How often should you inspect and reseal an RV roof

What the manufacturers say

The clearest instructions are in the manuals themselves. Jayco's 2022 Jay Flight owner's manual says you or your dealer must inspect all sealants a minimum of every six months, checking the roof and all four sides of the RV, including moldings, doors, vents and exterior attachments. It also says to reseal at least one time each year as preventive maintenance.

Winnebago's operator's manual for the Vista motorhome uses the same six-month minimum for inspecting all sealants and repeats it in a notice box: sealants must be inspected every six months and replaced if necessary. Forest River's travel trailer and fifth wheel owner's manual says inspection of roof components at least twice a year is very important to make sure seams and seals are not cracked or worn.

So six months is the common floor across all three builders. Your own manual is the one that counts, and Winnebago, for one, points owners to a sealants call-out sheet supplied with the coach.

Why sealant fails between inspections

Jayco's manual notes that sealants do not have set lifetimes, because environmental factors change how pliable and adhesive they stay. It lists road vibration, ultraviolet exposure, air pollution and freezing temperatures as causes of damage. Forest River adds that weather and road vibration make seals dry, crack or separate.

The consequence is water. Winnebago's manual opens its sealant section by calling water a recreational vehicle's worst enemy when it gets where it is not intended, and Forest River warns that moisture getting in can cause rot, mold and mildew.

How to inspect the roof and seams

Look for the failures the manuals name. Jayco lists cracks, peeling, voids, gaps, breaks, looseness or any other sign of physical deterioration. Winnebago lists cracks, voids, gaps, breaks and adhesion, and adds an important step: a proper inspection includes running a finger along the sealant seams to check that the sealant is still stuck to the surface. Any loosened areas must be replaced.

Do not stop at the roof. Winnebago's list includes moldings, windows, clearance lights, exterior compartment doors and the weather seals around the entrance door. Forest River suggests inspecting seals each time you wash the RV, and says a mild household soap solution and a soft brush can be used to clean a rubber roof. Winnebago's checklist for taking the motorhome out of storage makes the same point: after washing off the winter grime, inspect the seams and sealants around window frames, vents and other joints for separation or cracks.

Getting up there safely matters as much as what you find. Jayco says its roofs have decking under the rubber membrane so you can walk on them with caution, and rates its ladders at 300 pounds including anything you carry. Winnebago's manual says walking or working on the roof should be left to qualified service personnel and carries a warning that the surface may be slippery. Forest River cautions that with an aftermarket ladder, the roof may not be reinforced, and suggests boards across the roof for temporary support.

Resealing: match the sealant to the joint

Both Jayco and Winnebago say to always use the same type of sealant that was removed, and to ask your dealer if you are not sure what that is. Jayco lists several types on its own units, including butyl, butyl-encapsulated foam, silicone, roof sealant and foam, which is why guessing is risky.

For horizontal roof seams, sealant makers sell self-leveling lap sealant. Dicor describes its EPDM lap sealant as a secondary seal along roof edges, air vents, vent pipes and screw heads, compatible with EPDM and TPO sheeting, and for horizontal surfaces only. Dicor's non-sag sealant is the one meant for vertical surfaces. Dicor's instructions start the same way every time: clean off all dirt, loose paint, rust, oil and grease, and let the surface dry before applying.

Temperature and cure time matter too. Dicor's Ultra Sealant is applied above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, in a 1/4 or 3/8 inch bead, and needs a primer on TPO and EPDM roof membranes. At 77 degrees and 50 percent humidity it skins over in 30 minutes, is tack free in under an hour and dry in two hours, but may take several days to fully cure. For its EPDM lap sealant in cold weather, Dicor says to warm the container to room temperature, 60 to 80 degrees.

What happens if you skip it

The manuals tie roof care to warranty coverage. Jayco states that failing to properly maintain or reseal the RV may result in serious water damage, and that this damage is not covered by its Towable Limited Warranty. Winnebago says that delaying repairs to damaged or detached sealant can let water damage the ceiling, body panels and upholstery, which its limited warranty does not cover. Forest River says failure to maintain seals through regular maintenance may be considered abusive treatment under the terms of the warranty.

That makes a dated record of each inspection worth keeping. Jayco's manual tells owners to keep a maintenance log of the vehicle's service history and ends with a vehicle maintenance record page that has columns for service date, mileage, work performed, who performed it and notes.

Common mistakes

Mixing sealant types. Putting a different product over what the factory used goes against both Jayco's and Winnebago's instructions. Find out what is on the joint first.

Using a self-leveling sealant on a vertical surface. Dicor says not to use its roof lap sealant on vertical surfaces; its non-sag sealant is made for walls and window frames.

Sealing over dirt or loose sealant. Every Dicor instruction starts with a clean, dry surface, and Winnebago says loosened areas must be replaced, not covered.

Inspecting by eye only. Sealant can look fine and still have let go. Winnebago's finger test is the step people skip.

Waiting for a stain on the ceiling. Jayco's manual says that if you notice water inside, have the dealer find the source of the leak immediately, because an uncorrected leak can cause serious damage. Six months is a minimum, not a target. RideLedger's RV starter list includes a roof and sealant check: log each inspection with the date and a photo, set the interval to what your manual says, and the next one appears on the upcoming list when it is due.

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