fix the camper roof ~ question.

[HappyJack]

So the roof on the old camper needs some leak repair. Got us some leaks around the escape hatch over the bed and one on the edge of the roof.

What is the best material to reseal along the roof edge? Looks like some kind of roofing tar on there now and it's lifted a little in spots.

Can we get rid of the escape hatch and patch the hole over with aluminum flashing? Would that work?

Any experienced home repair people please speak up!!

[338win mag]

After owning my share of crappy campers I have learned to simply remove the offending roof vent or escape hatch.
The last one I just put a piece of flat tin over after removing the hatch, works good and no leaks after 5 years...
I like the clear silicone roof repair stuff, cant remember the name, good stuff and you dont need much, get it at home hardware.

[srupp]

Hmm vents are mandatory for c8rrect ventalation..take off old sealant, clean, replace with self leveling sealant.
Cheers
Steven

[f350ps]

https://www.amesresearch.com/product/snow-seal-commercial-grade-reflective-outdoor-sealant/

I coated a camperette roof about 15 yrs ago with these guys snow seal and it's still going strong! K

[lip_ripper00]

How old is the camper? One piece aluminum, multi piece, rubber membrane?

[Jagermeister]

You want PLAS-T-COTE Alkyd Fibered roof coating. This one for fiberglas and the PLAS-T-COTE Aluminium Alkyd Fibered roof coating for ,,,,you guessed it, aluminium. A quart will be ample for seams, a gallon for the entire roof and then some. It's self leveling.
www.rvautoparts.com/Dehco-16451284-Plas-T-Cote-Wht-Gal_p_27604.html

[Jagermeister]

And keep the ceiling vent. Needed for air flow to move moisture and other undesirable gaseous entities.

[boxhitch]

Sikaflex
on a clean base

[Ron.C]

google "EternaBond". I used this stuff for a trailer roof repair with great results.

[250 sav]

Sikaflex
on a clean base

Sikaflex works

[Farmer001]

Have used pro-flex with good results. Needs to be maintained but stuff can be painted over with minimal cleaning. Goes on runny and thickens up. Thin enough to go down cracks and seal and around screws, plus if you ever have to replace a vent is still workable to remove. Try to remove eternabond tape sometime and clean. Unless you are selling the rv would not recommend.

[Trks]

Sikaflex works

x3 works good, keep vents and hatch, air movement very important to enclosed trailers/campers

[Blockcaver]

Who sells Sikaflex around Kamloops?

[panhead]

Tremco Vulkem ... love the stuff. Acklands sells it ... its pricey ...
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He looks like he’s been sorting bobcats in a burning hayloft

[knothead]

Go with the eternabond, It's easy to use(Like a roll of tape) and lets FOREVER. Look to the camper forums for your answers. Make sure you remove the old silicone and clean the surface thoroughly, this stuff will work forever unlike silicone which has to be stripped and resealed roughly every two years. My new Northern Light uses it to seal all roof openings.
Its expensive but works.

[LBM]

.........….Alsan

[cdub]

The grey putty tape under the vent and dicor rv sealant around all horizontal joints and seals. It is flexible and made for rv, it is also self leveling and designed for roofs.

[Squamch]

Tremco Vulkem ... love the stuff. Acklands sells it ... its pricey ...
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He looks like he’s been sorting bobcats in a burning hayloft

Tremco make some gnarly caulking products.
I'd say that or Sika Flex. Either or should be available at a professional grade building supply. Probably not home depot.

[RackStar]

A mastic caulking would work well as it is compatable with roofing materials and metal.
Maybe check your local glazing shop for some scrap aluminum flashing and re flash.

Careful using any old tremco caulking as some are silicone some are polyurethane hybrids, each has their own use.

My vote would be mastic but there is a lot of good advice above.

Good luck

[Edzzed]

google "EternaBond". I used this stuff for a trailer roof repair with great results.x2 on eternabond. I used it on some stuff too. It was made originally to seal underwater pipes. https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&ei=n39CW_qFN4XD0PEP3ci08AI&q=eternabond+rv+roof&oq=eternabon&gs_l=psy-ab.1.2.0j0i20i263k1j0l4j0i20i264k1j0l3.527.2487.0. 6927.5.3.0.2.2.0.136.228.1j1.2.0....0...1c..64.psy-ab..1.4.255...0i131k1.0.pg6s8lEwY-c

[HappyJack]

How old is the camper? One piece aluminum, multi piece, rubber membrane?

it's around 1979 Okanagan, thousands of them around. Galvinized one piece roof with 1 vent and an escape hatch over the bunk.

