Unfortunately, many RV owners need to pay more attention to one of the most critical maintenance pieces: their roof. If you want your rig to last, you need to stay up to date on its care.
Ignoring your roof’s maintenance can result in an RV with extensive and expensive damage. Consistency is vital in keeping your camper’s roof in good condition.
So how often should you caulk your RV roof?
Let’s look and see!
Why Do RV Roofs Need to Be Caulked?
RV roofs contain many small holes and gaps where materials come together and items secure to the RV. If there’s a crack or even a tiny hole in the roof, water will find its way into it. Over time this can cause severe damage, including introducing dangerous molds that could cause health conditions.
In addition, many RV roof warranties require that the owner regularly maintain the roof by caulking it. This helps extend its life and minimize the chances of damage. By keeping your rig’s roof caulked, you don’t have to worry nearly as much about a warranty provider denying a claim in the future.
How Often Should I Caulk My RV’s Roof?
Unfortunately, how often you should caulk the roof of your RV depends on where you live and store your camper. However, many RV manufacturers suggest owners inspect their RV’s roof every 30 to 60 days. Doing so can help the owner to catch any potential cracks or failures in the seals or roofing materials.
If you live in an area that experiences extreme heat or storing your rig, so it’s exposed to harmful UV rays, you’ll want to inspect your roof more frequently. Extended exposure to the sun can rapidly deteriorate the seals and make your RV vulnerable to water damage.
You should caulk your roof as soon as possible on any areas you notice failing. If the sealant is cracking or peeling, it’s best to clean the caulk off of the surface and start fresh. Take your time with this, as you can cause more harm than good if you’re not careful.
Pro Tip: Use these tips on How to Painlessly Prevent RV Roof Leaks.
How Much Does It Cost to Caulk an RV Roof?
While a professional will likely charge $150+ each time they caulk your rig’s roof, it’s much more affordable to do it yourself. You can purchase a couple of tubes of RV roof sealant for approximately $20 and a caulk gun for $10 to $25. Aside from a few minutes of your time inspecting and using the items, this is all you’ll need to caulk your rig’s roof.
Once you have these materials, you’ll have everything you need to touch up any spots needing attention on your rig. These should last for several months and allow you to caulk for several months. If you need to maintain larger sections, you’ll need to purchase more tubes and spend more time. In addition, having a cheap plastic scraper can help remove old sealant.
How Long Does RV Sealant Last?
The lifespan of RV sealant will greatly depend on where your RV spends most of its time. It can offer years of protection if you store your rig in covered or climate-controlled storage. However, UV rays from the sun can drastically reduce sealant effectiveness on RVs stored outside.
An RV that sits outside in the element could experience issues with sealant with little notice. You never know how the sun and other weather elements will affect the sealant. This is why owners must inspect their seals regularly. Doing so can help them spot any changes in the roof so they can address issues as quickly as possible before any damage occurs.
What Are the Best Caulks for Your Rig’s Roof?
Since caulk is critical in protecting your roof, you don’t want to trust any brand. Let’s look at some of the best caulks for RV roofs available.
Dicor 501LSW-1, RV Rubber Roof Sealant Self-Leveling Caulk
Dicor’s self-leveling caulk is one of the most popular options that RVers use on their roofs. It’s a white caulk compatible with EPDM and TPO materials, the two most common RV roofing materials. In addition, the caulk’s self-leveling ability helps it to create a smooth and polished look, even if you’re a beginner. In addition to RV roof materials, it will stick to fiberglass, vinyl, wood, mortar, aluminum, and concrete.
WELLUCK RV Rubber Roof Sealant Self Leveling Caulk, White Flex Repair Caulking Lap EPDM Sealant for Motorhomes Trailers Campers
The Welluck RV Rubber roof sealant comes in 10.1-ounce tubes. The sealant is odorless and self-leveling, so you know you’ll have a professional look when finished. In addition to drying in less than 24 hours, this sealant accepts paint. You can easily get it to match any color for any surface you might be using it on. It can stick to EPDM, TPO, wood, PVC, and many more materials.
Ziollo RV Flex Repair Caulking Lap Sealant – Self-Leveling EPDM Sealant for Rubber Roofs on Motorhomes, Trailers, Campers
The Ziollo RV Flex Repair Caulking Lap Sealant comes in 10-ounce tubes with a lifetime warranty and guarantee. This non-hazardous material is precisely what you need to use on all of the seals on your RV roof. It creates a watertight seal between the caulking and the roofing material. Whether you’re applying it to an EPDM roof, metal, wood, or other surfaces, the sealant from Ziollo can protect your rig.
Pro Tip: Unsure if you can walk on your RV roof? We uncovered if it could harm your RV.
Should I Caulk My RV’s Roof on My Own or Hire a Professional?
Caulking your RV roof is an important job you want to ensure gets done right. However, hiring a professional can be expensive, especially since this is an ongoing maintenance task. It’s worth learning to do this yourself, especially if you can climb on top of your roof and safely move around while working.
However, not everyone can handle climbing on their roof and lugging a few tools up there. In those instances, hiring a professional to inspect your seals every few months is worth the cost.
Either way, don’t neglect your RV seals and inspect them regularly. Doing so increases the chances that you and your RV will have many more future adventures.
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