Raising the Roof
your excitement: You are young, and you have been tent camping or even sleeping in the back of your little import truck. You already have the dirt bike, or quad, the basic camping gear, etc. The down side, you ask? You have been exposed to the elements a few too many times, be it the wind, rain, or maybe the girlfriend, who, quite frankly, would appreciate somewhat better accommodations. But, being young, your money is tight. Time for some homework and a plan of attack.
FAST FORWARD ONE YEAR
The import truck is gone, and now you have a used truck capable of pulling a small “starter kit” toyhauler. One day, you find what looks like the perfect hauler, being advertised for the right price, and before you know it, it’s coming home for all to see and enjoy. Entering the residential streets, you eagerly pull up to the house, and you feel a little “bump” while coming to a stop. What in the world was that, you think? Looking back in the mirrors, you see tree branches falling to the ground. Uh, Oh! A cursory inspection reveals that the right rear corner of the roof came in contact with a rather large tree limb and has torn the rubber roof and broken a plastic trim cap. Crap! you exclaim. Now what?
We had seen an ad in the back of ToyHauler Magazine by a company not far from us by the name of Accentstripes.com. We set up a date to meet, inspect the damage, and decide an appropriate repair plan of attack. A week later, I meet Jeff and Jeff, a father/son team that is mobile, and able to come to you anywhere in SoCal to repair roofs, vinyl graphics, and much more.
Together, they climb up on the roof and begin assessing the damage. Once the rubber roof material is trimmed away, a damaged and torn aluminum radius trim cap is found to need replacement. Staples are removed, and a new section will need to be fashioned and fitted into place. Thankfully, there was no wooden structural damage to the coach. Once the aluminum radius piece is cut and fitted into place, a new section of rubber roofing material is fitted into place and glued down with a special rubber roof contact cement. Then the trim and aluminum siding was reassembled and sealed.
The next day, the roof was scrubbed with a solution of bleach and soap and water, to thoroughly clean the entire roof. When dry, the vents, A/C, satellite dish, and roof rack are carefully masked off, as well as the upper perimeter of the exterior walls. Next, Jeff Sr. applies the first strip of roof coating, called “Formflex,” and begins unrolling a material that resembles cheesecloth, called “fiberglass mesh cloth,” a bonding material to help strengthen the roof to sidewall junction, and prevent leakage. This is done all the way around the coach, and another coating of the Formflex was painted on over the layer of fiberglass mesh. Once the roof radius sections are completed, Jeff Sr. gets up on the roof and uses a long handle paint roller and applies the first of two coats of the roofing sealer over the OEM rubber roof.
Jeff Sr. explained to me that the Formflex product “needs to be applied by a trained roofing expert.” He and his son attended a mandatory training seminar, when they first were considering becoming a distributor of Formflex.
So, if your rubber roof has seen better days, this product offers an economical alternative, a cooler coach in the hot, summer doldrums, and much quieter sound insulation when it’s raining, and best of all, 12 years of peace of mind.
Contact them at Accentstripes.com, or toll free at (866) 370-0305.
-Gary Vaughan
