BAC Forum
General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Joel Weiss on January 28, 2013, 01:41:18 AM
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If your older Beaver is like mine, you're probably noticing a fair amount of roof chalking. Although we have had it waxed a couple of times, the chalking was evident above the drip line even shortly after a wash. Today, I had Dicor fiberglass roof paint applied to it. The paint went on easily and covered well; two coats could be applied in one day after an application of a cleaner to remove wax buildup. The painted surface is a gloss white which should reduce solar heating as well as chalking. It went on in a fairly thick layer and completely covered the stress cracks that had built up in a few areas.
I believe the Dicor product is relatively new; I bought mine from PPL. With shipping it's about $85/gallon. I know that various RVers have experimented with Mop 'N Glo and marine paints, but I felt better applying a product designed for RVs.
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Joel, I did mine last year and I am still pleased with the results.
Had two small areas where it released. I probably did not scuff well enough. Will spot touch up in spring.
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Please be careful walking on that gloss surface.
Larry
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How many gallons did it take to do the job?
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Just one here.
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Where can you buy the Dicor Fiberglass paint.
Thanks, Lloyd Hall
P.S. I don't know what PPL stands for.
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Lloyd PPL motorhomes in Houston Texas. I also beleive it is available through camping world.
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We used about 1.5 gallons to do two coats on the roof which is what Dicor recommends. I shopped around and, at the time, PPL's price was cheaper than CW's.
As for slipping on the glossy roof, I don't get up on mine; that's why I hired someone to do the painting. I've had a couple of falls in my life and don't want to experience another!
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The paint in not slippery even when wet. You can also use a texture roller if you wish.
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Installed Dicor paint on white roof last year, still good with 2 coats. Also coated green end caps on roof portion as they were begining to show cracks. Believe it cut down on heat inside from sun and cover caps helped.
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Hi Roland,
that is exactly what I did on my Marquis. The cap ends were blistered to heck so we sanded them too and then painted the whole roof with the Dicor Elastomeric Paint.
My only complaint is the Dicor paint gets dirty and so I give it a new coat once a year to keep its reflective qualities at 100%.
If I had to do it again I would use Rustoleum and add silica sand to the last coat in the walk areas to make it non slippery.
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Don't use any soap when washing your gel coated roof and you will reduce the chalking significantly. Water and a scrub mop will remove most dirt if you don't let it go too long.
Steve
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Some have mentioned Mop and Glow.
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Has anybody ever heard of using the truck bed liner for covering the roof?? If so, what are you thoughts about it?? Vs the Rustoleum deck paint??
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Leah,
It would probably work but leaves a texture finish that would be harder to clean. I'm not sure if a white is offered in that line but most things are available today. It is made for outdoor use and is a durable choice.
Frankly, the marine deck paint is formulated to go over gelcoat, it is made for harsh environment of sun and salt water and is expected to be walked on and take abuse. It is reflective, being bright white and walking on it from a grip point of view is like walking on the existing gel coat. I have not seen any difference. I do not know why anyone would want a thicker layer given the reason to coat the roof is just to stop chalking and preserve the gel coat. I worry about issues down the road when you want to refinish the surface. Multiple elastometric coatings would not be my choice, not sure about multiple coats of truck bed liner and what would be involved with that system. Bottom line, marine paints are some of the best paints made and formulated to do this job.
I have had the deck paint on my roof for 3 years and it shows no sign of any issues. If it came time to add a coat, it would be a light scuff, a solvent wipe and roll another coat on, but I may never need to do that...time will tell. I'm still a proponent of a thin smooth coating and let it shed the dirt and in the end will be easy to clean.
Later Ed
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THANKS ED FOR YOUR COMMENTS.. I was somewhat skeptical, but thought I ask and see what people knew or thought. I tend to agree with you on this.
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Leah,
We had our roof covered with the rhino covering. It is white and has worked quite well. Only dirt runs after the rains show and they wash away quite nicely.
Roy
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The Rhino coating (bed liner) is a recommended coating in some cases like when a coach has a porous roof that has flaws were the fiberglass is too thin or has hail damage causing hair line cracks. The thicker, flexible, and more durable coating can seal and prevent leaks in these types of roofs.
Gerald
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Has anyone ever used or heard of this product called Buskote? http://www.hytechsales.com/prod2150.html
Steven
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I did our 03 Monterey in BusKote. Very expensive and very effective at heat reflection and eliminating the chalking and white drips on the side of the coach. Done properly it is a four coat process and too much work for me again. I am going to use the Rustoleum Marine Fiberglass Deck Paint on my 06 Monterey. Designed for fiberglass AND the marine environment (which I feel is much more harsh than the environment our coaches live in) I am comfortable using it instead of the BusKote. Personal preference only, I am not comfortable with the thicker, elastomeric type coatings.
Brad Burgess
06 Monterey
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Richard:
I used Mop & Glow on the hull of my boat, to keep the yellow mustache under control. I discontinued its use when it started to build up and was nearly impossible to get off. It goes grey.