The Importance of an RV Liquid Roof Coating

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Brian McCallister

Everyone That Owns an RV Needs to Protect the Roof

You normally won’t hear two neighbors having a lively discussion about an RV liquid roof coating, unless they are both RV owners. Every owner has a favorite product and method that they use to keep the roof of their coach looking like new. And every old-timer has a horror story about a roof defect that went unnoticed and caused extensive damage to the unit’s interior. That’s why all experienced RV owners inspect their camper roofs at regular intervals and repair any defects, no matter how small, immediately.

RV liquid Roof Coatings

Why Choose an RV Liquid Roof Coating?

When it comes to protecting the roof of an RV, there are a lot of products to choose from, each claiming to have the answers to all of your problems. They can’t all be right, so an educated RV owner needs to do some homework. You’ll certainly want the coating to be durable; after all, resurfacing your RV roof isn’t something that you’re going to want to do very often. Even if you do the work yourself, the job is time and labor intensive and there is some cost involved. That’s why more and more RV owners are coating their existing roofs with an RV liquid roof coating made from EPDM, which is a synthetic rubber. That’s because EPDM rubber coatings have been proven to withstand both hot and cold temperature extremes, thus improving a roof’s insulating ability. Liquid EPDM remains flexible, which is extremely important when coating the roof of an RV that is always in motion. Best of all, a liquid rubber roof can be applied to almost any original equipment roof material, although some may require a coat of primer first. Check with the RV liquid roof coating manufacturer to see if your roof requires a primer before applying a liquid EPDM coating and if it does, have them recommend one.

What to Look for When Choosing an RV Liquid Roof Coating.

Of course cost is always a consideration, but be careful not to let it be the main one. You’re not saving money in the long run if you have to resurface the RV roof again in three years, instead of five or ten years. That doesn’t mean that the most expensive coating is necessarily the best either. Again, do your homework. Some coating brands require special cleaners and primers; that’s an expense. Others require two coats with hours of waiting time between each coat; that could end up costing you twice as much money and time. Check their warranties; if someone is offering a lifetime warranty, be a little skeptical. Anyone who’s owned an RV for any length of time can tell you that there’s no such thing as a roof coating that lasts forever. They probably have unreasonable maintenance requirements and loopholes that protect them from ever having to deliver on their promises. A good product will be one that is made from genuine EPDM rubber and that will work on most roof surfaces; again, a primer may still be required. Look for one that will provide an excellent seal with just one coat; why waste half a day waiting for a first coat to dry or pay again for a second coat. Besides, if their product can’t give your roof adequate protection in one coat, what’s to say that it can provide protection in two coats? Would you ever buy an interior wall paint that told you right off the bat that it couldn’t cover in one coat?

Is Liquid Roof the Right Repair Product for Your RV?

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Brian McCallister

Over time, your RV is subject to aging and deterioration. That’s evident over the entire vehicle, from the engine and transmission to the seals around the windows. However, nowhere is it more apparent and dangerous than with the roof. The roof is one of the most critical components of your RV’s body, and failure can cause catastrophic damage. Keeping it in good condition is vital, but are liquid roof applications the right option for you?

Why Liquid Roof Coatings?

Why should you consider going with a liquid roof coating product for your RV? It’s simple – your roof is most likely made from EPDM, which is a type of rubber. It offers quite a few benefits, including strength, UV resistance, durability and low weight.

However, it does dry and become brittle over time. If left unaddressed, this can lead to serious damage, including water leaks and even complete roof failure in serious instances. You can avoid this by refreshing the surface of your roof periodically with a liquid roof product.

There are quite a few reasons to choose a liquid application rather than another type of repair, or even roof replacement. One is the ease of application – applying a new coat of liquid roof product is far simpler than other options. It’s also faster, and much more cost effective. With that being said, there are several different products on the market that do a similar job, but are not similar in terms of results, cost and other factors.

Choosing between the Products on the Market

When it comes to liquid roof products, there are several competing products on the market. One of those is liquid urethane, which offers excellent performance. However, it’s very costly, and requires multiple coats to provide the protection that you need. Another option is acrylic. It’s cheap and wildly available, offers good UV resistance, and only takes one coat.

RV Liquid Roof Coatings

However, ponding water can quickly cause it to peel up, leaving you without the protection that you need for your RV. Finally, there are EPDM-based liquid roof coatings. These are made from the same material as your original roof, and bond directly to it with just one coat. They’re completely waterproof from the second they are applied, and impervious to ponding.

Liquid Roof and Its Benefits

EPDM liquid coatings are available from a wide range of companies, but they all vary somewhat in terms of formulation. Liquid Roof is a leading product, offering a number of important advantages and benefits.

Faster Repair: One of the most important benefits of Liquid Roof is the fact that it requires just one coat. Simply spread it, roll it, and you’re done. It requires some curing time, but a single coat is all that’s necessary.

