Roof Maintenance - The Truth

[Blindcoyote]

We have a 2017 Thor Chateau 29G. We baby it and keep it clean and functioning. But I worry about the roof! I bought a rooftop cover but it is very difficult to put it on so I don't.(Still new in the box if anyone wants to make an offer) The motorhome is parked right next to the house and is plugged in, but the roof just bakes in the sun and freezes in the winter. Is this bad? I see many trailer and motorhomes equally exposed. Are we all wrong?
If ultra violet and wind,rain,and snow are actually bad, how much to refurbish the roof in how many years. Weigh this against the cost of covered storage.
Advice is gratefully accepted.
Premium One-Piece TPO Roof

[rynosback]

I treat mine with 303 Aerospace once a year.

[SuperD]

I left our coach parked in the driveway baking in the Texas sun all the time, no problems. TPO is tough stuff, used for commercial roofs. Check your caulking every 6 months or so, weather is harder on it than anything.

[Pete'sMH]

X2 on frequent inspections. Weather and use will loosen joints and seams quickly. I’m on mine about every other month and only rarely fail to find something that needs attention. If you stay ahead of it it doesn’t take long. Use the correct RV roof sealant (NOT silicone!). Also check windows, end caps and other sidewall seams and penetrations. These seem to leak even more readily than roofs.

[Lt Keefer]

I also keep up on the roof maintenance. I thoroughly clean it with Murphy's Oil Soap in the spring and in the fall and check the caulking monthly in between. To me it's one of those things that if you stay ahead of it, it's not that much work. But if you wait until it leaks to work on it you may never get a handle on it.

[Mo_Mike]

I read that before you add DICOR to repair seams you need to "clean" the existing DICOR seams. If you have a TPO roof, what is good to use to clean the old seams?

[mpinva]

I use Simple Green to clean the roof. Also I have read that one should never use those citrus-based cleaners on RVs as it leaves some kind of residue that prevents adhesion of sealers. Everyone please be careful on the roof.

Originally Posted by Mo_Mike

I read that before you add DICOR to repair seams you need to "clean" the existing DICOR seams. If you have a TPO roof, what is good to use to clean the old seams?

[Muggs]

Regular car wash soap or dishsoap on my 2016 Vegas. It cleans it up good. I just recaulked for the first time as seam sealer showed minor cracks. Past winter cleaned and resealed all sidewall penetrations. I"d rather be ahead rather than behind with Florida sun.