Proper care of an RV EPDM roof and maintenance of RV roof

How to Maintain Your RV EPDM Roof

With proper care and maintenance, your RV EPDM roof can last for 20 years or more. That’s pretty much equivalent to the life of the vehicle itself. One of the benefits of EPDM Rubber roofing materials is that the care and maintenance required is minimal. Regular cleaning is the first step.

Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the roof at least four times per year. The cleaner used should be one that is specifically designed for EPDM roofing and is free of petroleum distillates.

Products containing petroleum distillates, whether they are designed for cleaning or protecting, will cause the rubber to swell and loosen. There are many chemicals that fall under the category. The easiest way to tell for sure that the cleaner you are using does not contain any of the chemicals is to look for one that states on the label “free of petroleum distillates, safe for use on EPDM Coatings materials.”

Cleaning is a relatively simple matter, but you should keep your safety in mind. If you are going to be getting up on the roof, you should be on your hands and knees to reduce your risk of falling.

The first step is to rinse the roof thoroughly with plain water at a relatively high pressure. Any branches or sharp objects should be removed by hand, if possible. While EPDM is tear resistant, sharp objects can cause scratches when they are pushed along the surface. Eventually the scratches can become tears.

Once all debris has been rinsed away, you will need to take a medium bristle brush, a bucket of safe cleanser diluted with water and get up on the roof. You need only scrub in areas where you see stains or dirt.

Keep your hose with you so that you can rinse while you are cleaning. Start in the corner farthest away from your exit point and work backwards to minimize the amount of time you spend on the wet surface. 

After the roof is cleaned, you can use an EPDM protectant if you like. The protectant should be specifically designed for EPDM roofing, not for other types of materials. Some EPDM manufacturers also sell special protectants. While using the protectant is not essential, it may extend the life of the roof and reduce your need to restore or repair the roofing material.

Finally, proper care of your EPDM roof includes parking it in an area where the roof is protected as much as possible. Don’t park around fruit trees. The citric acid can deteriorate the material in between cleanings.  

Liquid EPDM and its Benefits

The EPDM roofing association which started in 2002 has always focused on educating contractors and the roofing community on the characteristics and benefits of EPDM membranes.  Their studies have concluded that EPDM’s service live is over 20 years.  Arguably the most important benefit of an EPDM system is the membrane’s flexibility.  A growing number of contractors are specializing in EPDM installation, due to its low callbacks and insurance premiums.  EPDM roofing systems also feature low maintenance, easy repair options and low annualized costs.  

With Liquid EPDM there is No cutting, No gluing and No Seaming!  EPDM Liquid Rubber® totally eliminates the problems encountered with single ply materials because it produces a seamless membrane which is all of the same chemistry.  So what do we gain by using EPDM Liquid Rubber®?  It eliminates seam failures and eliminates shrinkage of the single ply rubber.  It also prevents further chalking particularly with white EPDM and it extends the life of a roof.  Liquid Rubber®, available through Epdmcoatings.com is the only EPDM in Liquid form. This product is a high solids solution of sheet EPDM Rubber. It converts from liquid to solid elastomer via a unique free radical cure mechanism which works at temperatures of 55° F and higher.   EPDM Liquid Rubber® can be applied directly on many types of substrates that have solid, stable, non-porous and uniform surfaces such as flat roofs. For most substrates, primers are not necessary. As an example, some types of substrates that can be coated with EPDM Liquid Rubber® without a primer are:

• EPDM Rubber Membrane on flat or sloped Roofs
• Weathered Steel Siding
• Outstanding barrier for salt-water environments
• Weathered Fiberglass
• Weathered standing seam and corrugated metal roofs
• Weathered Vinyl, PVC and Polycarbonate plastic
• Foam insulation for pipe
• Cast Concrete foundations

Keep your roof from leaking with Liquid EPDM

A roof leak can not only be troublesome, it can be costly. Both the damage done by the leaking water itself and the cost of repairing the roof can quickly add up. Rather than spend a lot of time, money and effort hiring professionals to repair your roof why not do it yourself with the only product that’s easy to use, cost efficient and extremely durable?

There’s no reason to endure lengthy and costly repairs when you can use Liquid EPDM to cover your roof and prevent leaking, cracking and other damage from the elements. Constructed using the same chemical composition as traditional sheet EPDM roofing, liquid EPDM gives you the added bonus of flexibility and ease of use so you can handle those repairs yourself.

While traditional sheet EPDM can trap air underneath, leading to cracking and breaking later on, liquid EPDM goes on in one smooth coat and is designed to expel excess air during the curing process so that you are left with a strong, water and airtight seal. And because liquid EPDM will expand and contract with the roof’s surface when the temperature changes, there is less likelihood of weather related damage resulting in a roof leaks.

Liquid Roof Coatings are available in white. Liquid Rubber Coatings are available in White rubber or Black Rubber however you can color it by simply adding a non oil-based Universal Colorant. Liquid Rubber Coatings applied over generally sound single ply EPDM can extend its life another 20 years. The Do-It-Yourself Solution. One Coat Application-No Primer or Top Coat needed and easy application! Cures only above 55 degrees. Commercial/Residential Roofs and Industrial Applications, Pitch and non pitch roofs, Trailers, Campers, RV's, House Boats, Pond Liners, Roof Leaks, RV Roof Repair, Basement waterproofing, shingles, gutters, steel roofs, metal roof repair, air conditioner enclosures, cooling towers, galvanized steel/metal roof repair, unit heater flues, concrete pipes and vessels, smoke stacks and chimneys, fiberglass and non porous masonry surfaces and vessels. Great for repair. Compare the total cost of your project and now look at what you save in labor by doing the project by yourself! Liquid EPDM Rubber is the best roof repair product.