Less Cost: Because only a single coat is needed, and because just one gallon will cover up to 200-square feet, you’ll spend less on Liquid Roof than you will competing products.

Immediate Protection: Liquid Roof offers immediate water protection from the second it is applied. While it takes a few hours to dry to the touch, it is waterproof immediately. With that being said, exposure of uncured material to heavy rain may result in dimpling (but not water leaks).

As you can see, repairing your RV’s roof does not need to be a hassle. Liquid Roof offers the cost-effective, simple application that you need. Most RV owners can recoat their roof in just a matter of hours, making this an ideal way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon, and eliminating the prospect of water damage from leaks.

Things You Should Know About Liquid Roofing?

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Brian McCallister

Liquid roof at its inception saw the use of natural bitumen being mixed with straw, jute, rag felt and various other man-made things in order to provide a useful, functional roofing solution. It was not until the early twentieth century that liquid roofing was finally being used on a wide-scale basis and this is when liquid roofing found its footing as a widely performed commercial activity. The earliest known liquid roof was executed using liquefied rubber. During 1960s and 1970s, other materials found their way into being used for the purpose of liquid roof, namely styrene butadienes, acrylics, acrylic emulsions and unsaturated polyesters. These methods of liquid roofing proved largely successful due to the fact that this improved the quality of roofing and appeared rather durable.

As technology progressed further, the first liquid based elastomeric roof coating was introduced in 1975, when it proved to be hugely popular. Elastomeric materials are those which are elastic in nature and tend to resemble rubber. These materials have the property of resuming their original shape when a deforming force is removed from it. Since the end of 1980s, the progression of technology saw the development of a single component moisture cured polyurethane which was then applied as a coating on roofs. Till today, this method forms the basis of most of the modern day liquid roof solutions.

The process of liquid roofing involves applying a liquid based coating which comes in the form of a fully bonded monolithic liquid. The coating is generally applied in hot form, and when it cures, it assumes the form of a rubber-like membrane which is elastomeric and waterproof in nature. The key advantage of liquid roofing is that its membrane is capable of stretching as and when needed and can return to its original shape without any problems. It should also be noted that when liquid roofing is used, it is generally reinforced with another material. Glass reinforced plastic is a popular choice as a secondary material to reinforce this liquid roof and this provides additional tensile strength, adding to its stretching capabilities even further. It can also be successfully applied on most of the roofing materials already in place, be it concrete, asphalt, felt or bitumen.

A liquid roof has many advantages, such as it is an extremely cost-effective way of constructing a new roof, or making an existing roof waterproof. It is highly durable and long lasting, since it can provide around 25 years of protection, given that the correct liquid roof method is used. Liquid roof solutions offer versatility which very few other solutions can compete against. It can be used in conjunction with high performance materials which can be independently tested in order to verify their strengths and compatibility. Another advantage is that it doesn’t involve the use of heat-based methods, like the ones involved with asphalt, bitumen or felt membranes. The coatings are applied in cold form and therefore eliminate the hazards of fire risks.

DIY Project: How to Apply Roof Coatings

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Brian McCallister

Covering the roof with a protective layer is a common process for most homes. Roof coating covers the roof and prevents leaks, so it cuts down your energy costs. Roof coatings consist of liquid polymeric binders blended with pigments and other substances for durability and elasticity. Roofs that are coated with liquid membranes reflect UV sun rays, resulting in a cooler home interior as well as lower energy costs. Keeping a couple of things in mind will make this DIY project much easier to accomplish.

Prepare the roof

Clean your roof with a large broom to remove old branches, leaves, and other debris. Employ smaller wire brushes, putty knife or even a sand paper to take out old roof coating. Ensure that you don’t leave loose coating on your roof. Inspect your roof for any leaks. Remove any buildup of mildew using the solution of chlorine and water. You can clean your roof using a pressure washer machine if you have one. Smear any leakage areas with patching cement. Allow your roof to dry thoroughly.

Get the best roof coating

Find the best roof coating depending on your type of roof. Elastomeric roof coatings are normally used on concrete, brick, foam, metal, and aged aluminum. You can purchase roof coating at hardware stores in 5 gallon containers at different prices. The typical white and gray coatings will protect your roof, resulting in longer life cycles of the roof, and to reflect sunlight, resulting in lower costs of energy. Go for the correct type of product for your specific roof.

Properly apply roof coating

Plan your project in advance, ensuring you have a few hours of daytime as well as good weather. Blend the roof coating in the five-gallon bucket with the paint stir mixer according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Apply roof coating to the surface of the roof with a roller brush. Refer to manufacturer’s instructions for guidelines on the amount of coating you should apply per square foot of the roof.

Begin at one end of your roof and gradually work towards the other end, and ensure you have a way to come down. Don’t undercoat or overcoat any area. Allow your coating to dry thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Coat your roof with another layer of coating using the same procedure. Using the right applications and product can prolong the life of your roof and give it an attractive appearance.