| |
POPULAR
ROOF REPAIR PAGES:
Repair Recommendations:
For
RV or trailer roofs and seam repairs, we recommend Eternabond®
RoofSeal
White.
It's specially packaged for us with a White Ultra-UV resistant
surface and wound in economical 50' rolls (rather than
37'). RoofSeal White can be used over all types of roofs
including EPDM. UV
resistance of RoofSeal White is estimated at 18 to 35 years (tested by Eternabond).
RoofSeal is also available in
Gray and
Black. All finishes are compatible with Formflex coatings.
For
aluminum trailer & home seam repairs, we recommend
A-Seal
®.
It is an aluminum faced version of RoofSeal.
All
the Eternabond products are supported with a 10 year warranty by
Eternabond.
For
recoating a RV EPDM / rubber roof or metal trailer roof, we recommend
Formflex-6000.
Please see the section below for more information.
For a complete or partial replacement of the EPDM
roofing materials, see
EPDM Replacement Roofing Materials
Caulking & Sealing (air conditioners, vents,
flashings,
skylights, etc): The best materials depends on the roof surface.
For sealing aluminum to rubber / EPDM roofs we recommend
M-1
or
Sonolastic 150. These
are premium high-performance materials designed for this
application. These two materials will work on ALL roof surfaces.
For sealing a vent/hatch/skylight to
a fiberglass roof surface we suggest
NP1
caulking. NP-1 has
800% elongation, 350 psi tensile and +/- 25% joint movement
capability (double most home-store materials). Its also UV resistant
& paintable!
For resealing RV windows we recommend
M-1
or
Sonolastic 150.
Either has tremendous adhesion to glass and the RV and will provide
many many years of trouble-free sealing.
Common Questions & RV
Roof Repair:
FREE INSTRUCTIONAL MOVIES:
Eternabond instructional Movies:
Cold Weather
Modified Roof Crack Repair
Repairing Single-Ply Roofs (TPO, Hypolon, TPO, PVC)
Rubber
EPDM Roof Repair (for RV and all types)
RV Roof Repair (general repairs)
RV Slide Room Repairs
RV
Vent & Skylight Repair (general procedure video)
Skylight
Rooftop Installation
MORE MOVIES...
What is EPDM?
EPDM is synthesized
from ethylene, propylene and Diene Monomer. EPDM is
a highly
flexible and stable material.
EPDM
creates the binder for the final product, vulcanized EPDM mixed
rubber, which contains carbon black, antiozonants, antioxidents,
oils, and curing agents. The oils are added to act was plasticizers
and low temperature flexibility. Over time, the oils can deplete and
the EPDM sheet will shrink. This is one of the primary aging
factors.
EPDM is not resistant to oil or many
solvents. Roof repair products must be compatible with EPDM and
many are not (tar, bitumen, and high solvent content products can
attack & decompose EPDM).
Eternabond's unique adhesive system
has solvent or petroleum products. It is 100% compatible
with EPDM and all other roofing materials. Formflex-6000 roof
coating is also solvent free and designed to be used directly over EPDM.
What is TPO Roofing?
Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing
was introduced to the RV industry in about 1994. It has a glossy
white surface. TPO sheeting claims to provide tear and puncture
resistance 20 to 50 percent higher than un-reinforced EPDM rubber
(depending on the material thickness - Best Materials). The material
offers excellent UV protection, will not retain odors and is
resistant to rot. It is easily melted or burned. This is the quickest method
to identify it. Cleaning TPO can be
done with Murphy's Oil Soap® type product and a soft nylon brush or
sponge.
What Preparation is
Required for Roof Repairs?
Brush dirt off and out from under
repair area. Clean all dirt and oxidation from
the roof surface. The exact method depends on roof material and type of
contamination or oxidation. For small repairs to EPDM use solvent
and a rag and scrub the repair area. As needed, use a
plastic abrasive kitchen scrubber. Wipe and/or scrub until clean.
