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Topic: Roof leak (Read 925 times) previous topic - next topic

Roof leak

Planned to wash motorhome today in preparation for treating awnings with sealant (again).  Of course washing always begins with the top.  It has been several months since I last washed this thing.  (Damn, I had forgotten how much work my little 36-footer is to clean!)

Found a new problem.  For those of us with an attached ladder, we also have a square-foot area just forward of the ladder glued onto the roof just in front of the ladder at the top.  This is black, sand-papery stuff to make the transition to and from the ladder a bit safer.  A six-inch long crack in the fiberglass has appeared under this sand paper patch, with a slight bit of "lifting" along the crack.  I suspect, the black color has attributed over-the-years to this roof failure, as it would hold/absorb more heat from the sun than the white roof.  I patched it with black silicone and will be attaching another section of new stuff over this 21-year old sand paper stuff.

I searched the forum for roof leaks and did not find this area mentioned.  Has anyone else had this trouble?  andy1

Carolyn and Lewis (Andy1) Anderson
1996 U270 36'

Re: Roof leak

Reply #1 –
That no-slip patch is a known problem area.  Xtreme regularly removes it and replaces it with no-slip white paint.  Silicone is not an adequate patch for fiberglass.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Roof leak

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Lewis Anderson –
I searched the forum for roof leaks and did not find this area mentioned.  Has anyone else had this trouble?
Yes...you are not alone.

When Foretravel put it on, it was probably one of those "...seemed like a good idea at the time..." things, that ultimately failed.

Removing the Black Non-Skid material from roof

More table space was needed
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Roof leak

Reply #3 –
How about removing the black stuff and replacing it with the white no-slip stuff used in bathtubs?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Roof leak

Reply #4 –
I removed mine with a putty knife and a lot of elbow grease.  I did it over several sessions.  At first it seemed like a monumental task, but overall it was not so bad.  After cleaning it up I just left it as the rest of the roof, no non-skid.  I just have to be careful when I climb onto the roof. 
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
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Re: Roof leak

Reply #5 –
And, if the crack is more than cosmetic, consider a "patch" over that area.  Either aluminum painted non-skid white or FG.

Adhere with a good polysulfide such as 3M 4000. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020