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Repairing Rubber and Fiberglass RV Roofs

Many RV owners might never think to look at their mobile mansion's roof. Especially for taller fifth-wheel and bunkhouse-type campers, it can seem like a pain to climb up that ladder. But it's impossible to overstate how important a sturdy roof is to the health of your RV. If you've found leaks, potential leaks, or damage to your RVs roof, the best thing you can do is act quickly. For smaller problems, you can fix your roof with just a little bit of know-how. For the bigger problems, you'll want to contact the professionals in our service department. RVs Northwest is one of the premier RV dealerships and service centers in the Northwest, serving Spokane, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, and Post Falls, Idaho.

Why Should You Repair Your Roof?

If you want to keep dry in your RV, you have to have an intact roof. But the health of your RVs roof is more important than just keeping the occupants dry. Once water has entered your RV, it can start to cause dry rot, mold, and mildew. These are harmful to your health, and can also decrease the strength of the wood components in your RV. Water also expands when it freezes, so small leaks quickly become bigger. Big tears or holes in your RV can even give space for pests to move in. Before you know it, you could have severe electrical problems, structural problems, and your RV will be impossible to spend time in due to the smell of mold.

On the other hand, if you visually inspect the roof of your RV as often as you inspect the tires or hitch, you'll be able to catch leaks before they can become a problem. Look for screws that have popped loose, or tears that have occurred due to low-hanging tree branches. Corners or joints in the roof can be target areas, so keep an eye out for gaps in seams. Once you've identified a problem, it's time to get to work.

Prepping Rubber and Fiberglass Roofs

Before you launch into any repair project, make sure to note your RVs owner manual. The manufacturer may indicate which types of sealants will work best for the exact coating on your RV.

When you get started, you want the roof to be as clean as possible. Any extra dirt, grime, or debris will cause your sealants and leak stoppers from sticking. Start by washing the roof with a mild detergent, like you'd use on your car. Give the entire area a good scrub down and then rinse the soap off. If water is pooling anywhere on the roof, you can brush it off with a broom or scrub brush with brisk swipes. A squeegee can be very helpful at this stage to get more water off faster. Then, go over the entire area with a clean, dry towel or cloth.

Fixing Rubber and Fiberglass Roofs

For small spots or holes, a standard liquid rubber compound will work just fine. When using sealer products, always make sure to wear disposable gloves and avoid wearing nice clothes. These products are designed to be sticky and they will not come off through conventional means. Avoid touching your face or eyes while working with these products, just in case you have any of the product on your hands.

Apply the chosen product over the problem area and wipe it in a thin layer out away from the hole or seem. Overlap by an inch on each side to make sure the hole is absolutely plugged. For wider gaps or seals, you may want to use fiberglass screen. This can be found in several forms, but often it comes in a tape-like roll. Apply rubber sealer to the area, then block it with fiberglass screen, and then cover that with more rubber sealer. If you've done the job correctly, you can repair minor problems for the cost of a pizza, and you may have extended the life of your RV for years to come.

Getting Professional RV Roof Repair

The truth of the matter is that for serious leaks or roof damage, you should bring your RV into our service center where our skilled technicians can take care of the problem. People who are extremely handy may be tempted to pull the roof off and reinstall a new one, but unless you have professional skillsets, you'll probably just do more harm than good.

RVs Northwest is staffed by highly-trained mechanics and technicians. We can fix problems big and small with almost any type of RV. From leaky roofs, to broken furnaces, to unreliable engines in older RVs, we can take care of it. Our Spokane Valley location proudly serves the Spokane metro area, as well as Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, and Post Falls, Idaho. Stop by for an estimate and chat with our team. You won't find a team more passionate about RVs in the Northwest!