How To Use Flex Seal For A RV Roof
Fact: RV Roofs are subject to wearing out.
Air, heat, and rain that can cause the RV roof to weaken and eventually leak.
A leaky roof is one of the most common problems with houses. The reasons can range from bad building materials by the builder, to the extreme climatic conditions prevailing in a region.
The cost that is incurred due to severe roof damage in a US household can easily exceed $6500.
RV roofs don’t normally cost quite as much to repair, but they can still be expensive, so you might want to consider fixing minor issues yourself.
Why RV Roof Damage Occurs
If you are traveling or staying in your RV in the US then it is common that the vehicle will be subject to both warm and cold conditions.
During winter months, it’s not uncommon for the weather to be wet and cold. If wet weather occurs before freezing temperatures, an interesting phenomenon occurs.
Water, of course, expands as it freezes. If water has permeated between the gaps of a roof seal during a recent rain, and then the temperature subsequently drops, this water will expand and push against the roof seals.
This contraction and expansion could lead to leakage and letting the icy water enter. In order to avoid such a situation, flex sealing can be used. It is easy, quick and simply works.
How To Use Flex Seal On An RV Roof
As durable as Flex Seal products are, they aren’t the answer to everything. It has its uses and benefits.
Before purchasing Flex Seal products, verify that they will work on the roof of your RV. For the most part, these sealants are compatible with a wide variety of substrates, including fiberglass, metal, EPDM rubber, and thermoplastic olefin (TPO). You can probably use Flex Seal on your roof, unless it’s made of something else.
Consider the extent of the damage next. Flex Seal is great for patching up punctures and tears of any size. It’s great for patching up small leaks and cracks because it creates an impermeable seal. To what extent, though, is Flex Seal suitable for RV roofs of varying dimensions? No.
Large areas of surface are not suitable for use with Flex Seal. It works better for addressing minor flaws. It will lose some of its efficacy if it is spread too thin and over too large of an area. If it’s your last resort and a true emergency, use as much as you need. You should know that this is not its intended use.
Search for the leak:
The first and foremost step includes doing an inspection of the roof and scanning out or identifying the areas where there are leaks generating. The scanning can be a tedious task as it involves taking up a small area of a roof and then looking for holes and the possible reasons behind the holes or gaps in the roof.
Clean the area:
The next step involves clearing the area where there is leak so that the area becomes visible clearly and the flex seal could work properly on the area.
Utilizing a high-quality RV roof cleaner comes with a plethora of advantageous outcomes. They contribute to repairing the damage caused by mother nature and preventing further damage from being caused by pollutants in the environment.
DURABILITY
Roof cleaners eliminate loose dirt, grime, bugs, pollutants, and other road grime, all of which can shorten the lifespan of your RV roof and cause it to become less watertight. Particularly if it is left on there for a significant amount of time. You can extend the life of your RV and keep it in good condition by removing all of these contaminants from it and keeping it clean.
PROTECTION
There are many products that can add a layer of protection to the roof of your recreational vehicle, which will prevent it from being damaged for an extended period of time by damaging rays, water, or environmental pollutants. Many of them come equipped with a UV blocker that works to preserve the pristine condition of your roof.
The gentle nature of a good roof cleaner is another essential quality to look for in a product of this kind. Household cleaners that are used on a regular basis can erode your roof if they are too abrasive or if they contain harsh chemicals like bleach. If you use a cleaner that is specifically designed for your kind of roof, like an EPDM rubber roof, then there is no chance that you will cause any damage to it.
Ensure that there are no leaves or oil or anything else that could get attached to the roof after the roof sealing treatment has been done. For a perfect finish, it is necessary to clean the surface properly.
Shake the can:
Shake the flex seal can. Shaking it vigorously for over a minute ensures that it will function optimally. Hence, take time to shake it well before using on the target area.
Keep on Spraying:
Now comes the time to spray it on the area that contains holes and leaks.
The person who is spraying should know that the area on which it is sprayed gets covered properly and that not even a single portion is left. Making sure the area affected area is completely covered will ensure a long time fix and no further leaks can occur.
Why Should You Use Flex Seal On Your RV Roof
Advantages:
- It allows economical treatment of the otherwise costly affair. Repairing a roof is way more costly than flex sealing the roof.
- It delivers results within minutes of being applied.
- It is readily available at a range of retailers and is perfect for quick fixes while on the road until a more permanent solution is available. Fully repairing a roof cannot be done overnight using other means, and it can cost a fair amount of money.
Disadvantages:
- Flex seal cannot repair a whole roof. When there’s a lot to repair, look to other options.
- Weakening of the wall leads to leakages. If ignored consistently, it could lead to more serious consequences. Therefore, it must not be taken lightly.
- Flex seal is only a temporary and not a permanent solution to the problem.
How To Know If Flex Seal Has Been Applied Correctly?
A true test is passed by flex seal when the leakage gets blocked and the walls supporting the roof do not show signs of leakages. The perfect example of flex seal working is when the holes are completely filled in and the problems that were faced previously are resolved.
It is an errand work and can be completed by the person any weekend. Unlike full-time repair, a flex seal can be done by you instantly and the problems can be fixed quickly.
The patchwork can then be covered with the color of the rest of the roof and your roof is ready to go.
What Kind Of Roof Materials Can Be Repaired With Flex Seal
It is good to know the type of RV ceiling flex seal can repair.
This is because of the different characteristics of the material and the ingredients used.
A clear understanding of the two is required. There are two types of roof seals for RV of rubber roofs. These materials are designed for RV’s and not often found in houses. They can be of following types:
EPDM
If the RV is made up of EPDM rubber roof, then it is unlikely that they will need repair for a period of 10 years after installation.
You can get this synthetic rubber in liquid or sheet form, and it was developed with roofing in mind. It can be applied as a liquid and then dried to a semi-solid state for a malleable, watertight seal. EPDM sheets undergo a curing process that reduces their pliability but increases their durability.
The typical color of this material is black, though many liquid products dry to a white finish that provides increased UV protection and other advantages.
All the owner needs to make sure is cleaning the roof at periodic intervals with clean water to keep it working properly. However, there should be no use of chemicals and other reactive elements that could react with the roof and cause damage to it.
It has a long life span and is very resistant to wear and tear.
TPO
This low-priced synthetic material is a laminated membrane. You can use glue or another roofing adhesive to secure this material, or you can use mechanical screws. Heat welding can be used to secure seams and other details, but glue and sealing can also be used.
To increase its strength, this material can be mixed with fiber reinforcements; however, this can make the material more rigid, which can pose challenges during installation. Such roofs have more plastic content than rubber that makes them look shiny.
They are more stable and long life-sustaining than the EPDM roofs. Such roofs can be washed with soaps and are also very resistant to wear and tear.
Conclusion
It is necessary to understand that flex seal is a material that is available in the market with ease. It is cheap and does not need any specialized knowledge to be applied while spraying. It is something which any layman can buy and use at home.
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It is this very nature of flex seal that makes it so popular among the household. But it is useful only in situations when the holes and leakages are few. In case the whole roof is filled with patches, it is a sign that the roof is getting weaker day by day and it would be wise if the owner gets it repaired instead of being covered it with flex seal.
