Whether you live in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, endure the frigid winters in the upper Midwest or even the more humid, murky autumns in the South, you would be prudent to waterproof your RV before your next excursion.
By preventing potential water hazards of potentially pilfering the interior of your RV, you greatly increase the chances of protecting any valuables you may have.
Either way, you’ll want to outfit your RV so that your trip isn’t plagued by unforeseen, perilous circumstances you may encounter.
Here are some practical ways you can circumvent these issues.
Seal up the windows
With most RVs, the original factory seals come packed into the windows of your RV or camper to lessen the amount of friction this part of the vehicle suffers during movement. However, this sealant can gradually deteriorate over time, especially with frequent use. So you may want to invest in a weather-sealant product for this very reason.
To begin, make sure the area around the window is both clean and dry so you can smoothly apply the adhesive—and evenly, too. From there, slowly and carefully apply the silicone caulk around the entire frame. While wearing gloves, make sure to put this on in one smooth motion around the area in question, pushing the silicone into the crack(s) while simultaneously using up the caulk. It should also be noted that most products will dry within 24 hours.
Assess, clean and seal the roof
This is probably one of the more susceptible points of entry—for water incursion—of the RV, so you’ll need to assess this area and determine whether it needs sealant, too. This is especially true if your roof has skylights, vents or any other potential opening where leakage is apparent.
First, clean the roof using warm water and a non-abrasive, mild soap product. Before applying the appropriate amount of caulk to your roof, you must determine what type of roofing you have by consulting your owner’s manual. After this, then apply the correct type of caulk to the visible seams across the roof, skylights and other potential leakage areas. Make sure to take a precautionary measure in assessing whether there is an air conditioner (AC) unit. If there is, ignore this unit. If you seal it, you could inadvertently trap water inside the RV. Once this process is complete, consider purchasing a complete roof coating, too.
Seal all lights and access panels
While this process is typically glossed over during the RV sealing process, it remains as one of the most imperative parts of bolstering any potential points of leakage entry. Now, using the same caulking, create a bead around each marker light and other exterior lighting features your RV may have.
In addition, access panels are another potential tenuous area where water can leak through over time, and should be assessed immediately, too. You can also use aluminum duct tape along the sides of it to mitigate this problem. As always, check the more miscellaneous areas like the door frame and other items that are protruding from the RV.
Make sure to browse our waterproof coating catalog—a broad list of remedies that help seal any crack(s) you may have. Start with our Rexoseal RV roof Restoration Kit, today.