Best RV Roof Sealant To Protect Against The Elements

If you need to purchase RV roof sealant, you might have some questions before you go ahead, such as how you should use the product effectively and how regularly your RV roof will need to be resealed to keep it in ideal condition.

Let’s explore these, and more, questions.

How often should you reseal your RV roof?

If you don’t reseal your RV roof on a regular basis, you can encounter problems such as leaks and high levels of dampness.

Both of these can be damaging to items you have inside your RV, such as your wallpaper or furniture, and it can also cause mold to grow, which is a health concern. Your RV roof can require extensive repairs if you don’t maintain its quality.

This is why it’s important to aim to reseal your RF every year. After 10 years, you should have your entire RV roof replaced. This is especially important to do if you use your RV regularly as it will be more prone to wear and tear. 

Roof sealant is a convenient way to look after your RV roof. It also keeps skylights and roof vents in good condition so that they don’t experience leaking.

Since both hot and cold temperatures, as well as rainy conditions all, cause the seals to wear away over time, you, therefore, have to ensure you reseal your RV and regularly inspect it for any damage.

What is the best way to seal an RV roof?

Sealing an RV roof can be done easily with a quality sealant product, such as the ones we’ve featured in our reviews of the best roof sealant for RVs. This type of product has many benefits.

• It allows you to seal cracks and prevents them from becoming worse. 
• It ensures structural protection. A sealant prevents warping that can occur from high temperatures and will prevent more expensive roof repairs at a later stage. 
• It maintains safe temperatures inside the RV so you’ll feel cooler during the summer months and warmer when the temperature drops. It can therefore also save you money on energy costs.

There are two main sealant products for your RV roof which you should know about.

• Liquid sealants: Before you can use these, you must clean and prepare the surface. Sealants that are in liquid consistency will require a long time to fully cure. They come in acrylic, silicone, or urethane-based formations, with silicone being the most durable.
• Sealing tape: This is a bit more convenient than a liquid sealant. It’s basically tape that contains an adhesive sealant. It can contract and expand and can last for many years. 

Does RV insurance cover roof leaks?

Your RV insurance will usually pay you to purchase a new roof if the previous one was damaged by a collision, such as if you collided with a tree, another vehicle, or obstacle on the road.

If the damage to your RV roof was caused by a storm, the roof, substrate, and any damaged fixtures on the roof will usually also be covered by insurance.

It’s important to note, however, that if the claim for damage is considered to fall under RV maintenance, the insurance company won’t cover the cost for it. As an example, insurance claims that are linked to caulking tend to be denied as a result of how a lack of repair and maintenance is to blame.

Similarly, the water damage that’s a result of cracked skylights, or uncaulked and exposed screws, is also not generally covered by insurance companies.

Based on the above, it’s important to prevent serious roof damage from occurring in the first place by looking after your RV roof and sealing it regularly. 

How do you inspect RV slide seals?

Once you’ve checked your RV roof and properly sealed it, you should also check all of its seals.

On your RV, you’ll see components that have been installed in the sides and back. The installer of these components will have applied a silicone bead above and around the corners of the installed components.

Check all the seals for any cracks in the silicone. Applying sealant to repair them if they’re damaged can go a long way to preventing water damage in your RV. 

You should also inspect the slide seals, which are used on slide-out rooms to ensure no moisture can enter the RV. It’s important to note that there are two seals to look for: one set seals the coach when the slide-out is retracted and the other one seals it when the room has been extended.

Check the perimeters of all the seals. Look for anything that’s folded back and any inconsistencies of the slide-out. You might have to replace the seals, but the good news is they tend to come off easily with the use of a tool such as a plastic scraper.

For the general maintenance of RV seals, you can use acetone to clean them, as you’ll find that they become discolored over time.

Acetone will give them a deep clean so that they look good as new. Just be careful when using acetone as it can remove metal finishes, such as those on window frames. An alternative to acetone is to wash the seals with warm water and mild dishwashing liquid.

It’s also a good idea to lubricate your slide seals on a regular basis to ensure that they move smoothly. Dry lube is a good product to have handy for this task, as it’s easy to use.

Simply spray the product onto the base of the seals. Start from the top and work your way around the edges, and then along with the bottom seal. Let the lubricant dry for a few minutes before using the RV slides. 

Conclusion

The last thing you need during your RV camping trip is leaks or other problems with your RV roof. This can put a serious dent in your fun.

When your RV requires a bit of maintenance and repair, such as if your roof has suffered leaks, you’ll need to use a quality sealant to fix it. But, it’s not always easy to know which one to choose. 

In this buying guide, we’ve provided the best RV roof sealant to protect against the elements and fix leaks, as well as four competing products on the market and why you should choose them.

We’ve also featured information about RV roof sealants, such as how best to seal your RV roof and how often you should reseal an RV roof, so you can keep your RV in excellent condition.

In addition to that, we’ve also looked at slide seals on your RV as these require regular maintenance in order to keep them in great condition.  

Resources:

• RVRoof.com
• ExplorerRV.com