Metal Roof Repair

How to Maintain a Metal Roof: General Tips

Learning how to maintain a metal roof is important to ensure that the roofing will last as long as possible. With proper care, this type of roofing material outlasts many others. It is not unusual to see the roofs last for 50 years or even longer.

New roofs often come with manufacturer’s care instructions for the material. If you don’t have the care instructions, you may be able to evaluate the material on your own to determine the composition.

It is important to use compatible materials when doing any repairs. Otherwise, corrosion can occur. If you have difficulty making this evaluation, a good roofing contractor can help.

For most roofs, maintenance and repair is relatively simple. You will need a sturdy ladder. Ideally you should have someone on the ground to hold the ladder as you are climbing up and down.

You should only attempt this if you are comfortable with the height and you feel that the maintenance or repair work can be done safely. Otherwise, you should contact a roofing contractor.

Once you are at a point where you can evaluate the area, you should start by looking for loose nails, rusty patches, holes or other signs of damage. If you are aware of an existing leak, you will need to take steps to repair the leak.

In general, how to maintain a metal roof involves removing debris, such as leaves and branches. Any loose nails should be pulled and replaced. Hammering the nail back down may not be a good idea.

Nails are not always used for installation. Some roofs are installed using screws. Screws tend to stay in place as the years go by while nails work their way loose over time.

Urethane roofing cement is usually used for caulking around seams, edges and flashing. Learning how to maintain a metal roof involves learning how to use the urethane cement because it provides better protection from UV damage than plastic or asphalt type cements.



Occasionally, re-caulking will be necessary as a part of regular maintenance. Look for cracked or damaged caulk seams and peel the old caulking away as necessary. Cracks in caulking caused by hail or flying debris are sometimes the causes of leaks.

Existing leaks may be due to a small hole which can be patched relatively easily using compatible materials. If you learn how to maintain a metal roof properly and you take the necessary steps on a regular basis, you may never have to worry about learning how to patch holes.

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How to Maintain a Metal Roof: General Tips

Learning how to maintain a metal roof is important to ensure that the roofing will last as long as possible. With proper care, this type of roofing material outlasts many others. It is not unusual to see the roofs last for 50 years or even longer.

New roofs often come with manufacturer’s care instructions for the material. If you don’t have the care instructions, you may be able to evaluate the material on your own to determine the composition.

It is important to use compatible materials when doing any repairs. Otherwise, corrosion can occur. If you have difficulty making this evaluation, a good roofing contractor can help.

For most roofs, maintenance and RV roof repair is relatively simple. You will need a sturdy ladder. Ideally you should have someone on the ground to hold the ladder as you are climbing up and down.

You should only attempt this if you are comfortable with the height and you feel that the maintenance or repair work can be done safely. Otherwise, you should contact a roofing contractor.

Once you are at a point where you can evaluate the area, you should start by looking for loose nails, rusty patches, holes or other signs of damage. If you are aware of an existing leak, you will need to take steps to repair the leak.

In general, how to maintain a metal roof involves removing debris, such as leaves and branches. Any loose nails should be pulled and replaced. Hammering the nail back down may not be a good idea.

Nails are not always used for installation. Some roofs are installed using screws. Screws tend to stay in place as the years go by while nails work their way loose over time.

Urethane roofing cement is usually used for caulking around seams, edges and flashing. Learning how to maintain a metal roof involves learning how to use the urethane cement because it provides better protection from UV damage than plastic or asphalt type cements.

Occasionally, re-caulking will be necessary as a part of regular maintenance. Look for cracked or damaged caulk seams and peel the old caulking away as necessary. Cracks in caulking caused by hail or flying debris are sometimes the causes of roof leaks.

Existing leaks may be due to a small hole which can be patched relatively easily using compatible materials. If you learn how to maintain a metal roof properly and you take the necessary steps on a regular basis, you may never have to worry about learning how to patch holes.

How to Repair RV Roof Leaks

When it comes to how to repair RV roof leaks, you have several options. The right choice depends partly on the extent of the damage. Small leaks are relatively easy to repair. Replacing all of the roofing material is possible, but it is a much larger and more difficult job.

The first step in any case is to make a complete inspection of the area as it currently exists. You may be able to see evidence of the leak inside of the vehicle. But you don’t really know the extent of the damage until you get up on top.

You also need to know what type of roofing materials you are dealing with. Many newer roofs have a rubber-like coating for waterproofing. The coating may be worn and that could be your only problem.

A common location for leaks is around vents and other things that “stick out” of the roof. You may only need to use some EPDM sheeting or some liquid EPDM to correct the problem.

Once you have an idea of the issues you are dealing with, the next step is usually to clean. Cleaning may involve scraping off any existing coatings in order to prepare the surface for a new coat.

In learning how to do RV roof repair, you will likely see a number of materials like the EPDM sheeting and the liquid EPDM, which is sometimes called liquid rubber. Any of those materials could work, but the surface needs to be clean and ideally it should be smooth. If you have rust or rough spots, they should be sanded down.

For visible holes, you will need patching material. You can find the patching material in hardware stores, along with instructions for how the patches are attached. Some can be held on with epoxy. Others need to be soldered on.

Another option for materials is an RV-retail shop. There, you can also find books about how to repair RV roof leaks and many other subjects. If you bought your vehicle used, you might also want to get a copy of the owner’s manual while you are at the shop. How-to books and owner’s manuals are also available online. Managemylife.com is a good place to start.

Hopefully, your inspection will reveal that the cause of the leak is nothing more than a vent that needs to be covered. If the damage is more extensive, you can still learn how to repair RV roof leaks with just a little more research.