Best Roof Sealer!!

[Robert Wesner]

For anyone that hasn't heard of it, GacoRoof is - by far - the best roof sealer.

 

Developed in Seattle, it's 100% silicon!

 

This comes highly recommended by many RV'ers.

 

I used it on the roof seams of my 33 yr old Winnebago and it works great!

 

Be warned - it's NOT cheap - can run between $60-80 for a gallon can but worth every penny.....

 

http://www.gacoretail.com/gacoroof.html

 

 

 

well, that's my two bits..........

 

~Robert the Hair

[rosebud]

do any of the sealers come in a silver color?to go with the alluminum trailers?

[Tim Constas]

Gaco does offer colors one of them is gray, when I talked with their customer representative he told me Gaco recommends two coats, using two different colors to assure complete coverage, in my case it will be white over gray.

[Kristen & Stu]

Obviously you have to apply the roof sealer over repaired leaks I'm thinking. The seams on my aluminum roof have rusted apart. I have attempted to repair them by sanding off the rust & using aluminum flashing. We are still having a problem with a small leak where there is water pooling. I am going to shim up the joists. Hopefully that will not only make the seal tighter but also make the water run off. If that works, is this when I should apply the sealant to the roof? If it doesn't work, any suggestions for repairing the seams in the aluminum?

 

Thanks for any help. We're rookies! :)

Kristen

[Robert Wesner]

apply where ever it leaks - with liberal over-lap for a good bonding seal border

[0l9c7nlsuup1p]

Hey,

 

Technically, you have to fix the leak first.  The roofing sealers can only do so much.  Armor (I don't work for 'em  - just a fan) guarantees against leaks - but I want to give the roof coating every advantage I can to be success by providing a good underlayment.

 

The Durabond (I think that is the name) tape works great for seams.  It conforms to all of the little imperfections and creates a great seal.  It's available at Camping World. For a caulk product - look at the marine industry - water coming in a boat makes for a bad day - stuff like 3M 5200 is a great adhesive waterproof caulk.  Heck, or if needed maybe even a small patch using fiberglass - (easier than you think to work with).  But do your best to seal the leaks before coating.

 

Then using your roofing material of choice - put a coat on the repaired seams/patches and then coat the roof.  You want at least two coats.  The stuff I used - I could recoat the roof next day - some require longer periods for a second coat. 

 

Since I did my roof, the old girl has gone through borderline monsoons without a drop getting in.  You will also find the coach is quieter, and a little cooler (bright white reflectivity).

 

To answer a previous query - most roof coatings may be tinted like paints - so silver, red any color...

 

Good luck

 

-Angel and Stu

 

 

[0l9c7nlsuup1p]

Company	ArmorGarage	Gaco	Ames	ELastek	Lexis Coatings	Henry	Gardner-Gibson
Product	Armor Roof Coat	GR 1600	Super Elasto	Solar Extreme 120	Energy Guard	HE280DC	Black Jack 1000
Product Type	Copolymer Epoxy Based	Silicone	Water Based Elastomeric	Water Based Elastomeric	Butyl Elastomeric	Water Based Acrylic Elastomeric	Water Based Siliconized Acrylic
Coverage	100 sq ft/gal	^ 100/gal	100sq ft /gal	100 sq ft /gal	30-35 sq ft /gal	30-35 sq ft /gal	40-50 sq ft /gal
Dried Thickness	18 Mils	^ 22 mils	No Data	20 Mils	11 Mils	20 Mils/gal	10 Mils
Density	9.85 lbs/gal	No Data	No Data/gal	10.6 lbs/gal	7 lbs/gal	12 lbs/gal	11.53 lbs/gal
Tensile Strength	1000 psi	300 psi	250 psi	340 psi	1000 psi	240 psi	Up To 250psi
Hardness	60A	50A	Less than 1	No Data	45A	No Data	No Data
Elongation	500%	^ 150%	1000%	260%	900%	230%	Up To 350%
Cure Time @ 70 Degrees	24-48 hrs	24 hrs	24 hrs	24-48 hrs	24-48 hrs days	2-3 days	24-48 hrs days
Vapor Transmission. See note below	.025 perms	.06 perms	.9 perms	2.0 perms	5.9 perms	7.0 perms	No Data
One Component Product	Yes	NO	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Primer Required	No	Sometimes	No	No	YES	YES	No
Ponding Water Rated	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Application Temperature	Down To 40 F	Down To 32 F	Down To 40 F	Down To 55 F	Down To 45 F	Down To 50 F	Down To 70 F
Energy Star Rated	Yes	YES	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Refelectivity	90%	85%	No Data	86.5%	85%	88%	90%
UL Fire Rated	Yes	YES	No	No	No(Flammable Liquid)	Yes	Yes
Guarantee	12 Yrs	^ 50 Yrs	1 Yr	7 Yrs	*10 Yr	10 Yr	10 Yr

NOTES:
^Gaco Notes - Coverage: On textured surfaces such as all asphalt base roofs Gaco will require 3-4 coats. Actual coverage on textured surfaces is 33 SF/Gal.

• Tensile Strength- Very Low should not be walked on.
• Elongation: Very low, may be subject to cracking in extreme conditions.
• Guarantee- Does not Guarantee results of application such as stopping leaks, guarantee void if roof coating is walked on or strict maintenance not done. Also Gaco does not provide any ASTM Accelerated Weather Testing to verify Longevity. Guarantee is nontransferable.

 

[Darren Houk]

Eterabond tape will work well to seal the seams if it is clean. It is Butyl based so it should be safe for just about all roof types. Coating will not work in ponding water. Coating doesn't do much for stopping leaks.

What ever product is used, it has to be for the correct type of roof. Metal can be coated with a lot of different products but the single ply roofs on newer RV's needs to be treated with the correct product.

I am still suprised at how many people are incorrectly calling PVC and TPO roofs "RUBBER." The salemen and techs at the RV repair shops call all single ply roofs rubber when very few RV's actually are.

Check with your local commercial roofer to find out what you have and by a product made for that type of roof.

Many do it yourselfers are going to cost yourselves a lot of money down the road.

[Melvin Green]

Iam sold on eternabond tape! When put on a clean dry surface,and a roller to bond it to roof,you can not pull it back off! I did not have a roller at first,and did not bond as well. After buying roller,it was down for good! I then applyed  snow white that comes in 5 gal bucked from menards! Take a look at my pics!

[Thrashers Woods]

I used some cheap Home Depot $10 a gal elastic fiber black tar roof stuff in a green can! I laid it on heavy with three gallons. I came back 2 weeks later and it was dry! Next I purchased a Sherwin Williams product Snow Glow reflective elastic roof paint. It was about $30 a gallon in a blue and yellow can. This stuff was well worth it, and cooled the trailer down alot. I used 3 gallons of that stuff! The first coat turned tan from the tar underneath it, so I did two more and she turned out beautiful. That was last year and she still looks great! There are a few tan spot where the water sits on my roof, but no leaks! Here is a picture for everyone that I still had!

[Darren Houk]

I hope you don't have a rubber, PVC or TPO roof. The asphalt based products will eat your roof up in time.

[Joe and April Skidmore]

Hi Darren,

I repaired a leak on the back of the roof seam on my '85 Pace Arrow using the elastic fiber black tar in a tube. My roof looks like it is fiberglass. Am I ok or should I keep freaking out that I just wrecked my roof???!!! 

[Darren Houk]

If your roof is fiberglass (Which sounds right for a Pace Arrow) you should be just fine. You may have to put a fiberglass membrane in between layers if it cracks over time. My guess is that it should be good for a year or more.