Truck camper roof paint

[wagoneer]

Been doing a search on sealing and getting some more life out of the roof. I found pool paint the paint you use on a pool thats filled with water, other searches brought up $2500 price tags for Professional roofing jobs after spending a whopping 300 bucks on the camper can't justify that. Anyone try pool paint?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Pool paint on a metal roof under the hot sun is going to get a lot hotter than it was designed for.  After all, how hot can it get in a pool of water?  I would guess that it would fail.

They make RV roof coatings specifically for use on metal RVV roofs, including both aluminum and steel.  Note that this is different than the coatings designed for use on Fiberglass, rubber roofs, etc.

http://dicorproducts.com/catalog/roof-products/restore-products/metal-rv-roof-coating/

http://www.amazon.com/Dicor-RPMRC1-Elastomeric-Metal-Coating/dp/B003YJJX9I

http://dicorproducts.com/catalog/roof-products/restore-products/rust-inhibitive-primer/

 

[wagoneer]

I have watched several youtube DYS vids on this and it looks like work but i need to replace the escape hatch as it failed after 23 years just got brittle
and broke. New one on the way so I need to get on the roof anyway decor is nice but need a lot of prep. Thanks for the links gotta get my ol bod up and get it going.

 

[VJG1977]

There are several good brands to choose from and finding it local can save on shipping cost.  Some key words to look for are: elastomeric (means what it sounds like, the coating will expand & contract), mildew & algae resistant, ponded or ponding water conditions, high build (goes on thick).

I plan to use a product called KOOL SEAL ELASTOMERIC ROOF COATING.

 

[masterplumber]

I read an article from a guy that used Kool Seal on and aluminum cargo trailer roof. Lowered the temp inside a full 10 degrees and two years in was still holding up. He did prep it well and put on 2 coats I believe.

 

[SternWake]

Any paint type product is all about the prep job. Poor prep causes early failure then 5x the amount of work to then do it correctly.

 

[ahh_me2]

I plan to use a product called KOOL SEAL ELASTOMERIC ROOF COATING.

I just put that stuff on my bare metal roof (cube van). It's fairly thick and requires at least 2 coats.

The product does work as I was on the roof on a hot sunny day and had left a bare spot for reference,
well, I couldn't hold my hand on the bare spot it was so hot, but anywhere with the Kool Seal,  was
cool to the touch.

In my build I don't think it has helped as much as I would have liked, but that's because my vehicle is
dark red and so all the sides absorb huge amounts of heat during the day in the sun.
I plan on repainting the vehicle white at some point.

 

[DannyB1954]

I used a roof paint on my fiberglass RV, worked good. Used the same paint on my patio cover, (OSB), and my cargo trailer roof, (plywood), both did not last over a year. Home Depot stuff. I installed sheet steel over the patio last year, may do the same for the trailer.
Thinking about building a camper for my truck, may use some form of canvas and paint. I will have to see what people building canvas covered tear drop trailers are using.

 

[wagoneer]

What is generally considered a great prep job I have an aluminum roof with some sort of coating done before I got it, could be factory as it was kept in storage. wiping it down with alcohol?

 

[bullfrog]

The problem is everything moves ether from heat expansion or shoddy construction. If the roof is one sheet of aluminum with holes cut for hatch and vents then areas around holes can be sealed with windshield ribbon sold for installing like 1968 camero windshields ( its so good that you don't need fastners and will have to cut with piano wire to get it out). Also if it is plastic, eternobond tape with silicone mobile home paint works but any seams will eventually crack if not taped plus this adds extra weight. Allways spread weight with pieces of plywood but try never to walk on top of roof or store items up there, after all your dealing with something that was never meant to last as long has and it is getting flexed in a truck out in the weather.

 

[ViaVacavi]

I used Rustoleum Topside boat paint to paint my 33' fiberglass RV over two years ago with a high density foam roller. The stuff is nice and cheap, and once fully cured is very hard and durable. I now have two full seasons on my paint job in Ohio weather (no indoor storage) without a single crack, flake or issue at all.