Roof preventive maintenance

[rsdata]

This is not new information, as I read an excellant write up from somebody here recently about using Eternabond tape. Wish I could find the original thread so I could Thank whoever it was got me started on this.

I used mineral spirits on a rag to clean the original calking on the roof, followed quickly by some rubbing alcohol on a rag to take off the mineral spirits from the roof material because it will distort the roof material.

ASK ME HOW I KNOW THAT...
I inadvertently laid the slightly damp rag on the roof as I left to take a break. Four hours later I came back to find a huge 8 inch wide bubble on the roof under the rag. I kicked myself, and hoped that the problem would go away. I waited 24 hours, and the huge bubble went away 98%. I can still see a little distortion where the bubble was but the membrane is intact, looks good and should not give me a problem.

I used 2" tape to tape the side seems near the gutters and 3" tape on the front and back seams where the membrane meets the molding over the fiberglass. I could have used 4" on front and back, but I thought and still do think that 3" is wide enough and it is a little cheaper. I bought 1 roll of each for my Shamrock 183 and have plenty left over. I also bought some Eternabond caulk and used that on a couple of edges to keep them from coming up especially in the front.

This tape is sticky stuff, but you will get used to using it. It helped that I used a razor blade to cut the tape and to help start to peel the backing material off the tape with the point. I did front and back in one continuous strip, but the sides I laid down using 4 foot long strips starting at the back and overlapping as I went forward.

I attach some photos of the work as it progressed. The prep work included trimming some of the excess caulk so that the tape would have a smooth surface underneath and would lay fairly flat. Total time took me about 4 hours.

[rsdata]

More pics of roof work

[vasnipe]

Willis, Herk, and others have posted about using Eternabond. http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...otos-9012.html They prompted me to purchase a small roll for my emergency repair kit in case of an adverse encounter with a tree branch. This mod is in my future.

[txredfish]

RSDATA,
I had a motorhome which I installed the Internabond. It had a flat surface which made it fairly easy to install. However, on my new trailer, where the top meets the trailer side, it is not flat. It curves downward toward the side about an inch. It looks like in your pictures, your top does the same as mine. Did you have any trouble installing the downward curve? Any tips you can give me on installing on the downward curve? I am not sure if this downward curve and only about one inch down the side will work on my trailer?

[txredfish]

Sorry about the missed typing. It should be Eternabond and not start with "I" as Internabond.

[rsdata]

txredfish...

Any tips you can give me on installing on the downward curve? I am not sure if this downward curve and only about one inch down the side will work on my trailer?

A couple of places where the tape "bunched" up, I pinched it into a ridge, then I used the razor blade and sliced off the ridge. I then dabbed some Eternabond caulk onto that area. I'm sure it won't be a problem for you. Following the contours of the caulk and the roofline was actually pretty easy. In the difficult areas I used shorter pieces of tape, overlapped of course. You can always slice into the tape to give it a radius curve, however, since it is so sticky, that is not easy to do... which is why I pressed the tape down and pinched the excess tape, then sliced it off.

Not going to be a problem for you I'm sure...

[papap]

So you don't have to clean all the old chaulk off first. Just clean it?

[rsdata]

papap,

my Shamrock 183 is only 2 years from mfg. date and the caulk was still in good shape, still sticking to the roof well... after cleaning the caulk and roof membrane close to the caulk edges, putting down that super sticky tape... well it stuck really well... I doubt I could peel it up if I wanted to...

I used a razor blade to peel off just a few high ridges of the caulk, but just so the tape would install onto a flatter surface.

I put this tape on to prevent water infiltration before I had to re-caulk or had any leakage.

Since what I did is up on the roof and pretty much out of sight, I did not care what it looked like. I just cared that I did a good job sealing the seams. Like anyone, I dislike having to crawl around on the roof inspecting the seams, even if it is only a couple of times a year.

From what I read this tape should last a good many years... will report back in many years if that is true...LOL

[papap]

Mine is only a month old. So I'm going to order tape and do it

[VinceU]

One big drawback to applying Eternabond is it looks like a patch and buyers suspect a patch, happened to me. Just use sparingly and neatly.

[cavie]

This is what I had done last spring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noySxhi2qpI

[Crusadernoob]

I did this to the front and rear caps, good piece of mind.

[rsdata]

One big drawback to applying Eternabond is it looks like a patch and buyers suspect a patch, happened to me. Just use sparingly and neatly.

I hope that with an appropriate explanation to a prospective buyer that seeing the Eternabond on the roof would be a good thing, especially if all of the seams are taped as I did. Shows that you cared for your RV before you had a problem and not just used the tape as a patch-job. Also can show buyer that there are no internal signs of leakage in RV.

Also when doing seams and applying over existing caulk, I made sure to clean the caulk and roof thoroughly to remove dirt and build up, PLUS the tape always OVERLAPPED the caulk and attached directly to the roof by at least an inch. Pick your tape width from 2, 3 and 4 inch wide rolls, maybe wider, or put on another over-lapping layer going from applied tape to roof material.

If you have never used Eternabond tape, you will be impressed by it's qualities when you have it in your hands. Say goodbye to caulk cracking, pealing and leakage worries for years to come.

[str8t six]

do you think the eternabond tape would damage the roof membrane if you ever had to peel it up?

[rsdata]

yes
once down the Eternabond stays there...

can't imagine why you would have to peel it off...

hence the reference to eternal

[D&Ro]

Originally Posted by cavie

This is what I had done last spring

How do you like it? Was it expensive?

[cavie]

Originally Posted by BigDnRo

How do you like it? Was it expensive?

$1300.00 It is completely sealed gutter to gutter. good for another 14 years.

[D&Ro]

Originally Posted by cavie

$1300.00 It is completely sealed gutter to gutter.

It's nice to hear from someone who did this. We're considering it, but want to add a roof vent in the bedroom first.

Had any problems with the roof?

[BTflagstaff]

Originally Posted by cavie

$1300.00 It is completely sealed gutter to gutter. good for another 14 years.

Over the winter we had some minor leaking in our flagstaff 23fb camper. I called RV shield the sales person quoted $3,000.00 to complete the roof. I’m going to investigate other ways to protect my roof before I consider purchase RV Shield.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by BTflagstaff

Over the winter we had some minor leaking in our Flagstaff 23fb camper. I called RV shield the sales person quoted $3,000.00 to complete the roof. I’m going to investigate other ways to protect my roof before I consider purchase RV Shield.

Mine was done by an independent RV repair technician using "Ultimate roof coating".

this is the product that was actually used.

http://rvroofing.com/products.html