How to Clean a Rubber Roof
Dave SolbergBy cleaning the roof of your RV at least once a year, you ensure that the material will last much longer and keep your unit free of leaks and damage. Taking care of an RV roof is a simple process, but it can be fairly time consuming and dangerous if you don’t take the proper precaution. With the right methods and materials, you can keep your roof in tiptop shape and not have to worry about it until its next cleaning. In this lesson, we teach you how to clean a TPO roof with basic commercial products and an hour of your spare time.
How to clean a TPO roof: a step-by-step guide
When it comes to most makes and models, the warranty on your RV should last 10 years, assuming you take proper care of the vehicle. That goes for every component on the unit, including the roof. If you clean and condition the roof regularly, it should be under warranty should you experience any unforeseen issues. With that in mind, you should only need to clean your roof once a year to keep it in good shape. To help you figure out the correct way to maintain your rubber roof, Dave Solberg walks you through a step-by-step demonstration on how to clean a TPO roof.
In beginning to show you how to clean a TPO roof, Dave introduces some things you should be aware of when you’re up on the rubber roof, including walking on wet spots near the corners of the roof. He explains which products he prefers to use, such as a rubber roof cleaner and conditioner you can pick up at a local store, and then teaches you how to clean a TPO roof with simple scrubbing motions.
You’ll learn some easy tips for maintaining the areas around vents and antennae, as well as how to safely clean a TPO roof to avoid damage to the rubber. He also recommends keeping a close eye on cracks and indentations that might eventually lead to punctures and, in turn, leaks. With this quick walkthrough on how to clean a TPO roof, you’ll be able to thoroughly wash and condition your rubber roof to make it last much, much longer!
For more helpful tips, check out our video on RV rubber roof repair and learn how to fix a hole in your rig’s roof.
I wasn’t sure if it would damage the roof by walking on it, so I normally use a ladder and scrub the roof by moving the ladder around the perimeter. So rubber roofs are made to walk on? Also I noticed recently on the rear of my camper trailer approx 2 inches below from where the rubber roof joins the metal side sheeting their appear so be 2 pin holes in the metal that appear to have developed from the inside of the metal sheeting, what is the possible cause of that.
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This was so simplistic he could have summarized the whole video into “wash it once a year and be careful it’s slippery”… He even brushed up (pardon the pun) against an interesting problem of the dent, but didn’t spend a half a sentence on what we should do about it, other than keeping a close eye on it. The other questions here also indicate some other details to include… I’ve been tempted to sign up for all the videos, but then this gives me pause when it’s so basic… I wish he had discussed common roof problems and how to deal with them when your RV isn’t “under warranty”… All that being said, thank you for the video. I can sense the instructor has tons of knowledge, I just wish he’d have shared more of it…
I’ve been told by an RV Roof installer that plain water and a soft brush is safer than the cleaners. He said the cleaners & sponges or other more abrasive mops causes premature wear. He also said that any cleaners such as “Dawn” contain degreasers that can dry out the EPDM by breaking down the oils in it & drying it out. I’ve shortened his far more complicated explanation to keep my response short in length. He also said to be sure the treatment product used after cleaning needs to contain a UV protectant or you are wasting your time & money. Not all “treatments” contain UV protection. He did say that he encourages gental removal of noticeable tree sap, especially pine sap. Just wanted to give an alternative opinion on Roof care.
My firstt time cleaning my RV roof… So many products and tips out there made me overthink on how to do it. This vid and your professional explanation on how to made it simple for me . Thank You. ✌🏽🇺🇸 GOD Bless
How much water did you use to dilute the roof cleaner?
Hello Jerome,
I use one gallon of water for one jug of cleaner. Another option is to use Dawn Dish Soap (blue) and put in about 3 oz for every gallon of water.
Thanks,
David
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Could you tell me what brand long handle brush you used and where purchased.
Thanks
Jerry
Hello Jerry,
I bought this mop at Menards which is a midwest home improvement store similar to Home Depot and do not remember the brand. However I see HD has several “Quickee” brand models that are very similar. It’s a simple mop with a soft sponge on one side and a scrubber material like scotchbrite on the other side. You can also use a broom with a very soft bristle head also available at most home improvement stores. Typically these are wider and you would need a wider bucket and they do not hold the soap solution as well as a sponge type head.
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
If there is no ladder to get on the top of the roof, is it ok to get up on the roof? I have a 2017 Keystone Cougar X-Lite 33RES?
Hello Timothy,
Yes, some manufacturers do not put a ladder due to the fiberglass cap on the back or a picture window! Just be careful to not step to close to roof vents, the air conditioner, and other items that have been cut into the roof as there might not be much structure around them to hold the weight. I would stay at least 2’ from these items. If you don’t have the 2’ area, place a long 2×6” board on the area you want to walk which will transfer the weight across the roof.
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
What brand roof cleaner/protector are you using? Seems to work well.
Hi, Mike. For this demonstration video we used a rubber membrane cleaner from Camco purchased at our local Walmart store! This works well, but it depends on the type of material you are cleaning! EPDM and TPO can be cleaned with either the Camco product or even Dicor, however Dawn Dish Soap is now being recommended by the fiberglass and Alpha membrane manufacturers. We used it on a fiberglass roof in one of our exterior care and maintenance classes and it worked great!
Hat product did he use to clean roof?
need more info on rubber roof