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wlaur2469's avatar
wlaur2469
Explorer
Jul 02, 2014

Damp plywood front roof cover 2009 Jayco 1206 ser

I own a 2009 Jayco 1206 series pop up. I recently noticed some water (after a rain) on the upper part of the canvas close to where it is sewn into the underside of the roof. I also noticed that the plywood under the front part of the roof was damp. I am trying to figure out how water could have dampened that part of the underside to the front part (curved portion) of the roof. Perhaps the camper was leaning just enough for water to drip into that area?? I checked the seam at the most bottom part of the front of the roof line on the exterior and it looks like it could use a bead of sealant along the metal strip but nothing major. Then again, maybe it is enough for water to seep through to make the bottom of the plywood under the curved part of the roof to get damp. A closer look of the plywood shows a slight dried water mark at the bottom edge of the plywood.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as this camper has always been dry and I want to keep it that way. No problems with the interior..this is just some water buildup on the underside of the curved part of the roof.
  • Definitely seal along the cracks, it doesn't take much for the water to get in. Is there a center seam also? If so you might want to inspect it carefully or even just reseal it.
  • Thanks for the reply opnspaces. There isn't much of a center seam that can be sealed. Although you can see the center of the roof frame if that makes sense. The more I think about it, I am suspecting that the metal strip on the exterior at the edge of the roof line on the front (that runs along the width, not length) needs to be sealed. We had a sideways rain during a storm the other day and I am thinking that is how water got under the roof's edge on the canvas. However, I am thinking the dampness on the bottom of the plywood on the inside (again running along the width of the roof) is from the metal strip needing to be sealed.

    Thanks again for replying!
  • Yep... that sideways rain will get you every time! We recently ran a new bead of marine-grade sealant around all seams and the top vent. Used a UV-resistant caulk, just to be sure.

    3M 4000 UV Marine Fast Cure Sealant

    PS: One other cure-all you might want to consider is dragging that Jayco down here to Arizona. Your moisture problems will "evaporate" in about 30 minutes. ;)
  • I used Eternabond on the two outside trim strips on the roof of my Jayco before I found a leak. The roof was a one piece so there was no center seam to deal with, thankfully. But those outside edges need attention. That's why I did the Eternabond and never had to worry about it again. Get a good sealant (NOTHING from Home Depot or Lowes, etc) from an RV dealer or supplier online, something like Dicor. The silicone and other sealants at big box stores are not designed for the stresses and flexing of RVs and will fail in shorter periods of time. Surface prep, no matter what you use, is critical in getting a good seal.

    Check the plywood for signs of actual damage beyond just being wet, namely, rot. It doesn't take long or much to ruin a good roof.
  • Thanks to all for replying..I am going to seal all the edges. I especially like the idea of moving to AZ..lol