Your Guide to Resealing Your RV Exterior
TL;DR: Regular inspection and resealing of your RV's exterior, especially the roof and joints, is key to preventing water damage. Avoid silicone sealants; opt for RV-specific products. Inspect at season's start/end and reseal as needed for longevity.
Do you suspect your RV exterior needs some love? Not sure how to handle all those little cracks? Do this before you start seeing water inside your RV.
Resealing the exterior of your RV is crucial in preventing water damage, which can be an expensive problem that often goes unnoticed. Below, we will provide instructions on how to properly reseal your RV exterior to avoid any potential issues in the future. There are certain areas that are more prone to having problems than others. The entire roof gets the brunt of the harmful UV rays that can create cracking. In addition, the corners where the walls meet can slowly separate creating problem areas. Then, you have the typical spots around the windows, doors, and flanges. When your RV was built, they put a seal over all of these problem areas, but they will break down from the constant movement and exposure to the sun. That is why it is vital you inspect these areas on a regular basis and reseal them when necessary.
What Type of Sealant Should You Use?
The temptation is to use silicone because it is used all over your traditional home. However, silicone might not be your best bet. Silicone struggles to stick to previously used silicone making it annoying to repair in the future. Plus, silicone will occasionally have issues with peeling. And that isn’t ideal for something that moves down the road at 60+ miles per hour. Instead of silicone you will want to use something designed for RVs and its specific application. For RV roof repair and roof flanges—around your roof vents—you will want to use a self-leveling lap sealant from a company like Dicor. For the sides, you can use a non-self-leveling sealant.
Don’t Wait Until It Leaks
When inspecting your RV's seams, pay special attention to areas around windows, slide-outs, corner joints, and any RV appliances or internal compartments. It's recommended that you inspect your RV's roof at the beginning and end of each season, and consider resealing or replacing it after 7 to 10 years. By following these guidelines and properly resealing your RV exterior, you can prevent water damage and extend the life of your RV. If you aren’t quite ready to completely redo the roof, there are takes that do a pretty great job. Dicor makes two different types that can cover long cracks or reseal corners. But do not use these tapes as a way to avoid replacing your roof.