When we got our 1990 Coleman popup the roof was in need of some repair. The roof was definitely one of them items that needed some addressing. While we were told it did not leak that was clearly not the case, do to the sagging of the ceiling on the inside. We knew this was going to be a project so we knew there would be a little bit of work involved. These are the steps we took to reseal our pop up camper roof.
A little bit of cleaning
The first thing we did was give the roof a really good cleaning. We used plain old soap, some rags, and a scrubber. After everything was cleaned and dry we looked over the camper to see what we thought would be the best solution to make sure we don’t have any more leaks. The roof rack was caked with silicon, so it looked like there may have been issues with them at one time or another. In the end I decided it was best to remove them completely.
Supplies for the project
- Roofing paint
- Rollers
- Paint tray
- Painters tape
- Newspaper
Paint Prep
Use the painters tape to cover up anything you don’t want to get paint on. To cover up the bottom half of the pop up we opened her up just enough to put the newspapers inside slightly hanging out over, and then locked it up. This did the trick and kept the bottom half free of any paint splatter.
Time to get painting
It was decided that we would use a white rubber roof covering. After looking around we decided to use some “>here. While there are definitely many options this has worked well for us. Every time we camp it rains, a lot. And so far we have had no leaks.
After opening the can of Rust-Oleum use a hammer and a nail and punch holes into the inside rim of the can. This will allow the paint that goes into the rim of the paint can drip back into the can. It’ll make less of a mess later on when replacing the can lid. Dump some paint into a paint tray and using the rolls paint away. Keep the layers of paint even, and make sure everything that needs to get covered is covered. We ended up using two coats letting the first coat dry before adding the second. After everything was dry it looked good and we weren’t worried about any leaks anymore. We used two cans and have some left over.
Finished Product
The finished product not only worked but it looked so much better. The first time we went camping we were in a flash flood warning and it rained a lot. After a few days, of rain off and on, there were no leaks on the inside. Every time we open it up after sitting for a while it is dry inside. Although the roof doesn’t leak it would still be recommend that it would be covered with a tarp when it is parked for an extended period of time. Good luck with your project.
Over time, RV roof wears down, cracks, peels and exposes areas for water to enter, so effectively resealing the RV roof is a standard part of maintenance that can give your roof years of additional life. Before you start the resealing process you first have to decide which product to choose to do the resealing job. The RV industry is currently flooded with roof sealants. But don’t compromise on quality and always purchase a product particularly designed for RVs e.g., RV Roof Magic.