If you are re-roofing large areas you can usually power wash
then aggressively scrub surface using a
stiff
street broom
(keep scrubbing until the roof is completely
white again). Generally stiff brooming with a floor cleaner is
good enough. Commercial EPDM cleaners are available. They
consist of Heptane/ Toluene/ Isopropyl mixtures (very similar to
unleaded gas). But they are hard to ship due to extreme
flammability. These products are applied by scrubbing with clean
cotton rags.
If oil
or grease are present, remove them FIRST.
Caution: If you decide to use
chemical cleaners, you may wish to mask
or protect any surfaces which may be sensitive to cleaners.
Important:
When using Eternabond tape (as well as all other roof repair
products), all traces of silicone sealants or
waxes much be removed. Cut out any silicone caulking, then remove any silicone surface wax with a
commercial automotive pre-paint silicone / wax remover.
Caulk any voids
in the area under which the Eternabond tapes will go. Select the caulk or sealant which best matches your roof surface material (and
prior to applying the caulk/sealent into the voids, be sure to scrub seams with plastic abrasive scrubber).
What Tools Are Needed
For Repairs?
Each job is different,
but generally you just need to have some simple tools:
*
Roller - This is the most important
tool. It is critical to "roll-in" and
flow the Eternabond adhesive.
*
Plastic Pot Scrubber or sandpaper - For
sanding & cleaning roof repair surfaces. Alternatively, an
electric drill with a wire wheel can be used for bigger jobs.
*
Razor Knife or Roofers Scissors -
To cut Eternabond.
*
Scraper - To remove old unwanted
caulking.
Do I
Need to Prime Before Applying Roof Repair
Products?
For Eternabond tapes, Use
EternaPrime when surfaces to be bonded are very dirty (oxidized
and cannot be cleaned well). EternaPrime prepares the surface into an
adherent platform for the Eternabond tape to adhere to. Also use EternaPrime if the
installation temperature will be below 40 degrees F (except when
using
WebSeal and One Step, which
can be applied down to zero degrees F).
Use
Acrylic Prime
prior to applying Elastomeric roof coatings, such as
Ultrashield, over aged EPDM (but
the EPDM must be cleaned first).
Formflex-6000
does not require
primer if roof is properly cleaned.
How Much of an Overlap
Seam is
Needed When Applying RoofSeal Over Large Areas?
Two inches of overlap is the
recommended minimum "best practice" (2" on EACH side
of repair area, using 4" tape).
How Do I
Repair a Tear?
Clean the repair area. Remove any silicones. Clean surfaces as above.
Apply M1 or NP sealant to any recesses and tool to a level surface.
Let caulk cure. Glue down any loose EPDM areas using
M1. Add fasteners as needed to re-enforce repair area.
Let cure 24 hours. Apply RoofSeal with two inches of overlap to either side
of the repair area, covering any reinforcement fasteners used.
How To Replace a Roof Vent,
Skylight or Hatch etc:
Scrape away
caulking around screws that secure the item then remove screws.
Cut away all old caulking at the metal
vent-flange edge (avoiding cutting into the rubber roof). Use a
putty knife to get under the vent and loosen. Carefully lift off the old vent to prevent tearing the rubber roof.
Clean the roof area under and around the opening.
Fill any screw holes with
caulking.
Now you have a decision. Do you want a permanent seal, or one which could
be serviced in the future if needed?
Permanent Sealing Process:
Remove ONE side of the non-stick
backing and apply Eternabond
Doublestick tape to the bottom
side of the new vent flange. Press the tape into place, then roll
well to seal tape to flange. (Note: If needed, you can easily
"double stack" the Doublestick for sealing greater gaps).
Remove the remaining non-stick backing from
Doublestick sealing tape. Carefully Position the new vent cover over the
opening and press hard into place. The Doublestick tape provides an
even, permanent, watertight seal. In lieu of this, use a
heavy bead of caulk/sealant under the flange.
