The Pros and Cons of an RV Liquid Roof

Posted on May 21, 2019 by Brian McCallister

The RV liquid roof, also known as a liquid EPDM roof, is one of the most well-known roofing products on the market today. This material has all the same characteristics and benefits of a traditional EPDM rubber roof once it cures, but is easier to apply due to its liquid form. Of course, there are pros and cons to consider with any roofing material, and this one is no exception. While there are a lot of products to choose from, here are some pros and cons to consider when thinking of investing in a liquid roofing product.

Pros:

RV liquid roof products are versatile. They can be applied to just about any surface, including existing rubber roofing, fiberglass, plywood, and even fabric and metal. Application is quick and easy with a brush, squeegee, or roller.
Liquid roofing is convenient. This product is instantly waterproof once it is cured, and only requires a single coat application for optimal protection. The products available today even have self-leveling properties to cut down on your labor.
Liquid roof materials are the economical choice. A single gallon of liquid EPDM coating can cover as much as 40-45 square feet, and costs less than $100, in most cases. Plus, the coating dries white and will reflect sunlight, saving energy costs by keeping your RV cooler during the warm summer months.
Liquid roofing is flexible and durable. Because this is a rubber-based liquid product, it will fill all the cracks and crevices for a watertight seal, and can withstand extreme temperatures without cracking or other damage.
An RV liquid roof offers total protection. This roofing material resists UV rays and ozone emissions, and can withstand saltwater, acids, snow and ice, and more. The even application and self-leveling properties even help prevent pooling of water and ice that could lead to future damage or leaks.

Cons:

Liquid roofing materials expire. If you are planning to use a liquid roof product, make sure that you only buy enough for your needs. If you have to buy extra, consider splitting the cost with someone who also needs a new RV roof. After about a year of being opened, the product tends to separate and will be unusable.
Some RV owners complain that liquid roof application is difficult due to the thick, gooey texture of the product. This is mostly a personal preference, and will not affect how well it does or does not work for your roofing needs.

As you can see, the only real cons to this type of roofing material for an RV are matters of personal preference or misuse of the product. RV liquid roof products are made of high-quality materials and provide amazing performance to protect your RV from water, wind, UV rays, and all of the elements that it may face down the road. If it’s time to reseal or replace your RV roof, liquid EPDM might be just what you need.

Liquid Roof vs. Resealing

One of the biggest questions people ask, despite the many benefits of the RV liquid roof, is if they might just be better off resealing all of the cracks and seams on their roof periodically. Since you will have to remove all of the old sealant before putting down your new liquid roof anyway, this is a valid question. However, think of liquid roofing like a blanket. Instead of applying a product that will only cover the direct seams, you can apply a full liquid roof and provide even more protection for your RV.

As you can see, liquid roofing materials can provide a lot of benefits. If you are looking for an easy, versatile product that will get the job done right without costing a small fortune, this may be just what you need. Remember to familiarize yourself with the liquid roofing process before you get started for the best results.

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.