RV roof seals, Eternabond or lap sealant? A techs response.
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Across all platforms, roof are probably my most talked about subject. Which makes sense because water damage is the number one destroyer of RVs, and the roof is usually where it’s getting in. I’m constantly reminding you guys to check your roof and stressing the importance of keeping up with your seals. Over the past year or so there was in influx of videos circulating “rv hacks” on your roof. These videos showed people using products like Eternabond or “roof tape” being used in place of lap sealant. Some going as far as saying to cover all of your seals on your entire roof with this stuff. These videos included bold claims that this tape was a “forever solution” to roof seals, and I’m here to tell you that simply isn’t true. While the name “Eternabond” may sound like it will last an eternity, that’s far from the truth. While this product is FANTASTIC at patching small boo-boo’s on the roof, it is not a long term solution and more importantly not a substitute for lap sealant on your RV roof. This “RV hack” is not only ineffective, it will actually end up costing you more in the long run. We’re all looking for ways to do things cheaper and easier, but I promise you this hack is neither of those as it will create more work and more repair costs when it inevitably fails. Keep your roof clean, and keep your seals in order, that is the absolute best “roof hack” anyone can do.
#camper #camperdiy #camperlife #rvroof #rvhack #rvtips #rvmaintenance #rv101 #rvtechnician
Installed Eternabond on my fifth wheel over 10 years ago! It looks great and still doing great. This is a fulltime fifth wheel with over 100,000 miles on it. Mostly hot, hot weather as we follow the sun being retired!! Go Eternabond!!
Nick,
Great video. I agree I am not a fan of eternabond tape. It is a temporary patch not a permanent solution. I have replaced many a roof that had eternabond tape or flex seal or flex paste.
Keep up the great work.
I use Flexseal paint on my trailer roof. It goes right over the original seals and covers well. My trailer is 10 years old and has never had a leak. It never cracks and stays somewhat flexible. I really don't care what the roof looks like.
Nice, we painted on flex seal on a box truck and so far so good about 6months.
How do you know they prepped it right? They probably didnt.
Rv roof man lap sealant is the best out there. It might be a little pricey but well worth it.
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I 100% agree. Eternabond has its place as a patch but not as a permanent fix. Geeze!
I 100% agree. Of course if the internet says it’s good, clearly you must be wrong. 😂. Like the guy above, oh it’s great. I’ve never had a problem! --- YET! As a buyer of a used Rv, I stayed away from “Eternabonded” roofs for a simple reason…what are they hiding?? Of course, I too don’t want to remove that crap. But, I’d say EVENTUALLY it will be an issue. So, just do your inspections and leave the tape for emergencies.
Yeah you gotta love the "I use/do it all the time, so that's way you do it" idiots 😂
So what’s your opinion when resealing a roof with let’s say “Rubber Roof” you clean & prime then use eternabond then seal the entire roof with 4 coats of Rubber Roof.I used eternabond & used dicor along the sides of the tape to prevent any leaks but then as mentioned I used the primer & 4 coats of Rubber Roof encapsulating everything.Your thoughts???
I get what you’re saying, but in some of these cases, isn’t there a chance that some of these tapes are not eternabond but are a knock off. How can you discern the difference between eternabond tape and an imposter tape that may not hold up as well. You should at least acknowledge that possibility unless there is a way to confirm.
I don't buy it. I've put eternabond on the roof of my camper and it's working GREAT!, The dealer wanted 7K to fix my roof. I did it for $400 and that's adding 2 coats of Flex Seal paint. I store my camper under a shed when not in use.
Yeah ill stick with my Eternabond tape.. i use it on top of proper lap sealant
I’m replacing the tank vent covers on my Intech ovr expedition and I have an aluminum roof. What do you recommend I use for the sealant? Thanks
It would have been interesting to see the actual damage inside of that pop up camper you used as your example.
Lap sealant keeps this man working. Eternal bond = 10 years application. Lap sealant = 2x/ month application.
I push for you guys to do this kind of maintenance. I would much rather spend my day diagnosing complicated issues. I despise removing this stuff to fix water damage when it fails.
What are your thoughts on the folks that have painted their roofs with the Henry’s silicone product?
Off the topic but what’s your opinion on slide out covers? My East to West is prepped for a cover but was not installed when I purchased new in 24.
As long as you're keeping water out, who cares. Some like lap, some tape. I think both products are crap. Still waiting for that miracle product.
