Your RV’s roof is subjected to harsh weather conditions more than any other part of your RV, and as a result, it can wear out faster than the rest of your rig. However, there are many different RV roof coating products that can help extend the life of your roof by preventing leaks, UV damage, cracks, and so on. In this article, we’ll look at 7 of the best roof coatings for RVs. Let’s dive right in.
7 best RV roof coating products:
1. Henry’s Tropi-Cool Silicone Reflective Roof Coating
Henry’s Tropi-Cool is a popular 100% silicone roof coating that can be sprayed, rolled, or brushed onto essentially all types of RV roofs. It is 100% waterproof and cures to be safe in the rain after just 15 minutes.
This roof coating is specifically designed to provide maximum reflectivity of heat and UV rays, even as the coating ages. The reflective qualities help keep the interior of your RV cool when the sun is directly overhead – a huge plus when you are boondocking in the summer without an air conditioner.
Since it’s waterproof, the coating can also help prevent leaks and water seeping into your roof or walls, which can cause mild, mildew, rot, and eventually structural damage. As soon as water gets into the ceiling or walls, it’s basically too late and you’ll have a big repair job on your hands. However, by applying Tropi-Cool preventatively, you can keep water from seeping in in the first place.
Tropi-Cool is available in 1-gallon, 5-gallon, or 55-gallon buckets. The manufacturer suggests that you can cover 100 square feet of roof with 1.5 gallons.
More info: henry.com
2. Dicor Roofing Coating Systems
Dicor is another big name in the RV roof coat industry, and they offer a variety of different roof coating products, including 2-step systems for coating EPDM/rubber roofs, fiberglass roofs, and metal roofs, as well as an insulated Cool Coat version, and a complete Roof Renew Kit that includes everything necessary to refinish your RV roof.
This variety of products means that you can choose one that’s specific to your exact RV roof material, which helps provide better sealing and weatherproofing.
These two-part systems involve a cleaner/activator product to prep the roof surface as well as the actual coating. The manufacturer suggests using two coats of the roof coating for best results. The coatings come in one-gallon buckets, and each gallon can cover 125 square feet with a single coat. So, remember to double your square footage to account for the second coat.
More info: dicorproducts.com
3. Flex Seal Rubber Coating
This ‘as seen on TV’ product is a quite effective RV roof treatment. This product has the benefit of being non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-hazardous. When it hardens, it forms a waterproof, flexible rubber coat that protects your RV from leaks as well as UV radiation. It also prevents rust and corrosion on metal elements of your roof, and it helps minimize vibration and noise while you are driving.
It works on many different surfaces, including glass, wood, plastic, wires, vinyl, fiberglass, metal, aluminum, EPDM, PVC, and more – so basically any RV roof surface that you could imagine.
Flex Seal can either be used to patch leaks or to coat your entire RV roof. It comes in pints, quarts, single gallons, or the MAX size which is 2.5 gallons. The manufacturer suggests that one gallon of Flex Seal can cover around 150 square feet, although it will vary depending on how many coats you apply and how thick you apply it.
More info: flexsealproducts.com
4. Liquid Rubber RV Roof Coating
This Liquid Rubber RV roof coating is quite heavy duty, boasting 1000% elongation, which basically means that it will flex with your RV’s roof instead of cracking. It protects your roof from UV rays and water, and insulates the interior of your RV against heat from the sun.
The manufacturer recommends using a small paintbrush to coat the edges of your roof, and then filling in the center part by pouring the product onto the roof and smoothing it around the surface with a roller. For best results, apply it when the ambient temperature is over 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
It comes in one-gallon and five-gallon buckets. The only drawback to this roof coating is that it requires two or three heavy coats to be fully effective, and each gallon only covers about 50 square feet. So, completely coating your roof with the recommended number of coats could require quite a lot of this product.
More info: liquidrubberusa.com
5. Rust-Oleum RV Roof Silicone Coating
Rust-Oleum also offers an RV roof coating that provides UV protection, waterproofing, and reflectivity to keep the interior of your RV cool. It can be rollered, squeegeed, or sprayed onto the roof of your RV. It resists ponding water and can be applied straight to an RV roof or to an existing roof coating.
The 2.5-gallon bucket of Rust-Oleum RV roof coating covers up to 250 square feet. It’s meant to be used as part of a 3-step process that involves cleaning, using tape and sealant spray to cover any serious leak areas, and then applying the coating. Rust-Oleum makes specific products for each of these other steps as well, plus a variety of other leak-patching and sealing products.
More info: rustoleum.com
6. Heng’s Rubber Roof Coating
Heng’s Rubber Roof Coating is also non-toxic, and it’s highly adhesive to rubber RV roofs. While this product isn’t necessarily designed to coat your entire roof, it can be a great option if you just need to reseal the seams and other more vulnerable areas of your RV roof.
