Keystone RV roof is made of different materials, including plastic, aluminum, fiberglass, and rubber. These are essential parts because it reduces the entry of light, dust, and water inside the cabin.
Common Problems with Keystone RV Roof include leakage, scratches, poor sealing, bubble formation, use of low-quality material, and nails protruding outward. Moreover, staples from the sides also come out, and the exterior layer starts to delaminate from the center.
Keystone RVs are famous among people because of their floor plan and fuel-efficient properties, but damaged roofs cause problems for people.
| Keystone RV roof problems | Solutions |
| Leakage of roof | Add rubber patch to fix the leakage |
| Presence of scratches and creaks | Park RVs in shady areas |
| Poor sealing and damaged material | Seal the affected areas with high quality sealants |
| Bubbles formation on the roof | Use hypodermic needle |
| Less Durable rubber material | Avoid using abrasive cleaners |
| Nails and staples protrude outward | Staple the roof edges |
| Delamination of the exterior layer | Protect from humidity |
Leakage of roof
Many people complain about the leakage from the roofs. The issue becomes worse when you drive in the rainy season.
Water comes inside, damaging the wooden floor plans and making soft spots on them. Moreover, wooden floors also start to swell, and it becomes difficult to remove water from there.
It is also damaging to the furniture and its upholstery. In addition, it increases the humidity level, which disturbs the internal temperature during winter.
The holes come when something hard collides directly on the roof. You can also face this issue when rubber material loses its strength and become old.
Regular exposure to water damages the manufacturing material and produces holes in them. You can fix this issue by patching the damaged area.
Measure the size of the hole and cut the new rubber piece according to it. Then, use high-quality glue to attach it and prevent water leakage inside the cabin.
Presence of scratches and creaks
Sometimes rubber material is also susceptible to scratches and creaks. The creaks come on their surface due to temperature changes.
Rubber is highly sensitive to changes in temperature, and it expands and contracts according to the temperature in its surroundings.
It starts to contract when these are in exposure to an extremely dry and hot environment. Contraction can produce gaps on the sides, which cause an issue in the maintenance of internal temperature.
The cooling of the ac and heat of the heaters go out from these gaps. It is problematic in winter because of the high humidity and cold air.
The creaks come when you park the RVs in direct sunlight every time. The use of electric heaters during winter also makes the interior dry and causes creaking.
You can fix this issue by using the dehumidifier to maintain the internal conditions. Use the bowl of water while using heaters in winter so it cannot create a dry environment.
Park them in shady areas or under trees to prevent direct exposure to heat.
Poor sealing and damaged material
High-quality sealant is used to secure the roofs of the RVs and keep them secure. These seals lose their strength when they become old.
Moreover, it becomes less sticky after some years and cannot hold the material together. You can see the holes and gaps on the roof due to poor sealing.
Often, manufacturers use low-quality seals that can damage early and cause an issue. The dust from these holes comes inside, and you have to clean everything frequently.
It increases your effort and time to clean furniture and floor because of more dust entry. In addition, seals are broken due to exposure to a humid and hot environment.
Heat can cause the glue to melt and lose its strength. Sometimes you can see the holes and cracks when purchasing a new RV from the market.
You can fix the issue by sealing the corners with high-quality sealants. Avoid driving on rainy days because it can affect the adhesiveness of sealants.
Hire the mechanic for the correct application of sealants and also secure the sides properly.
Bubbles formation on the roof
You can see the small bubbles on the roof of these RVs, which are hard to fix. You can see the small blisters on their surface.
Rubber roofs are made of an elastomeric and thermoplastic compound that needs special care for installation.
Bubbles can form in the interior membrane due to their incorrect installation. In addition, poor use of sealants causes the surface to come up in the form of blisters.
Sometimes these bubbles appear due to entrapped dust in the inner membrane. The presence of moisture also causes bubble formation.
The uneven application of adhesives on the inner membrane causes the air to entrap inside. You can fix the issue by repairing the rubber kit.
These kits contain a hypodermic needle that helps remove the air and remove blisters.
Less Durable rubber material
The keystone RV roofs are made up of rubber material instead of aluminum and fiberglass. The company used this material because it is less costly.
Using cheaper materials decreases the cost and makes it attractive to buyers. Moreover, these are also readily available in the market but do not last long.
The manufacturer adds the less durable rubber material to decrease their weight and improve their towing.
Rubber material does not last long, like fiberglass and aluminum. Temperature fluctuations and humid conditions can damage them easily.
You can increase longevity by adopting proper cleaning methods for their maintenance. For example, you cannot use any abrasive and harsh detergents to make them clean.
The heat from the burning reaction of ammonia-based cleaners causes their contraction and deforms their shape.
Use a dry and soft cloth to clean them and a soft-bristled brush to remove dust from corners.
Nails and staples protrude outward
You can see the pointed edges from the middle of the road because of the protruding nails. The nails can damage the inner membrane and produce holes in it.
Nails protrude outward because of their poor fastening and installation. Staples are used to fasten the edges of the roof and prevent leakage.
The staples start to come off from their surface, creating gaps on the roof’s sides. You can inspect these gaps in the evening time because of the entry of outside light.
Turn off the lights at that time, and you can see illumination on the sides. You can fix these gaps by stapling them again.
You can also use the nails to fasten the edges of these RVs.
Delamination of the exterior layer
You can see the exterior layer delamination on the roof’s sides. The delamination is the warping of the external membrane.
These start to separate from the roof because of poor sealing. In addition, delamination and warping occur due to long-time usage.
Moreover, the heat also causes the delamination and warping of the exterior membrane of the Keystone RV roof. The problem comes when the humidity inside the cabin is high and causes the molds to grow there.
The entrapped moisture between the internal membrane and insulation layer leads to warping. You can fix the issue by protecting the roof from water and maintaining the internal temperature.
Turn on the ac fans at high speed to remove moisture and make the environment feasible. It is also better to close the windows and doors while driving in coastal areas.
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