The Three Ways Water Gets In
The most common entry point. Every vent, antenna, AC mount, and seam is sealed with a product that has a finite lifespan. UV and temperature cycling cause it to crack, shrink, and pull away — a gap you can barely see ...
Roof guide
RV roof leak & seal troubleshooting
Water damage is the silent killer of RVs — by the time you see a stain, it’s usually been sitting in the substrate for months. What to check, how to identify your roof material, the DIY leak test, and when to worry. The ...
Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond.
Field notes
Water damage is the silent killer of RVs — by the time you see a stain, it’s usually been sitting in the substrate for months. What to check, how to identify your roof material, the DIY leak test, and when to worry. The most common entry point. Every vent, antenna, AC mount, and seam is sealed with a product that has a finite lifespan. UV and temperature cycling cause it to crack, shrink, and pull away — a gap you can barely see is enough.
What to Check and How Often
— Inspect all roof seams, vents, skylights, and antenna mounts at least twice a year — Check around every roof penetration — anything through the roof is a potential entry point — Look at sidewall seams at the rooflin...
Identify Your Roof Type Before You Touch It
Using the wrong sealant or coating on your roof type doesn’t just fail to help — it can actively damage the membrane. Know what you have before you buy anything.
DIY Roof Leak Water Test
Takes about 20 minutes and tells you whether you actually have a leak, and roughly where it is, before you call anyone.
Signs You Already Have a Problem
— A ceiling stain, even a faint one — the source has usually been active for months already — Soft or spongy flooring, especially near slide-outs or exterior walls — A musty smell that doesn’t go away with airing out ...
Common Mistake: Wrong Sealant
Don’t use silicone on an RV roof unless you know exactly what the roofing material is. Silicone doesn’t bond properly to EPDM rubber and will peel within a season, often making the original leak worse by trapping mois...
Owner checklist
- Pick a dry day and have a helper inside with a flashlight, checking the ceiling around every vent, skylight, antenna mount, and seam
- Starting at the lowest point of the roof, run a garden hose (no nozzle, gentle flow, not a pressure washer) over one section at a time
- Hold each section for 3–5 minutes before moving to the next — slow soaks find leaks that a quick pass misses
- Work systematically front to back, one penetration or seam at a time, so you know exactly which section caused any water your helper sees
- Press gently on the ceiling near vents and lights afterward — a soft or spongy spot means moisture has already reached the substrate even without a visible drip
Related: All guides · Book a Service · Pricing
Pricing teaser
Trip fee $75 within 30 miles, then $1.50/mi. Labor ~$150/hr (1-hour minimum, billed in 30-minute increments). Diagnostic $150 applied toward repair if you proceed.
Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond. Credentials (text): Victron Professional Certified Installer · weBoost Authorized Installer · Peplink Certified Associate · Dometic Professional Certified.