Questons about Solera Roofs

[butch50]

If I understand correctly on the newer Soleras the fiberglass now comes over the sides of the unit, is this correct? What year did FR start this?

Is the fiberglass formed or is it just bent over the edge of the roof?

Is the Solera roof a walk on roof or do you have to use plywood pieces to walk on the roof to support the weight of a person while working on it for sealing seams and such purposes?

Thanks for your help.

Butch

[BigJohnD]

If they changed it, it would've been fairly recent. Really don't know. If I had to guess, same roof material as the old, just wrapped over the side. Very thin and flexible stuff. Nexus uses similar if not same stuff rolled over the sides. Only thing that concerns me is cracking, as some on here have experienced with the ones that aren't rolled on the sides. Those were sunseeker or foresters, but the same roof material. As for walk on, walk on it all you want as it is, however I wouldn't suggest doing jumping jacks up there. Should be aluminum frame, block foam filled, luan then the roof material.

[Taylorgso]

Any seam is subject to stress and can open; I'm no engineer but I wonder if a seam on the side would not be subject to just as much stress. My Solera was built late 2012 and delivered in January, and has the seams on top; I do recall reading when that change was made, but can't recall offhand when it was!

At any rate, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I think an application of Eternabond over roof seams is a good idea - from reports I've read, it does a very good job and lasts a LONG time. If the seams are on the side, that would be rather unsightly - but checking regularly, and resealing with clear sealant would be advisable.

And yes, you can walk on the roof without concern. I weigh in at around 220#, and walking on roof seems very firm and secure, but as previous post stated, I wouldnt try jumping up and down.

[Sprintboy]

Any idea what the load limit is for the roof? I was thinking about this after the family was watching fireworks from the roof on the Fourth of July. Is a family of four sitting on the roof overloading it?

[BigJohnD]

I don't think anybody's ever put a number on the weight limit (pounds per square foot) of the roof. As for the 4 people up there, evenly distributed or spread out probably doesn't hurt, but I personally am not a fan of more than me and one other up there, and that's just for cleaning and routine maintenance. Go inside and watch the ceiling while the other 3 walk around on the roof. That'll help you decide.