However, you could likely use it on your entire roof if you wanted to. Like the other coatings, it provides UV protection and waterproofing.
Simply make sure your roof is clean and dry and then brush or roller on this rubber coating. It doesn’t require an activator or any other coats. Heng’s also provides impact resistance, which means less likelihood of cracking and damage if you park under a tree that drops big pine cones or other debris on your RV.
More info: homedepot.com
7. Pro Guard Professional EPDM Supercoat
Pro Guard’s Professional EPDM Supercoat is a catalyzed liquid rubber coat that cures at temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, uncured coating won’t be damaged by freezing temperatures – it just won’t cure completely until the temperature rises.
It provides chemical and ponding water resistance, high reflectivity and UV protection, and works in a wide temperature range after it’s cured. This product only requires a single coat, and you can achieve a 20-40 millimeter thickness with just one coat. It cures to a seamless membrane for superior protection, and it’s an environmentally friendly formula.
This product is designed specifically for surfaces and RV roofs that already have an EPDM roof coating, but it works with almost any roof substrate. It can be applied with a roller, squeegee, brush, or airless spray gun. This product requires the addition of a pre-measured catalyst agent before it can cure.
More info: proguardcoatings.com
FAQs
Finally, let’s look at a few FAQs about RV roof coatings:
Does RV roof coating work?
RV roof coating certainly does work to help prevent leaks, water damage, UV damage, and extreme heat in your RV. Of course, RV roof coating is mainly a preventative measure, so applying a roof coat after you’ve already noticed a leak will prevent more water from getting in, but it won’t solve the bigger problem of water damage that is likely occurring in your walls and ceiling.
That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of your RV roof maintenance and inspect your roof frequently.
Also, be sure to select an RV roof coating that is designed for your RV’s specific material, as it won’t work very well to apply a sealant that’s meant for metal on your fiberglass trailer roof. Check your owner’s manual if you don’t know what the roof is made of and be sure to read the description of each roof coat product carefully before you purchase it to ensure that it’s compatible.
Is silicone roof coating good for RVs?
Silicone is indeed a good option for RV roof coating. It’s generally more expensive than other roof coating options, but it provides a host of benefits: you don’t need a primer, it usually only requires one coat, it’s easier and quicker to apply, it retains elasticity for a very long time, and it stands up to sun/wind/water very well.
Silicone is highly reflective, which helps dramatically in terms of keeping the interior of your RV comfortable and cool even in direct sunlight. It will not harden or become brittle and crack over time, which means that it’s often worth the higher upfront price. It’s generally sold on a per-gallon basis so you can buy exactly how much you need.
Can you use Flex Seal on a camper roof?
You sure can! Flex Seal works on a vast range of surfaces, including essentially all RV roof materials. See more details about using Flex Seal on your RV roof in the dedicated Flex Seal section above.
How often should you re-coat an RV roof?
It’s a good idea to carefully inspect your RV roof at least once a month, so you can catch any potential leaks or other issues before they happen – remember that once water seeps into your RV, it can cause mold, mildew, rot, structural damage, etc. to your ceiling and walls. Some RV warranties also require that you get your RV professionally inspected once a year, to help ward off these issues.
Some people choose to re-coat their RV roof on a set schedule, like every year at the same time, while others do it on a more as-needed basis. You might find that you need to patch seams and small cracks every year, but you don’t need to recoat the entire roof as frequently.
The frequency can also vary depending on what material your RV roof is made of. Consult your owner’s manual and keep an eye on your roof until you get a feel for how often you need to re-coat it.
How much does it cost to coat a camper roof?
The cost depends on how much roof space you have to cover, which product you select, and how many coats you need to apply. In general, expect to spend at least a couple hundred dollars on roof coating material – and much more if you have a monster Class A.
This is also assuming that you do the coating yourself, but you could also pay a professional to reseal your RV roof, which would be significantly more expensive.
Closing Thoughts
I personally used Henry’s Tropi-Cool on my skoolie, and it has held up well for over 3.5 years of full-time travel. Since it’s a rubbery texture, it does hold onto things like dirt and pollen more than plain paint, but it’s easily cleanable and has done an excellent job of preventing leaks.
It also makes a HUGE difference in the temperature inside the bus – when the sun is directly overhead it’s much cooler inside than when the sun sinks down and hits the side of the bus which obviously isn’t coated. However, any of the products on this list would be great options for resealing your RV roof.
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Cat is originally from Seattle, WA but has traveled around the US and Canada full-time in a self-converted school bus with her boyfriend Aaron since April of 2018. She enjoys rock climbing, paddleboarding, hiking, and generally being outdoors!