How To Clean the Roof of your RV
Know What Type of Roof That You Have
Each RV model is built using different materials. It’s important to know which material your RV is made of so that you use the proper product and methods to maintain it. I recently cleaned and protected my RV roof, and thought this would be a great time to share how you can do this, too!
Water leaks are the number one enemy of RVs. My family learned this lesson the hard way many years ago, and lost a fantastic pop-up camper due to a roof leak that could never be managed. Since then, I have had a sharp focus on my roof and keeping it in the best shape possible.
Three Types of RV Roofs
Rubber
This is the most common type of roofing material. There are two different types of rubber roofs –
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
TPO (Thermal Poly Olefin).
Your owner’s manual should list which type of rubber roof you have so that you can make sure that you maintain it appropriately.
Fiberglass
These are more rare than the rubber roof, but require less maintenance. These roofs will be hard to the touch. Over time, these roofs can suffer from oxidation. Routine cleaning and maintenance will help this type of roof to last longer!
Aluminum
Finally, aluminum has been used as a roofing material as well, but this type of material hasn’t been around for a very long time. If you have a very old RV, this may be the roof type that you have, otherwise you are not likely to encounter it. These are the most rare and require special awareness when up on the roof. They have support bars spaced apart, so when walking on this type of roof it is important to keep your weight on the crossbars for support.
You can refer to the unit’s spec sheets to determine the roof type. This will tell you the type of roof that the unit originally had so if you are the only owner, you can be confident that this is still the type of roof on the unit. Otherwise, there may have been a roof replacement that you are not aware of. Also, you could ask your local RV dealership to help you determine your roof type and how best to maintain and protect it.
For more help in determining your RV roof type, you can click HERE
Make Sure That It Is Safe To Climb Onto Your RV’s Roof
Here are some basic tips for climbing up onto your RV’s roof
- If an RV has a roof ladder then there is a good chance that the roof is walkable
- Some RV models, including, travel trailers, 5th wheels and other types of campers will have a sticker located on the back of the RV that states the weight limit. If you weigh more than the weight limit you should not go on the roof
- Consider the condition of the roof
- Consider the age of the roof
- If you have a fiberglass roof you most likely can walk on it since fiberglass roofs are the strongest.
- Do not walk on a wet roof – no matter how much weight it can hold a wet roof is slippery and dangerous
- Don’t take a chance and walk on a badly damaged RV roof
Gather Materials
To clean my TPO RV roof I needed a hose, a soft bristle RV cleaning brush, buckets, a mop, and the cleaning product. I used BioKleen RV Roof Cleaner and Protectant, which was recommended to me by my local RV dealership Indian Shores RV. They take amazing care of their customers!
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I made a YouTube video of the process, ,which explains how well and easily the product works.
Click HERE to learn more about EASY RV Maintenance that you CAN do!
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