Thanks for the video! Interesting points for sure. It’s always good to hear others perspective. I definitely respect your opinion and knowledge but I personally don’t think that properly applied Eternabond tape is any worse than Dicor sealant. I’m constantly shocked that product is still used. Dicor is a really bad product in my opinion. I’ve never seen it last more than a few years (I’m in Texas) whereas properly applied Eternabond will go 5 years plus without issue (again this is in Texas). Also the seal tape that Jayco used on the top of my slides definitely isn’t Eternabond but some cheap alternative. I would be willing to bet other manufacturers are also not using Eternabond on top of the slides but some cheaper version. Not saying it’s perfect or even better than a quality sealant. But I do wholeheartedly believe it is a better option than Dicor in certain situations, mainly at corners and not around curves.
I agree with your comments. He mentions REPLACING lap sealant with Eternabond but that is not what is recommended. Eternabond is to be applied OVER the lap sealant and it is recommended that your lap sealant be re-applied to fill in gaps BEFORE applying Eternabond. When I did my rig with Eternabond about 5 years ago, I applied fresh lap sealant where needed, let it cure for a few weeks, scrubbed and washed the roof to remove any debris, let it dry and THEN apply Eternabond. Over 5 years, it is holding up well with NO issues. No way would I use lap sealant alone. Sure, applying Eternabond is not the only solution to roof leaks but it works for me.
Here we go with "just because I do it, that's the way you should do it" idiots 😂😂. Remind me again how many years you been RV Tech for ? What schooling or certifications you have ? I will wait. If you do your research and look at other UA-cam RV techs, they as well don't like using Eternabond as a permanent solution.
@@Hugo-Hernandez Don't know why me sharing my experience has set you off so much. I hope you are able to get some help!
@@DavidJones-su9ob
It didn’t buddy, that’s why I put the laughing emojis. Maybe you need some help reading between the lines 😂. Thanks for providing my point that you where one of those idiot keyboard warriors just because it work for me it works, even though the expert told you differently.
@@Hugo-Hernandez Don't forget to go and schedule your anger management class and please don't abuse your wife and kids (if applicable; hard to believe anyone would want to have anything to do with you) in the meantime.
i hear you, and i am no expert by any means, but your argument was not convincing - anything used to seal on roofs needs to be maintained - if the eternabond is in need of repair or maintenance then just like lap sealant it can be IMHO
he is teaching people the industry way so he can continue to keep his rv tech job 😂
I don’t even like that tape on my slides but I have no choice!
Yea, not recommending this channel, I'm a paid UA-cam watcher (watch/listen while working on reports lol)
I spent a month researching this and will be going with eternabond and then Henry's tropicool. It should out live me
Can't agree. Show us properly installed eternabond that actually leaked, not "could leak". I have 4 year old eternabond on my roof here in Florida and it looks as good as when installed - no tape disintegration. Here's a 3 year old roof - ua-cam.com/video/VrCh9QMxPqM/v-deo.html
Thank you Nick for your video and your expertise. Gotta love the "It works for me" idiots, who are trying to tell you that your wrong.
Problem is you have alot of RV channels promoting it. RV Tips & Travels did a full roof eternabond 3 years ago and just did a review video 3 months ago. Alot of newer RVers see these videos and follow along.
I believe RV Tips & Travels has done an annual review of his Eternabond whole-roof installation and it has held up without issue. I'm guessing who installs it and how well the surface is prepped has a great deal to do with the success of the product. The installation on the pop-up in this video was horrible. Easy to cherry-pick.
@@rd1860 No cherry picking here, just pointing out the differences on UA-cam. I have followed Tips and Travels for years.
@@Retired5oh 👍
The fact that he is showing an annual review of it should be proof enough of the validity of the product.
Yes I agree from personal experience. Eternabomd is horrible. In the heat it does not stay. It is not permanent.
Well then... whom ever installed it did not do it properly! Sorry to hear you had problems!!
This guy is paid to sell lap sealent,lap sealent bullshit! Ever notice how it looks like birdshit? And expensive. He picks the worse examplle of eternabond tape job to make his point,whomever owns that pop up probably didnt have knowledge or mechanical abilities to properly apply the tape,tape is much better, neater in application when done right,and cleans up nicely,these guys that work for lap sealent companies cant stand it.go eternabond mine looks fantastic
Lmao who’s paying me? Because I’ve never seen a check. I’ve definitely cashed checks fixing these tape jobs though
Hey Nick! Sent ya a text for an estimate on a reseal. Lemme know buddy!
One word: FlexSeal
LOL Flex Seal sucks butt!
@@ericstoner8635 been working great for me! I had a leak so bad in my slide out roof, water came dripping through my light fixture. Went to Walmart, bought 2 cans of liquid Flex Seal, rolled them both onto my slide out roof, and have had no issues since.
Rv's are a rip off. You don't get what you pay for. I would never buy a new one.
Doesn't make since that you would be on a youtube channel about RV's...... ???
@@jneihart2 ??
There’s 2 Kinds of RV Roofs… one that Leaks and one that doesn’t Leak yet?