With
the vent positioned, secure it with
new exterior grade screws, such as
#9 SS HWH W/NEO SEALING WASHER. Tighten all screws gradually to
pull the flange down evenly and seat the Tape.
Finish the sealing by using strips of RoofSeal
over the flange outer surface. Cover the screws and vent flange edge and roof
surface 2". As always, be sure to thoroughly roll-in the Eternabond to seal
it permanently.
Serviceable Sealing Process:
For a seal which is temporary or
can be more easily removed in the future, use butyl sealing tape under the flange
following the above procedure for Doublestick. Form a good sized
bead mid-way around the bottom of the vent flange in the screw hole area. Place the vent. Move the vent
around a bit to seat the vent-to-flange putty to the roof surface. (Note: Butyl
Sealing Tape
forms an air-tight, but not a long-term water tight seal).
With
the vent positioned, secure it with
new exterior grade screws, such as
#9 SS HWH W/NEO SEALING WASHER. Tighten all screws gradually to
pull the flange down evenly and seat the Doublestick.
After screws are installed, caulk the outer
edge of flange-to-roof interface and screw tops with caulk/sealant.
How Do I Just Fix a Leaky Roof-Vent or Hatch?
Scrape away
all old caulking. Use a plastic scrub pad or sandpaper to clean
the surface. Swab with solvent and a rag. Be sure ANY silicone type materials
are removed.
Seal using strips of RoofSeal or
A-Seal
around the flange edge to roof interface. Also be sure and cover all
screws. Overlap the vent flange to roof surface edge by about 2" in each direction.
As always, be sure to thoroughly roll-in the Eternabond to seal it permanently.
How Do I Remove Old
Caulk?
Cut with Razor knife then scrape out
with a putty knife or scraper. Remove ALL old silicone residue.
How Are Seam Areas
Repaired & Re-Enforced before Recoating the Entire Roof?
Clean repair areas. Remove all silicones. Cut out
any loose areas. Caulk any deep areas, tool to a level surface). Let
NP1 cure. Apply WebSeal with two inches of overlap. Apply a UV resistant finish coat over WebSeal & caulking (do when you do the whole roof area, or just over
the WebSeal if just repairing this area). UV resistant finishes
such as UV Protector or
Ultrashield.
To help blend-in seam repair area when you are going to recoat the
entire roof, apply NP1 caulk along edges of WebSeal and feather out
(like taping a sheet-rock seam).
What Do I Do With
Edge-Metal & Screws?
For Temporary Repairs, overlap the
entire surface with RoofSeal White, or seal with NP1.
If screws are not
recessed, we recommend replacement with an exterior grade PanCake head screw, such as
PanCake Head
Screw along with a "Sealing
Washer". The screw + sealing washer
forms a nice looking, long-lasting, watertight seal.
For complete re-coatings, it is best to
repair any damaged joints using the techniques for seam repair.
What Do I Do Around
Vents & AC units etc?
Follow the seam repair methods, using
RoofSeal or A-Seal
How Do I Seal Around Irregular Surfaces?
Clean surfaces and seal using
Eternabond "WebSeal". WebSeal’s unique closed weave fabric backing and
microsealant composition you to use the tape not only on all flat
surfaces but also perfectly seal around curbs, angles, pipes and
bolts, making the tape ideal for any roof-sealing application. It is
especially useful for difficult details, penetrations, areas where
water ponds, and even imperfect surfaces. This 30-mil tape has no
memory, so it will not “spring” back to it’s original shape when it
is molded to fit unusual shapes, yet it remains flexible (expands
and contracts) in temperatures as low as negative 70 degrees
Fahrenheit. Webseal is designed to have a secondary surface coating
over the top,
Eternabond
UV Protector. Roofseal
is one-step, but does not form as readily around irregular surfaces.
Will
Eternabond Products Stick Directly to Wood?
Yes. Be sure to "roll-in" product like
other applications.
Can I Do My Entire
Roof with RoofSeal Tape?
Yes. This is an excellent solution
and quite cost effective compared to a roof replacement. Eternabond RoofSeal White is
available in widths up to 24". You simply lay down overlapping
strips to cover the roof (and using the pre-cleaning and post
roll-in processes).
How Do I Avoid
Slight Dirt Collection Along the Visible Edges of RoofSeal?
We recommend running a thin bead of
white caulk (M-1, Sonolastic or Np-1) along the visible tape edge (just enough to cover the
exposed Eternabond adhesive at the edge).
What about
Formflex-6000
Roof Coating?
FORMFLEX-6000 is a Urethane rubberized elastomeric roof coating. It is a unique combination of urethane
rubber and acrylic to provide and extremely durable, bright white,
long lasting roof coating. It's non-flammable and suitable for
coating EPDM, FOAM, METAL ROOFS, PARAPET WALLS OR CRACKED STUCCO
walls.
This is not your ordinary
elastomeric roof coating.
Competing Products: FORMFLEX-6000 is very superior to
Elixir PLAS-T-COTE, KOOL SEAL, or Rapid Roof which have NO rubber in them. For products
like PLAS-T-COTE or KOOL SEAL or RAPID ROOF, see our
Ultra Shield, which is superior
to these and much less expensive. Unlike "LIQUID ROOF" aka
LIQUID ROOF 9991,
Formflex-6000 is far more cost effective, has better elongation, and
is much easier to apply. "Liquid Roof" retails for $329 for 5
gallons vs. $150 for 5 gallons for Formflex. Liquid Roof is EPDM
rubber in a 2-component base which must be very carefully mixed,
requires solvent for clean-up and is not oil resistant.
Liquid Roof's cured elongation is only 130%. Formflex has 300%
elongation, is resistant to oil, is single component, and cleans up
with soap and water.
We recommend
Formflex-6000 for RV rubber roofs. And it's backed by Uniroof's 7-year warranty.
How Do I Recoat My
RV EPDM Roof with
Formflex-6000?
This is the basic process for
recoating an EPDM roof using
Formflex 6000.
REPAIR:
* Repair water leaks using the above techniques.
CLEAN:
* Use a
stiff
street broom.
* Remove all oil/grease stains.
* Use 1:3 Bleach/Water mixture applied
with a stiff street broom or scrubber on other tough stains & mildew.
Try TSP and water if the bleach does not perform.
* Powerwash.
* Let dry thoroughly.
APPLICATION:
* Open Formflex can. Remove any skin at the surface (you should have none with a new can).
* Stir with paint stick if material
has set for a long period and any separation is visible (again, you should
have none with a new can).
* Apply FIRST COAT with 3/8" nap roller at rate of 75 square feet
per gallon (VERY THICK).
* Let cure 1 to 3 days (depending on temperature). Materials will
feel tacky for up to week. This is normal. It will dry semi-gloss.
Adhesion will increase as cure continues.
* Apply a SECOND COAT as above.
* It will take up to 7 days until all tackiness is gone and material
completes its full cure to a beautiful and long lasting white
low-semi-gloss sun-reflective surface.
CLEAN-UP:
* Soap & Water.
STORAGE OF UN-USED MATERIAL:
* Clean lid area, reseal. Unused
materials will keep for years in a relatively cool area like a
garage. (just not in the hot sun).
What are my RV roof Re-Coating
Options?
-
Ultra
Shield Elastomeric Coating: Good performance yet
very cost effective. Easiest to apply (roll-on). Quick cure.
Non-flammable. Comes in several standard colors and can be custom
color-tinted. Not recommended for foot traffic.
-
Formflex-6000:
Urethane-Acrylic rubberized EPDM roof coating.
Outstanding re-coating material for EPDM. Non-Flammable.
Not recommended for foot traffic unless you add aggregate to the
process. Easy roll-on application.
Available in highly reflective bright white. Good stain and abrasion resistance.
-
Sonoguard Urethane Coating: A very high grade Urethane roof coating. The ultimate in
coating protection. Excellent for roofs with foot-traffic. ICBO rated.
Easy roll-on application. Available in 40 standard top-coat colors
and most any custom color. Outstanding stain and abrasion
resistance.
-
EPDM Rubber Coatings: Liquid
rubber & EPDM in a 2-part solvent base. Highest cost. Lower
elongation, Not oil resistant. Flammable when uncured. The most
difficult to work with. Not
recommended for foot traffic areas.
MORE ABOUT ETERNABOND:
What is Eternabond Tape?
Eternabond Leak Repair Tape is one the
most aggressive adhesives available. Originally developed and
available for industrial use, Eternabond is manufactured from
specially formulated elastomeric resins (MicroSealants) bonded to woven, aluminum,
or mixed polymers for maximum conformability. These materials are
prefabricated to provide uniform thickness and will expand/contract
within normal ambient thermal conditions without ever hardening or
losing its adhesive qualities. Eternabond is perfect for surfaces
like rubber, fiberglass, metal and even polyethylene and is now
available in many convenient sizes.
Why Use Eternabond?
Utilizing its advanced MicroSealant
technology, EternaBond continues to provide permanent waterproofing
solutions for a variety of commercial roof repair applications. RV,
mobile home, steel building, barn, and tractor-trailer owners all
suffer from the same problem - leaks eventually occur and are
difficult and expensive to repair. Eternabond adheres to most
surfaces, including EPDM rubber roofs and all storage tank
materials, virtually on contact. Eternabond has an elongation
capability of up to 500%; so as the surface it is bonded to changes
shape, Eternabond changes with it - without losing its grip and
without losing its seal. This makes Eternabond perfect for virtually
all leak repairs!
What makes Eternabond
different from other leak repair products?
Most repair products fall into one of
three categories: a material with a glue applied to its surface
(like duct tape), a gum material that lacks adhesive aggressiveness,
or a liquid that you pour and spread.
Eternabond repair tapes have no glue or solvents because Eternabond IS the glue/sealant.
The highly aggressive adhesive is extruded through a die, creating
the tape shape needed for easy repairs. One side is laminated to a
strong backing material and a release liner is applied on the other
side.
Is Eternabond hard to
install?
Installing Eternabond is as easy as
putting on a piece of tape! Eternabond requires no glue, mixing, or
caulking. For quick, emergency repairs Eternabond usually
will not require cleaning (although they recommend the repair to an
unclean surface be checked at a later date for proper adhesion) and
in many situations, Eternabond can be installed underwater. DO NOT
INSTALL OVER SILICONE.
I Need to Remove
Eternabond Tape -- How Do I Do It?
TOOLS
& SUPPLIES: Industrial hot air gun (or heavy-duty hair dryer which
is not a effective), a long thin sharp knife like a fishing fillet
knife or razor knife, soapy water, rags. You may wish to dispose of
knife when done.
METHOD: Using heat gun, heat one end
of tape.
As you heat up the Eternabond tape,
pull on the white backing. As the gray sealant stretches (like pizza
cheese), cut it close to the surface with the knife that you keep wet
with soapy water.
Frequently dip knife in soapy water to aid in cutting. Material will
tend to stick to knife so frequent dipping and clean-off with a rag
will help in the cutting. This will leave a sticky layer at the
surface which is not removable. (job is lots easier with 2 people).
When you are finished with you
repair, you can put new product right
over the gray sealant that is still on the roof.
What are the Eternabond Tape
Technical Specifications?
Total Thickness:
20-60 mils
Adhesion: 9 lbs/in width
Low Temp Flexibility: Up
to 1/2" radius @ -30F
Pliability: No cracks in
Membrane
Permeance: .001 perms
maximum
Elongation: >500%
What is the Eternabond Tape
Warranty?
Eternabond provide a 10-year limited warranty. Click here for
the details:
www.eternabond.com/warranty.jpg
How UV resistant is
Eternabond RoofSeal White?
In UV testing,
Eternabond was subjected to a 4000 Hour QUV Weather-O-meter Test
with UV Light UVA 340 in the presence of humidity. Under these
grueling conditions Eternabond lost only 2.8% of it's flexibility
for each 1000 hours of exposure, while gaining 11.8% in tensile
yield (strength) per 1000 hours of exposure. This extrapolates to an
expected exposed life of 18 - 35 years. Technically speaking, any
product that will last 18 - 35 years exposed to the weather is
"environmentally stable".
Does Eternabond Tape
Contain Petroleum Distillates or Butyl?
No. The
base polymer of Eternabond does not contain any unsaturated or
double-bonds. Eternabond is already down to a single bond between
carbon atoms. Without the double-bonds, there is nothing In
Eternabond for the elements to attack, nor can Eternabond attack
OTHER elements. It is perfectly safe over EPDM and other materials.
Best Materials has Tips and
Techniques for RV Roof Repair, RV, roof repair, Eternabond roofseal,
A-Seal, miracle RV roof tape, EPDM roof repair, rubber roof repair,
Formflex-6000, Plas-t-cote, Kool Seam, rv roof coating, rv roof
coating, trailer roof repair, RV sealant, RV waterproofing,
RV leak
repair, RV roof coating, RV caulk, and RV caulking products.
Other popular products and pages:
Backer
Rod,
ChemCurbs,
Chinking,
Concrete Stain
& Sealer,
Diamond Saw Blades,
Eternabond
Repair Tape,
Expansion Joints,
Fall
Protection Kits,
Foam Roofing,
Gas
& Safety Cans,
Hidden Deck Fasteners,
Hot Air Welders,
Electric, Hot Air Welders,
Propane,
Hot Dipped Roofing Nails,
Houseboat Roof / Deck Repair, log home
products, Metal
Roofing,
Metal Roof Repair Items,
Miami-Dade Nails, Narrow
Crown Stainless Steel Staples,
NP1 Sealants,
Parking Garage Repair,
Pipe Flashings,
Pipe Support Systems,
Polyurethane Foam,
Propane
Parts,
Restaurant
Exhausters, Retrofit
Pipe Flashings,
Roof
Anchors,
Roof Hatch,
Roof
Jack,
Roof Leak Repair, Roof Paints and Coatings, Roof Repair Materials,
Roof Nails,
Roof Supplies,
Roof Screws,
Roofing Fasteners,
Roofing Repair,
Roofing Supplies,
Safety Rail Systems, Sealants,
Sealing Washers,
Snow Guards,
Solar Fans,
Solar Roof Fans,
Sonolastic Clear 25, Stainless
Nails/Fasteners,
Tile Bond,
Vents,
Roof Vents
Popular suppliers
Active Ventilation,
AOSafety,
ASI Products,
Aztec
Washer,
BASF,
Chem
Link,
Chemrex,
Cleasby,
Compass
International,
Degussa,
Dow Chemical,
Eagle,
ERB
Safety, Falltech
Safety Products,
Fry Reglet,
Green Bull,
Guardian Fall Protection,
Hitachi,
IFG Fasteners,
Igloo Water Coolers®,
JL
Industries,
Leister,
Makita,
Master
Flash Boots,
Maze Nails,
Mitsubishi, Milwaukee Tools,
Miro Industries,
Polycoat,
Polyguard,
Portals Plus,
Powers Fasteners,
ProTech,
RHH Foam,
Senco,
SFS Intec,
Sievert,
Sonneborn,
S&P,
Spotnails,
Steelhead,
Swan
Secure,
Uniroof,
United Coatings,
Winco
|
Links:
Roof Repair
Procedure Database
|