[Steve W]

I rebuilt an old camper that needed the roof vent replaced. I used an RV lap-sealant by DiCor. It is self leveling so floats into the nooks and crannies. Seems to be readily available at most RV places. It comes in the usual style caulking tube. Two year on, exposed to the winter weather and West Coast rain and still sealed up.

[cdub]

Take off the vent and scrape and clean the surface. Buy a new vent (they are cheap) cover the flange in mastic putty and screw down. Liberally cover the joint and all screws with Dicor caulking (dont spread it as it does it by self leveling) Scrape and clean all gutters and trim that is horizontal and caulk with dicor ($10-12 a tube) as well. Dont mess with anything you buy in a building supplier as it wont last.

[HappyJack]

google "EternaBond". I used this stuff for a trailer roof repair with great results.

This is a tape? Correct? Sure looks interesting.


THANKS FOR THE REPLIES GUYS, VERY HELPFUL

[Edzzed]

This is a tape? Correct? Sure looks interesting.


THANKS FOR THE REPLIES GUYS, VERY HELPFULIt is a tape. Comes in different sizes. I used 4 inch wide to seal all of our roof vents. I also bought it off Ebay. It is expensive in Canada but a bit cheaper in the USA if sent to a post box. I had them send me a sample before I used it. About the only thing it won't stick to is silicone.

[Johnny G1]

Eternabond tape 4" x 50' $98 and change Amazon.ca

[Frango]

Proflex RV .Nothing works better. Sikaflex is a waste of money compared to Proflex.

[itsy bitsy xj]

google "EternaBond". I used this stuff for a trailer roof repair with great results.
I just bought 2 rolls of this. I've heard great things and seen Youtube videos that say its the best thing going. If done right its supposed to last over 20 years.

[BCMarc]

I am in the process of doing some resealing with EternaBond. Goes on pretty easy and appears to be pretty forgiving. Word to the wise, only peel off the plastic as you go. Once it sticks to itself, ain't nothing unsticking it. Ask me how I know.

[kaptin]

like alot of people said pull vent and clean all old caulking, putty etc. Put new Butyl putty down and a new vent, screw it down. Then for ultimate fix use dicor caulking then after caulking is cured cover with Enternabond tape. If you want to save a bit of money just cover vent with enternabond tape and no dicor caulking. I just did my fifth wheel with enternabond tape and Koolseal. I now have no leaks from the roof. I bought all materials from Amazon.com and shipped to Blaine. I think I paid 25 dollars for vent and 55 dollars for 4" x 50' enternabond tape.

[HappyJack]

I just bought 2 rolls of this. I've heard great things and seen Youtube videos that say its the best thing going. If done right its supposed to last over 20 years.

Did you find it in Canada? I hate ordering anything from the usa as they get stupid with the shipping all the time, probably thinking I'm a threat to their national security.

[BCMarc]

Did you find it in Canada? I hate ordering anything from the usa as they get stupid with the shipping all the time, probably thinking I'm a threat to their national security.

It's available on Amazon.ca, free shipping- to your door in a few days.

[kaptin]

http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g338/Kevin_phelan/IMG_2223.jpg (http://s1096.photobucket.com/user/Kevin_phelan/media/IMG_2223.jpg.html)
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g338/Kevin_phelan/IMG_2224.jpg (http://s1096.photobucket.com/user/Kevin_phelan/media/IMG_2224.jpg.html)
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g338/Kevin_phelan/IMG_2251.jpg (http://s1096.photobucket.com/user/Kevin_phelan/media/IMG_2251.jpg.html)

Here is my a couple of pictures showing what I did.

[HappyJack]

http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g338/Kevin_phelan/IMG_2223.jpg (http://s1096.photobucket.com/user/Kevin_phelan/media/IMG_2223.jpg.html)
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g338/Kevin_phelan/IMG_2224.jpg (http://s1096.photobucket.com/user/Kevin_phelan/media/IMG_2224.jpg.html)
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g338/Kevin_phelan/IMG_2251.jpg (http://s1096.photobucket.com/user/Kevin_phelan/media/IMG_2251.jpg.html)

Here is my a couple of pictures showing what I did.


What did you paint it with?

[Codes44]

Remove all the old caulking/sealant - scrape it all away and clean the surface well. Re caulk it (heavily...at this point it's not about looks but function) - make sure it's done it warm or hot weather it give it a chance to cure and make sure it's a good outdoor and UV resistant. Then use a spray leak seal (clear or colored) over top of the caulk. If it still leaks the vent it cracked or faulty or you have a tear/hole in the roof itself. Good luck.

[albravo2]

Flextape! Not sure how or why but I saw an infomercial on it yesterday. Sounds a lot like the eternabond stuff.