How to reseal a motorhome roof

Keeping your motorhome roof in pristine condition is absolutely essential. And an important part of this is resealing the roof when necessary to prevent water leaks. The good news is that this task is fairly straightforward! Whether your roof is fibre or rubber, here’s how to reseal a motorhome roof.

Disclaimer: This article is intended as a general guide only. Please read your motorhome's manual carefully for specific advice and instructions.

How to reseal a fibreglass motorhome roof: 6 steps

1. Find a compatible silicone sealant

The main material you’ll need to reseal your RV roof is a silicon sealant. Silicon rather than any other material is recommended for fibreglass roofs, as it’s made to suit almost all types of fibreglass.

Gorilla 1144110 All Conditions Sealant Silicone Clear 295ml (pack of 6), £42.99

Caravan and Motorhome Adhesive Sealant Cartridge, 300ml, £11.15

2. Clean the roof

Make the job as easy as possible by cleaning the roof of your vehicle before starting any resealing or other roof repair work. It’ll take some time, so don’t rush. You’ll need a stepladder, access to water, detergent and a long handled brush – see our how to clean a motorhome roof guide for full details.

3. Tape up any rips and tears

Check the entire roof carefully and apply fibreglass repair tape to any rips, tears or areas where sealant looks damaged, e.g. around the vent.

Magic4U RV Motorhome Caravans Roof Sealant Tape 4” x50’ feet with Rubber Roller, £24.99

4. Apply the silicone sealant

Carefully squeeze your silicone sealant onto the patches of fibreglass repair tape. Allow to dry, then repeat. Again, leave to dry.

5. Apply lap sealant around the roof joints

Futureproof your motorhome roof against potential leaks and wear and tear by using self levelling lap sealant around the roof joints, plus around the vent, skylight and solar panel/s if you have them (like Silver above). Lap sealant can be used on almost any surface, including fibreglass. Apply using a caulk gun and leave to dry.

Dicor 501LSV1 Lap Sealant, 300ml, £25.60

6. Optional: apply gel coating

This is an optional step in how to reseal a motorhome roof made of fibreglass. Your motorhome roof will almost certainly have been treated with a gel coat, offering protection as well as shine. If you want to keep everything looking neat, coat the roof over the parts you’ve resealed, including the edges and joints.

How to reseal a rubber motorhome roof: 4 steps

1. Find a compatible product for resealing rubber motorhome roofs

A rubber RV roof needs a different sealant to be fully effective. You can use a liquid product like Liquid Rubber or Dicor, or an adhesive in a strip or patch, such as EternaBond. Look for EPDM rubber, the best type for vehicle sealant work.

(NB: Never use petroleum products on a rubber motorhome roof, as they’ll cause damage including swelling.)

Liquid Rubber, 0.83 gallons, £64.95

EternaBond White Mobile Home RV Rubber Roof Repair Tape Sealant (3" x 20 Feet), £34.80

Magic4U RV Motorhome Caravans Roof Sealant Tape 4" x50' Feet with Rubber Roller, £24.99

2. Clean the roof and allow to dry

See above.

3. Apply the liquid rubber or patches to the roof where needed

If using liquid sealant, decant some into a small container and use a brush or mini roller to carefully cover each area you want to cover. Note that if your motorhome is a conversion or secondhand, or if you don’t know where a leak is coming from, it’s a good idea to apply liquid rubber to most or all of the roof.

For patches/strips, cut to size. Make sure to trim the patch corners/strip edges into a rounded shape – straight 90º angles make the adhesive more likely to peel. Apply the patch and smooth it with your hand or a roller to make sure it’s tightly fixed and there are no air bubbles.

2" Steel Seam Roller Roofing Tool EPMD Rubber Seals, £19.99

4. Apply roof seal tape around the roof joints

Finally, apply a sealing tape like EternaBond around the roof joints. It can be applied around vents and solar panels too.

What to consider before resealing a motorhome roof

What is your motorhome roof material?

This is the first thing to consider before you buy any motorhome roof sealant, coating or other products. If your motorhome is a new or recent model, it will almost certainly have a fibreglass roof. If your vehicle is older or secondhand, it will probably be made of rubber (or possibly steel or aluminium). To know exactly how to reseal a motorhome roof, double check its model’s manual and the material used.

How do you know when to reseal a motorhome roof?

This one’s not about how to reseal a motorhome roof, but when. The obvious answer here would seem to be “when the roof is leaking”, but actually you should be resealing a roof well before that. The easiest way to prevent motorhome roof leaks is to stop them before they start. Pre-empt any roof damage/wear and tear by checking your motorhome roof seal and roof coating once a year.

How often should you reseal a motorhome roof?

Although you should check your motorhome roof every year, it’s unlikely you’ll need to reseal it every time. A well-maintained RV roof should last up to 10 years before needing any significant repairs.

Sealant and coating for motorhome roofs

Sealant is essential when it comes to how to reseal a motorhome roof, as it will seal cracks and leaks. Coating the roof afterwards is optional, but recommended – this improves insulation, looks smarter and helps protect against future damage.

Urethane and acrylic products can be used to seal a motorhome roof too; however, urethane is more expensive than silicon and acrylic is nowhere near as durable (and needs a couple of coats).

Should you caulk around roof vents?

Even if you’re not resealing a large part of your motorhome roof, regular caulking around roof vents is a great idea to keep everything tightly sealed. Check every few months that the caulk hasn’t cracked.

Benefits of resealing a motorhome roof

1. Keeps your motorhome in top structural condition

It’s not just about the practicalities: keeping your motorhome roof properly sealed at all times will make the vehicle look smarter, inside and out.

2. Reduces wear and tear

Motorhomes are of course recreational vehicles, which means the roof can be exposed to the elements a lot. Minimise the risk of wear and tear by resealing and coating the roof where needed.

3. Reduces costs

A motorhome sustaining structural or water damage from a leaking roof or vent means a big repair bill, even bigger if the roof has become warped. Budget for roof resealing costs upfront to save money long term.

4. Makes your motorhome more energy efficient

Motorhomes and other vans can use a lot of energy, even on short trips. A properly treated roof, especially one that’s coated, will increase the motorhome’s overall insulation.

Similarly, a motorhome roof coating will help regulate the temperature inside the vehicle, which is energy saving, greener and budget friendly too.

Make back the costs of your motorhome roof repair

That’s it – everything you need to know about how to reseal a motorhome roof! Although it’s easy to do it yourself, you might prefer to have your vehicle roof resealed by a motorhome mechanic or motorhome service centre: it’s up to you.

Whichever option you go for, it’s easy to make costs back by hiring out your motorhome on Camplify – just one rental should cover the cost of your roof resealing materials and tools.

Why Camplify?

Camplify connects owners like you with local and international holidaymakers – all of whom are verified to maximise the safety when you hire out your motorhome. Discover more of our advantages for owners below:

• It's free to list your motorhome.

• If you don’t have all-risk insurance, we can provide you with it when you sign up.

• We give your van a 24/7 RAC breakdown cover.

• You have complete freedom to approve or reject guests interested in renting your motorhome. Your wheels, your rules.

• We provide you with tips and step-by-step guides on how to improve your service and your motorhome to get more and more bookings!

The sooner you set up your listing, the sooner it will start to receive visits and bookings! See how much you could earn if you rent out your motorhome with our free income calculator or sign up now to start enjoying the above advantages today.

If you still have questions, want to discuss your income potential with an expert or get more information on how to list your motorhome, call us on ☎ 0330 808 1811 or visit www.camplify.co.uk. We’ll be happy to help you with anything you need!