EXT. cab
TT- 2012 Starcraft Autumn Ridge235fb

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
DutchmenSport wrote:
if I don't get mine a couple times a year, I start getting all kinds of black stuff streaking from the roof and down the sides.
Yeah, I'd clean mine too if that happened.

I travel a lot and am in mostly dry but dusty country. I never park under dirty sappy trees. Once in a while I need to get up there to wipe the dust off the solar panels, but the roof itself is never dirty. Rain now and then takes care of that.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
You all can skip washing the roof of your RV if you want. All I know is, if I don't get mine a couple times a year, I start getting all kinds of black stuff streaking from the roof and down the sides. When I keep it clean, I very seldom get the black streaks, or at least if I do, they are mild.

Don't know about yours, but mine gets covered with bird poo and farm dust. I live in the country. I have fields all around me. Dust when plowing and disking the fields; dust when planting; dust when cultivating; horrid dust when combining. Beans are horrible. Looks like a dust bowl being kicked up. All that stuff lands all over the camper, roof too. It get's mixed with dew in the morning, and next thing you know, corn dust is glued to the roof, and the sides, and every where else. If you live in town and park your RV in a storage facility, you probably won't have that problem. But live where it's dusty, dirt get's kicked up in the air from all directions for miles and miles, and things DO get dirty! Yes, our house get's dirty too. I wash the vinyl siding once a year too on the house. Car windows are hideous if the vehicles are not parked in the garage. A farmer can be working one of the fields a mile away and the wind will blow the dust right over us. It's part of country living. So YES... my roof needs washed, as does the sides, the windows, the vehicles, and even the siding of the house!

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Huntindog wrote:
But they got so many questions from RVers on how to wash their roofs, that they saw a buck to be made. They started making roof cleaning products, and now recommend frequent washing.
I guess that's the result of not reading, or not trusting your owner's manual.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Huntindog
Explorer
Explorer
DownTheAvenue wrote:
2oldman wrote:
My owner's manual says I don't need to do anything. I don't consider this a conspiracy to make my roof degrade faster.


This is exactly correct. The EPDM roofing material "sheds" as it is exposed to UV light. That material "shed" from the roof actually shields the remaining material from the UV light and prolongs the life of the roof. EPDM roofing material is widely used in commercial applications, primarily on flat roofs such as warehouses and factories, and those roofs are never washed and coated with a "protectant".
We have a winner!
The roofing material is actually made by Carlise for the commercial building roofing market. Carlise is the largest supplier of this product, and they also manufacture it for Dicor.
Carlise doesn't condone washing the material.. They state that the white roofing may be washed occasionally, ONLY to maintain it's reflective properties if so desired... But washing is not required for warranty purposes. Dicor USED to mirror what Carlise says. But they got so many questions from RVers on how to wash their roofs, that they saw a buck to be made. They started making roof cleaning products, and now recommend frequent washing.

My roof gets washed when it rains, same as my house.
:B
Huntindog
100% boondocking
2021 Grand Design Momentum 398M
2 bathrooms, no waiting
104 gal grey, 104 black,158 fresh
FullBodyPaint, 3,8Kaxles, DiscBrakes
17.5LRH commercial tires
1860watts solar,800 AH Battleborn batterys
2020 Silverado HighCountry CC DA 4X4 DRW

DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Explorer
2oldman wrote:
My owner's manual says I don't need to do anything. I don't consider this a conspiracy to make my roof degrade faster.


This is exactly correct. The EPDM roofing material "sheds" as it is exposed to UV light. That material "shed" from the roof actually shields the remaining material from the UV light and prolongs the life of the roof. EPDM roofing material is widely used in commercial applications, primarily on flat roofs such as warehouses and factories, and those roofs are never washed and coated with a "protectant".

rbpru
Explorer II
Explorer II
My roof cannot be walked on and it does not leak. So far so good.

I really hate to mess with it.
Twenty six foot 2010 Dutchmen Lite pulled with a 2011 EcoBoost F-150 4x4.

Just right for Grandpa, Grandma and the dog.

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Tom/Barb wrote:
then a good hard wax,
Wax? That might make walking on my roof a little scary !
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
Another RVer with a roof that is cleaner than my roof. So...?
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad