Hey Yall!...My hubby and I are still looking at rv's....I noticed some ad's that said "No rubber roofs!". Can someone explain to me about rubber roofs, please?


Hugs, Blanche

Rubber roofs are used on many RV's and they are a very cost effective roof material, that is why so many manufacturers use them. Two of our previous RV's had them. Never a leak, but the maintanance to keep them clean and treated trying to keep them from "chalking" was why we insisted on a fiberglass roof on our MH.

But they do "chalk" as the material ages and this chalking runs down the sides of the RV causing more black streaks and a mess on the coach.

Other than that, the rubber roof is a good material IMO.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by poptart:
Can someone explain to me about rubber roofs, please?

Blanche,
RV's come with 4 different roof's, if I remember correctly. Fiberglass/molded plastic is one type. Canvas is another. Metal is a third. Rubber roofs are the fourth.

Rain and hail can sound very loud inside the RV, but not quite as noisy as a metal roof. The amount of noise is directly related to the amount of insulation between the exterior of the roof and the ceiling in the RV.

Tent trailers w/molded plastic or fiberglass roofs have no insulation. Metal roofs are found on TrailManor trailers, Airstream trailers and others. We owned a TrailManor and even with 1" of styrofoam-type insulation (great for heat containment) the noise in a rainstorm was unacceptable.

Fiberglass roofs on many trailers and motorhomes are also subject to noise from the elements, but again, the amount of noise transmitted to the interior is completely dependent on how well insulated the ceiling/roof is.

Rubber roofs are the quietest, but as GStream40 pointed out, some people object to the black streaks.

Our present TT has a rubber roof and we clean it once a year to remove dirt and mold. Black streaks have not been a problem for us.

The older rubber roofs were prone to chalking if they were not cleaned and sealed with wax. The newer 02-03 and up, roofs are much easier to maintain need to be cleaned in spring and a liquid wax applied and your good to go. To keep costs down many MFG's use the rubber roof.

Rubber roofs seem to be the cheap way out, I have seen them seperating from the rv, especially fith wheels in high cross winds. I know they are more noisy in rain, but it seems to me a metal roof, or at least fiberglass is the least a major investment should have such as an RV. You never see rubbr roofs on a school bus or delivery vehicle such as fed ex and that says to me cheap cheap. Our hi-lo is a metal roof, if they can do it every one can. One of the problems wih the industry is first time buyers having a bad experience with build quality, and you get what you pay for. These roofs can take branches and minor scrapes better than rubber. All winnebago products come with fiberglass roofs, as do Holiday Rambler. Metal roofs are found in trailers such as ours and Airstream. Casita and the like are solid fiberglass. Look at the resale of these units and you will find why a little more pays in the long run.

quote:

The newer 02-03 and up, roofs are much easier to maintain need to be cleaned in spring and a liquid wax applied and your good to go

I was under the impression that putting anything on a rubber roof, other than just cleaning it with a mild soap (like Dawn or Spic 'N Span), was a no-no.

Can you give a web reference that says rubber roofs should be waxed?

Just a point of clarification. When most people talk about a "rubber roof", they are referring to a material called EPDM, which was subject to black streaks, chalking, etc.

A more modern membrane roofing material is UV stabilized vinyl, which is a completely different animal than EPDM. Our RV has a UV stabilized vinyl roof which has given no problems whatsoever.

Rusty

Many of the remarks on this thread are right on, but a number of them are questionable. For example, rubber(aka EPDM) roof materal rarely, if ever, has blown off. Also, a number of RV manufacturers have had problems with fiberglass roofs seperating from the edges of the RV.

TPO is a newer type of membrane roofing materal used on RVs and sometimes on buildings. It is basically made of vinyl, is easier to clean and does not produce as much black streaking.

Each of the roofing materials mentioned has its pros and cons.

We've had two rigs with rubber roofs, a 95 Mallard 5th whl and a 98 Sea View MH. Only problem was a cut from a TV antenna that folded in the wind. that took all of 5 minutes to repair. Other than that I cleaned them twice a year. Rubber is quieter than the fibreglass roof on our current rig. We had the Sea View for 7 years and the roof was good as new when we traded.

Glenn

I agree with Glenn,, our 98 Fleetwood has not been a problem, including streaks,, Looks as good as new...If you want pics, email me...